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<\/a><\/p>\nFirst Stop:\u00a0 This is the Park Eduard VII. It is the biggest park in central Lisbon.The park was named after Britain\u2019s king, Edward II, who came to the city on a state visit in 1903 to strengthen Anglo-Portuguese relations. Parque Eduardo VII features mosaic patterned walkways that stretch uphill throughout the whole park.<\/h2>\nThe same river we saw in Toledo: The Tagus. It empties into the Atlantic Ocean near here.<\/h2>\n
1. The confection of Bel\u00e9m\u2019s Pastries began in 1837 and the recipe remains exactly the same to this day.<\/strong><\/p>\n 2. The Bel\u00e9m Pastries are baked in the “Secret Shop”.<\/strong><\/p>\n 3. Bel\u00e9m Pastries and Custard Tarts are not the same thing.<\/strong><\/p>\n 4. Every day, about 20,000 pastries are made and sold.<\/strong><\/p>\n 5. “A bride who eats a pastry will never take off her ring.”<\/strong><\/p>\n Go To Page 15<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Funicul\u00ec, Funicul\u00e0 Here we are in Lisbon for Day 13.\u00a0 We start with a bus tour of the city: First Stop:\u00a0 This is the Park Eduard VII. It is the biggest park in central Lisbon.The park was named after … Continue reading <\/a><\/p>\nAt the top of the park is this monument.\u00a0 It\u00a0i<\/em>s the “25 of April Monument” by Jo\u00e3o\u00a0Cutileiro<\/h2>\n
It in a small esplanade with four large pillars and a fountain that commemorates the Revolution of 1974. This spot also has a gorgeous view of the Tagus river and the city. The fountain kinda looks like a phallus\u2026but maybe my mind is in the gutter today. You can judge for yourself.<\/h2>\n
<\/a><\/p>\nHere is another “25th of April” monument:<\/h2>\n
The\u00a0Carnation Revolution\u00a0also referred to as the “25th of April” was initially a Military Coup in 1974 which overthrew the authoritarian regime of the Estado Novo<\/sup><\/h2>\n
The revolution started as a military coup organized by the Armed forces \u00a0composed of military officers who opposed the regime, but the movement was soon coupled with an unanticipated and popular campaign of civil resistance. This movement would lead to the fall of the Estado Novo and the withdrawal of Portugal from its African Colonies.<\/h2>\n
The name “Carnation Revolution” comes from the fact that almost no shots were fired and that when the population took to the streets to celebrate the end of the dictatorship and war in the colonies, carnations\u00a0were put into the muzzles of rifles and on the uniforms of the army men. In Portugal, 25 April is a national holiday, known as Freedom Day\u00a0\u00a0to celebrate the event.<\/h2>\n
<\/a><\/p>\nFrom the park, we headed towards the Tagus River.\u00a0 \u00a0We passed The\u00a0“Aqueduct of the Free Waters”). It is a historic aqueduct\u00a0It is one of the most remarkable examples of 18th-century Portuguese engineering.\u00a0 The main course of the aqueduct covers 11 miles, but the whole network of canals extends through nearly 36 miles.<\/h2>\n
The city of Lisbon has always suffered from the lack of drinking water, and King John V in 1746 decided to build an aqueduct to bring water from sources in the parish\u00a0of Canecas, in the modern municipality of Odiveles. The project was paid for by a special sales tax\u00a0on beef, olive oil wine, and other products.<\/h2>\n
I had thought it might have been an ancient Roman aqueduct. Wrong!<\/h2>\n
<\/a><\/p>\nThis is Jer\u00f3nimos Monastery and Church of Santa Maria of Belem on the Tagus River.<\/h2>\n
The Jeronimos Monastery is the most impressive symbol of Portugal’s power and wealth during the Age of Discovery. King Manuel I built it in 1502 on the site of a hermitage founded by Prince Henry the Navigator, where Vasco da Gama and his crew spent their last night in Portugal in prayer before leaving for India.<\/h2>\n
It was built to commemorate Vasco Da Gama’s voyage and to give thanks to the Virgin Mary for its success. Vasco da Gama’s tomb was placed inside by the entrance.<\/h2>\n
<\/a><\/h2>\nHere’s the old boy now!<\/h2>\n
<\/a><\/p>\nThis is not “the old boy” This is Juanjo with a box of Pastries de Belem. These are special pastries made only here near the church.\u00a0 He shared them with us.\u00a0 They were delicious.\u00a0 Kind of like an egg custard tart.<\/h2>\n
<\/a><\/p>\nThis is what they looked like.\u00a0 We saw several similar pastries around town, but not the same ones – copies…<\/h2>\n
5 FACTS ABOUT THE BEL\u00c9M PASTRIES\u00a0<\/span><\/h2>\n<\/div>\n
No High Fructose corn syrup?<\/h2>\n
Don’t tell anyone – they’re made by Hostess?<\/h2>\n
Try to tell the difference. Maybe price is the difference.<\/h2>\n
Enough to go around Portugal – Twice<\/h2>\n
Her fingers would be too fat!<\/h2>\n
I’ll let you decide what are the “Fake Fact”…<\/h2>\n
<\/a><\/p>\nThis is Torre de Bel\u00e9m on the Tagus.<\/h2>\n
\u00a0Standing on the waterfront at\u00a0Belem<\/a>\u00a0near the mouth of the River Tagus is the Torre de Bel\u00e9m, arguably the most iconic symbol of Lisbon.\u00a0Originally conceived as a lighthouse, the tower was eventually built as a defensive fortress on the orders of King Manuel I<\/h2>\n
Kids have endless fun playing hide and seek amongst the parapets, or scampering up and down the narrow spiral staircases. The rest of us, meanwhile, can contemplate the achievements of Portugal’s bravest navigators who departed near this historic landmark to chart unknown lands 500 years ago.<\/h2>\n
<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\u00a0This is not a monument to Columbus, as many think. It is a monument to\u00a0<\/strong>Prince Henry the Navigator\u00a0 He was an important figure in 15th-century Portuguese politics and in the early days of the Portuguese Empire.<\/h2>\n
Through his administrative direction, he is regarded as the main initiator of what would be known as the Age of Discoveries. \u00a0and was responsible for the early development of Portuguese exploration and maritime trade with other continents through the systematic exploration of Western Africa, the islands of the Atlantic Ocean, and the search for new routes.<\/h2>\n
He’s on the top left. All those he colonized and\/or enslaved are below him.<\/h2>\n
After spending time at these memorials, we headed back down town to look at the commercial water front.<\/h2>\n
\u00a0We didn’t actually visit this monument, but we saw it in the distance.\u00a0 It deserves mentioning.<\/h2>\n
<\/a><\/p>\nThis is the\u00a0Sanctuary of Christ the King. It\u00a0is the Catholic\u00a0monument and shrine dedicated to the Sacred Heart oh Jesus\u00a0overlooking the city of Lisbon situated in across the Tagus River in Alamada. It was inspired by the Christ the Redeemer\u00a0statue ofRio de Janiero, after the Cardinal Patriarch of Lisbon visited that monument.<\/h2>\n
The project was inaugurated on 17 May 1959, while Portugal was ruled by the authoritarian President Salazar\u00a0who gave his final permission for the project. The giant statue in cement was erected to express gratitude because the Portuguese were spared the effects of World War II.<\/h2>\n
For comparison: Christ the King\u00a0is 60 ft tall\u00a0 (360 ft.with base).\u00a0 Christ the Redeemer\u00a0 in Rio is 130\u00a0feet tall.\u00a0Christ the King in\u00a0\u015awiebodzin, Poland is 108 ft (with crown it’s 117.8 ft).<\/h2>\n
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<\/a><\/h2>\nThe Rua Augusta Arch is a stone Triumphal arch and historical building and visitors center on the Praca de Comercio.<\/h2>\n
It was built to commemorate the city’s reconstruction after the 1755 earthquake. It has six columns\u00a0 (11\u00a0m high) and is adorned with statues of various historical figures. Significant height from the arch crown to the cornice\u00a0imparts an appearance of heaviness to the structure. The associated space is filled with the coat of arms of Portugal.<\/h2>\n
<\/a><\/p>\nThe Tagus river is navigable and Lisbon is now a port of call for cruise ships.<\/h2>\n
<\/a>\u00a0We returned to the hotel and Juanjo got a group together for a walk. We passed the main Rail Station. The station was commissioned by the Portuguese Royal Railway Company and was designed between 1886 and 1887 by Portuguese architect Jos\u00e9 Lu\u00eds Monteiro. It was built in one of the most important squares of Lisbon, the Rossio and connected the city to the region of Sintra.<\/h2>\n<\/a>…a funicular stop.<\/h2>\n<\/a><\/p>\nWe fully occupied the funicular and one of our Korean tour mates led us in a rendition of \u00a0“funicul\u00ec, funicul\u00e0!” (i think that’s what we sang.\u00a0 It was a bit noisy so I’m not sure.\u00a0\u00a0 The ride took us to a nice Lisbon viewpoint.<\/h2>\n
<\/a><\/h2>\nThis was our view.\u00a0 We could see our hotel (smack in the center) and St. Georges castle on the hill top beyond. More on the castle later.<\/h2>\n
<\/a><\/p>\nOn the way back to the hotel, Juanjo treated us (again) to some roasted chestnuts (casta\u00f1as). I’m not sure I liked them.<\/h2>\n
That evening our entire group met in the penthouse dining room at the hotel for a nice “last supper”.\u00a0 \u00a0Many thanks to GCT!<\/h2>\n
That was it for me on the evening of Day 13.<\/h2>\n
Lights out!<\/h1>\n