Lisboa

3.01.2002 22 °C

Ola!

Given the ridiculous price of internet in the tourist information centre, this is going to be a quick one...

After a pretty decent train ride from Madrid, we arrived in Lisbon...it's a tad seedy, but the centre has it's own rustic beauty. After a quick walk around the main square, we visited the Castle of St George and the weird sculpture garden housed within it, the Se Cathedral, admired about zillion statues of various holy dudes and founding figures and looked in shoe shops.......I haven't actually bought any yet which is quite remarkable for me. Also cruised about the old Alfama quarter, checked out the aqueduct and visited the wonderful Monument of Discoveries and Tower of Belem.

Jan 8 - more of Lisbon.......lots of shopping for Denise´s birthday!

Jan9 - went to Sintra, a lovely old royal town just north of Lisbon

Jan 10 - spent day at the beautiful seaside town of Cascais before heading onwards to the Cabo de Roca, the most westerly point in Europe and my first visit to the Atlantic Ocean! not that exciting really, but it was really lovely at sunset!

Jan 11 - back in Lisbon today.....visited the Museu Calou Gulbenkian.....this guy was a Turkish bloke who struck it big with oil (like the Beverey Hillbillies!) and spent all his money on art......it is quite an impressive collection. A good range of middle eastern and far east sculpture, ceramics, furniture, ornaments and tapestries, and also a collection of European paintings. Then we went over to the Museum of Coaches....not something I would normally go for, but all the tourist brochures give it 5 thumbs up so we checked it out.....then off to the Cultural Centre of Lisbon to see the Gilbert and George exhibition which had just opened.....these guys are absolutely crazy......they are two ordinary looking middle aged guys who are are mixture of conservative and camp....the exhibition was pop-art and they featured in all of the artworks....a lot of it was a little crass but mostly it was just really bizarre and amusing. Caught a night train to Madrid........

Jan 12 - just arrived in Madrid this morning and we´re staying at the same place we stayed last year.....it is in the centre of the three main art galleries and within walking distance from all the interesting stuff. Had breakfast at our favourite little cafe, and gorged on Andalusian toast (with a tomato-garlic sauce) and thick, thick hot chocolate, then we headed straight for the shops. Denise has managed to find 3 pairs of shoes today, to my one. I think the rest of today will be spent shopping and also looking for some a good tapas bar for dinner.

Adios
Belinda x

Cascais, Portugal