Lisbon

Belém and the Tagus River of Discoveries

If the morning has gold in its mouth, then it's time to enjoy it fully by going downtown and taking tram number 15 to reach the Belém district, once a fishing village, now a tourist destination where you can admire the. Padrão dos Discoveries, the Tower of Belém and the Jerónimos Monastery The monastery is a work of art that we enjoy admiring from the outside, while the other two monuments show us how Europe began to open up to the world right from this city. The opening of routes towards Asia and America overshadowed the land-based ones, giving power and wealth to the nations facing the Atlantic. The Padrao dos Descobrimentos is dedicated to Vasco da Gama, Magellan, and other navigators who contributed to the nation's prestige. A little further away there is Ponte 25 de Abril connects the two banks of the Tagus River, which is now close to flowing into the ocean.

Lisbon, traveling by tram between Sé and Alfama.

We are changing airlines here. bus and then climb up the hill towards the Wow, a magnificent cathedral. which leads to a more intimate space. A short distance away is the Miradouro de Santa Luzia, whose view is unfortunately obstructed by antennas and construction sites. However, it still offers a great view of the roofs of the old city and the river. From this vantage point, we take the 28 bus, a historic route. bus that runs through the city center: it has the peculiarity of having all its interior parts made of wood, as befits an old vehicle, and also the ability to defy gravity, gliding along the steep streets of the Lusitan hills. We arrive at Praça do Comércio and then head up to the Estrela district, where we visit the Estrela Basilica, the Jardim da Estrela and the exterior of the Palace of the Assembly of the Republic. We take the same mode of transport to return to the central area. The time allows us only one last view from Eduardo VII Park.

Christ the King and the final farewell to Portugal

We drive south, passing over the 25 de Abril Bridge, to reach the foot of the Christ the King, the enormous monument, standing at 110 meters tall, erected in 1959 as a thank you for saving Portugal from World War II. Sometimes being in a more remote location can actually be beneficial. The view from the platform The floor reached by elevator is a bit like scrolling through the end credits of what we've seen so far in the city and generally during the week. Below us is Ponte 25 de Abril, a copy of the famous Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco, on the other side is the city center with numerous church domes, while further away you can see the monuments of Belém.

Our Portugal ends here: between the opulence provided by the empire in colonial times and the current difficulties. Sometimes, a peripheral location pays off, sometimes it doesn't. A geographical area's fate is determined at a particular moment in history, and it's up to each individual to live there at the right time or not. The Celts, then the Romans, followed by the barbarian invaders, the Moors, and the Spanish, built its historical structure, culminating in an independent and proud nation, only slightly mitigated by its membership in the European Union, which has its final deadline here, "finis terrae" if we use a Latinism, southwestern, beyond which the only blue is that of the Atlantic.

There's still time for one last look at the open sea from here in. Sesimbra, a seaside town that offers a relaxing atmosphere outside of the peak season. Ideal before returning home.