Sadly, after my last morning run, we loaded the car heading for the Parque Florestal de Monsanto, created in the 1920’s from reclaimed farmland, on the edge of Lisbon. Mistake number 1 not taking the coastal road. We managed to park and followed a very hot and dusty path through the forest to a viewpoint, or rather an overgrown abandoned tourist site! However, refreshments at the shady very Portuguese café a few mins walk from the car, was some consolation.
Rejoining the traffic, we headed into Lisboa to Sixth car higher to return the car. Mistake number two standing in the way of the underground carpark (exceedingly glad we we're not expected to drive the car there!) An uber later we were at our hotel.
Mistake number 3 too early to check in, I requested we explore Baixa downtown Lisbon. I wanted to take the wrought iron 19th century lift, elevador de Santa Justa, to the Camo convent, roofless and now a museum since the earthquake. There was a very, long, hot stifling queue; I thought the impressive carved wooden elevator and wrought ironwork was worth it! However, I had a solo stroll through the surreal roofless church with cloistered museum complete with desiccated Egyptian mummy!
Booking into our boutique hotel in a restored traditional building complete with shutters looking down over the busy cobbled streets and huge statue laden squares, it dawned on me we should head straight for dinner. We had a lovely traditional meal in a famous Portuguese port wine bar, and after a gentle stroll along the Tagus river front, looping back through the famous tourist street where we saw street artists, playing saws, breakdancing, backflipping as well as caricaturists, not forgetting the obligatory infrastructure upgrades! Harmony restored.
Photos - just my snaps!
Parque Florestal de Monsanto
Lisboa
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