On Monday, we took a tram car tour through the narrow, winding streets of the Alfama neighborhood of Lisbon. Although the tram was flaming red, it also was included in our Yellow Bus package.
After that, we got on the double-deck Yellow Bus and headed out to the Park of Nations neighborhood, which our audio guide referred to as the modern area of Lisbon.
It was here that Lisbon hosted Expo ’98.
We walked a cobblestone walkway along the waterfront…
…beautiful sculptures…
…and fountains…
…that sometime got overexcited…
We spotted a happy snorkeler in a pool outside the aquarium…
…and tried not to stare as we strode past the local nude beach.
Honoring Portugal’s seafaring past, a pair of tall buildings sported sails…
…and there was the Vasco da Gama tower, Lisbon’s tallest building.
We bought tickets, rode the elevator up and admired the view through some rather dirty windows.
For dinner that night, we headed for the Cervejaria Antartida, Portuguese for Antarctic Brewery. I couldn’t pass up a place with a name like that. They advertised tapas, steaks and seafood, and I was ready for a chunk of dead cow.
Instead of a Texas-style T-bone, I ended up with sirloin topped with mushrooms and smothered in a delicious sauce with fries on the side.
On the way back, we passed some local wildlife in the square…
…and lights illuminating some of the local monuments.
