below: The pavement of the central square is a giant piece of Op-Art
left and above: Lisbon is famous for its street cars. It is also famous for its hills. The technological solution is the funicular. Above is the operator's-eye view.
left: Simply known as the "Lift" this gigantic elevator is another solution to the hills.
right: Another unique feature of Lisbon is the use of ceramic tiles as an exterior wall covering.
below Slide show: One of our favourite activities when visiting a city for the first time is to book a Food Tour. This was a good tour in that it was as much about the culture as about the food and wine we got to sample.
Iberian Hams - well aged, well priced
pick the perfect cheese for the perfect ham
fresh Cod and Cod Flakes - how authentic
Our guide, Madalena, explains
Fado is to Lisbon as Tango is to Buenos Aires
Samosas shows an new mix of flavours
5 - 6
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below Slide show: For us another pleasant day can be spent watching birds with a local guide. We're not expert birders but we do like see nature. Guides know how to put your simple camera up to a spotting scope so you get a photographic record
a spotting scope view of an Osprey
The '98 Vasco da Gama 12 km bridge
Spotting quiz: find the Little Owl
Sandra and our guide, Bernardo, looking
A heron gives us the eye
A bittern in its favourite habitat
6 - 6
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above: This is Sintra - where it is cooler (altitude) and one goes to if one can afford the architecture. Nowadays it is a tourist Mecca. Sort of like a Romantic Period Carcassonne
above: a 16th C. defensive tower called Torte de Belem built to protect Lisbon from attack from the Tagus river. A fancy gun emplacement, no? Below: Belem as seen as we cruised by.
