Around The World Without Flying: Lisbon, Portugal

Our last port of call was Lisbon, the westernmost European capital.

Here I decided to have quite a different kind of adventure. I went on an amphibious vehicle to explore the city by land and by water. What a ride that was! Apart from the experience of riding very high up, music was blaring out all the time and we had a really over-the-top guide who was getting everyone to yell responses to her chants, practically non-stop. Goodness, it was noisy! This really was more a trip for the young.

Now I have driven around the Australian Outback - including the Kimberley and Pilbara regions - in a 4-wheel drive bus, which is really a cabin that seats 20 passengers and is built on top of a huge truck. In the Kimberley, where the roads are very rough, every bone in your body is really shaken about for days on end. Climbing up into this amphibious vehicle and driving then sailing around in it was a piece of cake in comparison. But it was still fun, once you got used to the noise of the music and the incessant yelling.

One unforgettable moment was zooming down a ramp into the river with a big splash, to the very loud sound of music that I think was from ‘2001 - a Space Odyssey’. It was as though we were on a triumphal entry into a city as its conquerors! The guide had everyone yelling and raising and shaking their fists in glee. (I am afraid I shrank back in my seat and just quietly enjoyed the moment.)

A much quieter but very pleasurable moment was when we descended from the vehicle to explore a square where there were museums, a planetarium and a big arts complex. We were each given a delicacy of which the Portuguese are very proud. It was a warm, freshly baked creamy custard pastry, that looked a bit like a tart but with a ‘bowl’ of crispy pastry. It was simply delicious!

We saw many places of interest, however, which you can see in the following photos. It was clear from the museums and sculptures and statues about the city that the Portuguese are immensely proud of the time they were conquering new lands and establishing very profitable trade routes and deals. Initially they were competing with the Spanish in this, until the Pope of the time divided the world between them. (Shame the Pope did not put an end to their slave trade whilst he was about it . . . How could he approve of that?)

Our guide told us that early records of these explorers showed pictures of kangaroos. I knew the Portuguese had stopped along our coastline and so did the Dutch, long before the English were there, but I must confess it was probably a good thing that the English eventually conquered the land, despite the atrocities many of them committed against our Aboriginal people.

Hooray, I am now completely up-to-date with my blog!

It will be one more full sea day before we reach the next port.

I have just received statistics from the Blog providers saying that since I started writing my blog, there have been a total of almost 7000 ‘hits’. A big thank you to all of you who have been visiting my blog. I am very honoured that you read it. It is for you I do it, of course, but that response makes all the investment of time worthwhile.

View of Lisbon from the ship.

Zooming in on the waterfront.

Zooming in on the cathedral, which apparently dates from the 12th century and is the oldest church in Lisbon.

Climbing into our vehicle.

Inside the vehicle.

A fountain we saw when driving around the city

One of the city buildings - presumably an apartment building.

This road had a park in the centre for its entire length. A great place for people to relax.

A great statue in one of the city squares.

I noticed that a lot of the buildings were covered in tiles. It might be hard to see, but that was the case for the building on the right.

The arts centre.

Our vehicle where we lined up for our little 'custard tarts'.

The front of the building is now a museum dedicated to the Portuguese explorers. Opposite was a maritime museum.

Splash and in we go!

A memorial in the shape of a caravel featuring many of the past explorers who discovered 'new' lands.

A vast state-of-the-art medical and science research facility. Top researchers from over the world apparently vie for places here. It was entirely paid for by a benefactor.