Lindo maravilhoso!

After being on your leave the worst part is to get back to work again right? No matter what you do it's always that thought in your head "I don't wanna work today, maybe I just wanna stay just take it easy cause there's no stress" :))

It makes it easier when you have a nice layover ahead of you. BUT then again, you always worry about the people you're gonna work with... This flight was one of those you pray to have every time! :)

From the moment the Purser came into briefing room I knew it's gonna be a nice flight...
It's important to have nice seniors, ones who make jokes, ones who know how to talk to a bunch of people who never saw each other before, ones who don't act like they are above you etc... The rest of the crew was great as well, some interesting people you have something to talk about, smart funny willing to explore, my kind of company hehe:)

 

Street art has long been a part of Lisbon's culture.

Until the 18th century, there was a tradition of all-white buildings.

After the earthquake of 1755, richer areas began to incorporate colour and tiles into walls and pavements. Early graffiti was perhaps the poor man's equivalent.

Following the democratic revolution in 1974, this self-expression increased.

Now, tags and scribbles cover the streets.

So we took a long walk from the hotel up to the Castle and had a dinner in Bairro Alto afterwards...

Castelo de São Jorge

 

Lots of history between these walls makes it amazing as it is...

Placed on top of the tallest of Lisbon's seven hills, overlooking the city and Tagus river, the castle stands there for centuries.

 

The castle’s name originated as a tribute to Saint George, who’s most popular legend revolves around his bravery to save a virgin from the claws of a dragon.

The devotion to this patron saint of England was passed by crusader knights from the British Isles who accompanied D. Afonso Henriques, first King of Portugal, in the reconquest of the Lisbon city in 1147 from the Moors, during the Reconquista.

 

 

A traditional form of public transport in Lisbon is the tram. Introduced in the 19th century, the trams were originally imported from the USA, rarely called the americanos.

 

Bairro Alto (literally the upper quarter in Portuguese) is an area of central Lisbon. It functions as a residential, shopping and entertainment district: it is the heart of the Portuguese capital's nightlife

In popular belief, fado is a form of music characterized by mournful tunes and lyrics, often about the sea or the life of the poor, and infused with a characteristic sentiment of resignation, fatefulness and melancholia

(loosely captured by the word saudade, or "longing")

In 2011, Fado was inscribed in the UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage Lists.

The next morning only two of us went to see some more sights so we went to Torre de Belem, walked around, saw a Jeronimos Monastery, found a Botanical garden (sorry to say but it's not worth 2euros).

All in all it's been a very nice 24 hours, except me sneezing every 3 seconds (those damn spring allergies) I have one more memorable layover behind me. :)

 

Torre de Belém or the Tower of St.Vincent is a fortified tower that was a defense system at the mouth of the Tagus river and a ceremonial gateway to Lisbon.

 

 

Belém is famous as the place from which many of the great Portuguese explorers set off on their voyages of discovery. In particular, it is the place from which Vasco da Gama departed for India in 1497 and Pedro Álvares Cabral departed for Brazil in 1499.

 

The Jeronimos Monastery is the most impressive symbol of Portugal's power and wealth during the Age of Discovery.

King Manuel I built it in 1502 on the site of a hermitage founded by Prince Henry the Navigator, where Vasco da Gama and his crew spent their last night in Portugal

in prayer before leaving for India.

It was built to commemorate Vasco Da Gama's voyage and to give thanks to the Virgin Mary for its success. Vasco da Gama's tomb was placed inside by the entrance, as was the tomb of poet Luis de Camões, author of the epic The Lusiads in which he glorifies the triumphs of Da Gama and his compatriots.

 

 

UNESCO has classified both, Jeronimos Monastery and Torre de Belem as a World Heritage monuments!

It is definetly one interesting, history rich and beautiful country everyone should visit in their life! Lisbon is one of the oldest cities in the world, and the oldest city in Western Europe, predating other modern European capitals such as London, Paris and Rome by hundreds of years.
So discover some Vasco da Gama spirit in yourselves and go, travel! :)

Some interesting facts I have read about Portugal are...
-it was one of the earliest colonising nation of Europe
-the first Pirate code was invented in the 27th century by the Portuguese buccaneer Bartolomeu Portugues
-in 1761 Portugal became the first colonial power to abolish slavery, half a century before Spain, France, Britain or USA.
-it is one of the most socially conservative countries in Europe - abortion was only legalised in 2007 

After all I want to thank Beatriz for the tips she gave me, think we've been everywhere :)
And have one question for you as well - would you recommend Madeira for vacation? I love the pics I see online and always had in mind to go there for a few days while visiting Portugal...? :)

Beijo e boa noite! :***