We are now in Portugal, where we landed in Lisbon. We had a nervous wait for our bags (especially after Kevin and Linda's baggage dramas in Saint Petersburg), but they eventually emerged. We arrived late in the day at our Airbnb apartment after a taxi ride down some very narrow alleys. Bruno greeted us and showed us around, and advised that we are in the "busiest street in the world" so it will be a bit noisy at night. It seems our Rua do Loreto is indeed a busy street, but it is just wide enough for two narrow footpaths and two tram tracks. The trams of Lisbon are old, but climb valiantly up and down the steep streets, stopping frequently to wait for someone who has parked in the way.
 |
| Portuguese roofs are 99 percent terra cotta tiles. |
 |
| Kevin and Linda in the Lisbon crowds. |
 |
| Sue in the Praca do Comercio in Lisbon. |
 |
| The Ascensor da Bica (cable car) was just a few metres from our apartment. |
This little cable car above is famous, and there was usually a small crowd hanging around to take photos as it climbed to the top of its track - just a short distance from our apartment. We ended up using it several times, because Lisbon is a very hilly city. The locals must keep quite fit.
One day we took a small group tour to nearby Sintra, a village (and area) just west of Lisbon where the nobility built chateaux and the king build the Pena Palace up on the steep slopes, as a place where they could go to get away from the summer heat in the city. Our guide gave us a good tour, although the palace was shrouded in cold mist and wind! Most of the people arriving there were somewhat under-prepared for the cold conditions.
 |
| The happy fellow over the main gate to the Pena Palace, at Sintra near Lisbon. |
 |
| Tourists queuing for the Pena Palace. The day we visited was cold and misty. |
Our guide drove us home to Lisbon around the coast, visiting the Cabo de Roca (below) and some of the popular beaches on the way. He was very interested in coming to New Zealand, perhaps to work in the orchards and have a holiday, and noted down Kevin and Linda's contact details!
 |
| Being blasted by the wind at the most westerly point of mainland Europe, near Lisbon. |
 |
| A small crowded beach at Cascais, near Lisbon. |
On our last morning in Lisbon we left our apartment and by taxi and on foot moved ourselves across town to the Avis rental car place, and after some palaver lauched ourselves into the Lisbon traffic in our small rental BMW. The bags overflowed the small boot, so rear vision was restricted, but we made it out of the city without hitting anything and set out for Porto to the north.
