Lisbon

Ratings for Lisbon, Portugal

Sights: A+
Food: A+
Weather: A+
People: A+++

Aside from a scare involving Afton (post later), and the predicted hassles of traveling with FOUR kids, we had a wonderful time. Andrew speaks Portuguese and what really made this trip so wonderful were the people. Everywhere we turned someone was helping us, smiling or treating us like lifelong friends. If we stopped and asked someone for directions, they didn't just tell us where to go, they actually made sure we got there. We had at least 3 different women hold Afton on their laps while on the train/tram/buses, and someone was always cooing over Clara. At one point we were relaxing at a town square and Luke and Afton were running around kicking a balloon like it was a ball. I looked around and there were a handful of older women and men watching the kids with a smile on their faces.

We flew in and stayed for 4 full days. I'm posting a ton of pics just to show the diversity of this area. Lisbon was our homebase, but 3 of the 4 days were spent within a 45 min radius of the city. Also, somehow EVERYWHERE we went we beat the crowds- it was really remarkable.

Belém
Monastery of Jerónimos- late 1400's

Monument to the Discoveries and Maritime Museum

Belém Tower- early 1500's

Sintra

Palácio de Pena

Quinta da Regaleira mansion and gardens

Cascais
Great beaches, seafood and fun town center.





Above: We loved the roads in Portugal! They had such great designs and literally gleamed. Below: I didn't think to bring bathing suits, so the boys slowly stripped down to their undies.

Lisbon