Portugal, Lisbon
The entrance of Lisbon, Portugal is really spectacular. When our bus entered Lisbon (Lisboa), we were greeted with a huge statue of Jesus Christ. Known as Cristo-Rei (Christ the King), the statue overlooks Lisbon, capital of Portugal. It was inspired by the Christ the Redeemer statue in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, and inaugurated on May 17, 1959.
Cristo-Rei
After entering Lisbon, we headed to the Navigators Monument, also called the Monument to the Discoveries, and the Tower of Belem. The Torre de Belém (Tower of Belem) was built as a fortified lighthouse late in the reign of Dom Manuel (1515-1520) to guard the entrance to the port at Belém.
Torre de Belém
We could also see the Cristo-Rei from here.
Workers tiling up the pavement.
The pavement.
Nearby is the Navigators Monument. The original monument had been built with perishable materials, but it was rebuilt in concrete in 1960, in time for the commemoration of the 500th anniversary of the death of Henry the Navigator, the sponsor of the Portuguese Discoveries.
Navigators Monument
Side view
Side View
Next we headed over to the Jeronimos Monastery, which is only a short walk away.
Jeronimos Monastery
Jeronimos Monastery
Entrance of the Jeronimos Monastery
Inside of the Jeronimos Monastery
Inside of the Jeronimos Monastery
Tomb of Vasco da Gama, a Portugese explorer who was the commander of the first ships to sail directly from Europe to India.
After visiting the Jeronimos Monastry, we headed on to try the world's most famous and delicious Portugese egg tart. Until the 19th century, monasteries were Portugal's research, trade, horticultural, and confectionary epicenters, around which rose small businesses. Originally, lay bakers made the pastéis behind the Jerónimos walls and sold them to the public. In the early 1800s, Domingo Rafael Alves, an enterprising Portuguese from Brazil, bought the recipe from a desperate out-of-work baker. Casa Pastéis de Belém in Lisbon was the first place outside the convent selling this dessert. The recipe of the Portugese egg tarts from this cafe is a guarded secret for centuries. Only 3 people in the world know the recipe.
The famous cafe.