Lisbon, Portugal 2025

We have visited Lisbon three times now. Each time was different yet fabulous sightseeing. (2014 Lisbon Portugal blog and 2011 Jewish Lisbon blog) What a spectacular, pretty and vibrant city.

Last night we connected with daughter Jessica, who flew in to join us on the cruise for two weeks. We started with cocktails at Java, a rooftop bar with a great view.

Today, in between stops, we saw one great view after another.

Jeronimos Monastery was built in the late 1500s.

The Monument of Discoveries celebrates the Portuguese “Age of Exploration” during the 15th and 16th centuries.

Belem Tower is a 16th-century fortification that served as a point of embarkation and disembarkation for Portuguese explorers.

Lisbon had always suffered from a lack of drinking water. This aqueduct was built in the 18^th century bringing water in from 40 miles.

This plane is a full sized replica of the first flight that went from Lisbon to Brazil (5209 miles) in 1922.

The 25^th of April Bridge is painted like the Golden Gate Bridge but designed like the San Francisco – Oakland Bay Bridge. Not coincidentally, both bridges were built by the same company and located in earthquake areas. Seismic data was factored into the design.

Portugal is famous for its custard tart, pateis nata, loaded with egg yolk. Centuries ago poor Catholics who had no money, left eggs on the church contribution plate that was passed around. The friars took the egg whites to make liquor items, leaving the nuns with egg yolks. They made this terrific tasting dish, opened retail outlets and let it be known that people were to patronize them.

Pasteis de Belem is the original, most famous bakery, with allegedly the best tasting tarts in the city. Presumably they sell 20,000 per day.

Pretty city; nice people.