We popped up and met Carlos and Omar by 11:30 at the end of the Avenue de Liberdade. Then we jumped into an UberXL for our 20 minute drive over to Belem. We picked up the uber right where the funicular starts and we drove along the river to get to Belem. We started walking at the Belem Tower. This tower was finished in 1519 and was built on a small island in the Tagus River. It was intended to be a fortress that would regulate the traffic on the Tagus River. However in 1755, after the huge earthquake, the local topography was changed and the tower ended up closer to the shore. From here there are great views of Christ the Redeemer and the bridge across the Tagus. We walked down stream until we got to the Monument to the Discoveries. This huge monument has a who's who of Portuguese luminaries. These included kings, queens, princes, explorers such as Vasco de Gama and Ferdinand Magellan and many more. It is a celebration of such "firsts" as the first circumnavigation the globe, first rounding the horn of Africa, first sail to India, first to begin exploring the Congo River, first to sail to Brazil an so on. Many writers, poets and clergy are also commemorated on this monument. It started raining a bit so we crossed under the street to the Nautical museum
Funicular away!
Incredible detail anyone?
On the drive we passed many fine old buildings
Some new art pieces
We passed under this bridge which was four or five stories above ground level
Way up high!
The sister bridge of the Golden Gate Bridge
The little dog has a cup in its mouth
The Belen Tower
The Peeps are all here!
At the waters edge
Christ the rainmaker
It is an epic construction
A sea plane out of metal
The river widens out as it meets the sea
Fly time
Off in the distance
What the ????
A lighthouse right next to the monument
Fishing becomes catching
The bridge and the monument
Almost there
All of old Portugal is lined up
Heading inland
The reflection picture
Cawww cawww
A violin player in the underpass
We are back topside and seeing the Cathedral and Monastery
It has been 1 year 97 days since we began our Migration
