Playing in Belem

Sunday, we decided to go play in the park at Belem. Téo needed to run around a bit after having been cooped-up at home too long...



While there, we visited the Monastério dos Jerónimos, famous for its unique "Manueline" architectural style.







One of the few structures left standing after the devastating 1755 earthquake, its riches were stolen by the French during the Napoleonic invasions.

Bairo Alto

The Bairo Alto is a neighborhood in Lisbon. "Bairo Alto" means "High Neighborhood" and it is as ancient as it is high. It's not a usual toursist stop during the day, but at night it comes alive with the inumerous restaurants, bars, and night clubs.



Perched atop one of the many hills in Lisbon, its pictoresque streets are closed to traffic. One way for the locals to avoid the steep climb back from downtown Lisbon is to take the funicular of the Rua da Glória.



There are beautiful views of Lisbon from up there. You can see the Castle in the background.

To Serra da Estrela

We went to the highest point in Portugal, the Serra da Estrela (1993m), where there are some ski runs with amazing 360º views. Téo had fun playing in the little snow there was.





The trip there, though, goes through some beautiful country.





It's apparent from the geology that the whole mountain range was run over by glaciers, as evidenced by the rounded-out rock surfaces and the many boulders randomly deposited just about everywhere.





It's amazing to think that just tens of thousands of years ago, ice sheets covered much of Europe this far south...

The 1616 Manor House in progress

Update on the restauration of the 1616 Manor House. New roof, but the insides have been removed for the renovation. It looks like one of those excavated roman ruins with a roof on top to protect it...

Croup through the ages...

Téo had a croup episode last night. I looked online to find the earliest reference of this common children's condition. It seems to many people around here to have become common only relatively recently, but I think it is because now it has a name... In finding old texts and references, I am now only too glad to live in more modern times (imagine what they'll say in 200 years!) Take, for example, this exerpt from 1785...

Cascais Parque

After swimming, we took a little walk in the park nearby.


Téo got a treat and he is not sharing it with anyone or anything, no matter how beautiful its plummage...



Swans, ducks, and peacocks walk (and swim) around unimpeded.


This royal-looking, huge fellow was in a BIG cage.


Do stone feet stink? Téo has to find out.


P.U.! Yes they do!

Téo Swim Lessons

Taken at one of his twice-weekly swim lessons.
No playing around here!

Téo in his school uniform

*Gasp*
Téo has to wear a uniform for school.
And a tie.
*Gasp*
Actually. It looks cute. See:

Sintra Castle

Sunday, we took a tour of the Palacio da Pena, a castle where the last kings of Portugal lived, perched above the historical city of Sintra.

This is the entrance to the castle.



The view is amazing...


3-D view of the Moorish Castle.








The surrounding gardens are straight out of a fairy tale book.

Birthday Party

A birthday party in a Portuguese equivalent
of Chuck-e-Cheese ("Adventure Island"!)

Double-Take

Hey! I didn't autorize that!...

Quinta da Regaleira

The estate of the Quinta da Regaleira is beautiful, and open to visit. Built in the mid to late nineteenth century, it is 100% romantic period, with secret caves and passages, meandering paths, ornate gazebos, and picturesque towers. Téo had a blast.

Téo had just woken up from his nap. "Are we in a fairy castle?"

Inside one of the many meandering caves and ponds. A flash-light is needed to explore any caves beyond where daylight ends. We tried using the camera's focusing beam and got to this spot, but gave up soon after hitting our heads a couple times. We'll be back. Properly equipped, this time. ;-)

Looking down into a hidden "well". A revolving stone door, Indiana Jones style lets you in. There's a tunnel at the botton to the caves by the ponds, and another semi-hidden underground passage to the tower below.

A view of the Palacio da Pena up on the top of the mountain.

A nice tiny little café to rest after all the running around. "The little corner of Lord Byron" I guess he used to stop by here a lot? Perhaps.

Sofia and Téo, who is about to pass-out from all the running around.

New Year's

Images from New Year's. We were right next to the center of town and at a friend's top floor apartment.

Plastic bags.
Plastic bags full of water.
Plastic bags full of water and heads full of wine.
We had fun.
Some of them didn't so much.
Say no more...

Views of Cascais

Birds dread the umbrella-weilding Deb


A panorama of the city of Cascais from the old Fort by the marina.
(Click on the image to see a larger version.)


Things that turn and roar and bump are what delight this little guy.


Holiday night decorations in the center of town.

Belem

The Belem river-side from atop the new Belem Cultural Center.


The terrace on top of the Belem Cultural Center, unusally devoid of people strolling about.


What Téo was doing under the terrace...