Jul – Aug 2018

Portugal

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Day 11
Tuesday, July 24, 2018 at 1:20 PM
⛅ 25 °C
Altitude: 295 ft
Portugal Miradouro de Nossa Senhora do Monte 38.71914, -9.13283438°43’9” N 9°7’58” W
Nossa Senhorra do Monte
July 24, 2018 in Portugal ⋅ ⛅ 25 °C
It offers a panoramic view of Lisbon, which is also observed by a small image of the Virgin that gives the name to 'Our Lady of the Mount'. Behind the statue is a small 18th century chapel, which is almost always closed. Legend tells that pregnant women sitting on the stone chair in the interior would have their births facilitated.

This is one of the highest points of the city, so you can see several monuments, identified in a panel of tiles.Read more
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Day 11
Tuesday, July 24, 2018 at 1:52 PM
⛅ 24 °C
Altitude: 259 ft
Portugal Monastery of São Vicente de Fora 38.714803, -9.1284338°42’53” N 9°7’42” W
Church of São Vicente of Fora
July 24, 2018 in Portugal ⋅ ⛅ 24 °C
The Church or Monastery of São Vicente de Fora; meaning 'Monastery of St. Vincent Outside the Walls' is a 17th-century church and monastery in the city of Lisbon. It is one of the most important monasteries and mannerist buildings in the country. The monastery also contains the royal pantheon of the Braganza monarchs of Portugal.

The original Monastery of São Vicente de Fora was founded around 1147 by the first Portuguese King, Afonso Henriques however the present buildings are the result of a reconstruction ordered by King Philip II of Spain, who had become King of Portugal (as Philip I) after a succession crisis in 1580. The church of the monastery was rebuilt between 1582 and 1629,Read more
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Day 11
Tuesday, July 24, 2018 at 2:42 PM
⛅ 24 °C
Altitude: 174 ft
Portugal Church of Santa Engrácia 38.715281, -9.12452138°42’55” N 9°7’28” W
Feira da Ladra
July 24, 2018 in Portugal ⋅ ⛅ 24 °C
This 'Flea Market' has everything, located to the rear of the Panteao Nacional it extends towards the Church of Sao Vicente and down to Campo de Santa Clara

Made up of permanent shops and stalls to simple allocations marked on the pavement for individuals to 'Boot Sale' their items, an incredible place runs on Tuesdays and SaturdaysRead more
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Day 11
Tuesday, July 24, 2018 at 2:51 PM
⛅ 24 °C
Altitude: 164 ft
Portugal Church of Santa Engrácia 38.71487, -9.125138°42’54” N 9°7’30” W
Panteão Nacional
July 24, 2018 in Portugal ⋅ ⛅ 24 °C
The Church of Santa Engrácia (Igreja de Santa Engrácia, apparently pronounced is a 17th-century monument in Lisbon.

Originally a church, in the 20th century it was converted into the National Pantheon (Panteão Nacional), in which important Portuguese personalities are buried. It is located in the Alfama neighborhood, close to another important Lisbon monument, the Monastery of São Vicente de Fora.Read more
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Day 11
Tuesday, July 24, 2018 at 3:47 PM
⛅ 24 °C
Altitude: 148 ft
Portugal Miradouro das Portas do Sol 38.712399, -9.12976738°42’45” N 9°7’47” W
Portas do Sol
July 24, 2018 in Portugal ⋅ ⛅ 24 °C
A rest and Super Bock at the Portas do Sol (Port of Sunsets), which is the company also running the apartment so I get a free drink!

Located along the road from Miradouro de Santa Luzia it has equally superb views of the River Tagus although this time with the P&O Boat 'MV Ventura' alongside, I really can't imagine what it must be like on one of those ships...soooo scary!Read more
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Day 12
Wednesday, July 25, 2018 at 10:24 AM
⛅ 18 °C
Altitude: 1,329 ft
Portugal Pena 38.789276, -9.3919938°47’21” N 9°23’31” W
Pena Palace (Palácio da Pena)
July 25, 2018 in Portugal ⋅ ⛅ 18 °C
The grounds are magnificent although on this occasion I headed straight to the Palace, Having said that you turn corners and are faced with little 'Follies' which are, again, beautifully tiled and one had a small water feature inside which was lovely and cool

Getting to Pena Palace was, without doubt, the worst journey I have ever had, the road is like a corkscrew and, even worse, cobbled!

Thankfully because I arrived early I managed to get parking right next to the Gatehouse, a really lovely chap guided me into a placeRead more
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Day 12
Wednesday, July 25, 2018 at 12:22 PM
⛅ 21 °C
Altitude: 167 ft
Portugal Largo Do Correio Mor 38.711121, -9.13346238°42’40” N 9°8’0” W
Pena Palace - Dentro
July 25, 2018 in Portugal ⋅ ⛅ 21 °C
Pena National Palace (Palácio da Pena) is absolutely superb but sadly it’s a real ‘tourist trail’ and there’s only one way to go round, the crowds are huge, and pushing, so no opportunity to have a leisurely wander and really take it all in so, in all honesty, I just wanted to get out altogether!

The ‘Murals’ are amazing in some instances you have to look twice...decorative art at its most pertinent and the tiling is most beautiful it really makes you want to get home and try this out for yourself, I feel like this every time I go to Barcelona too!

Some of the rooms are really quite basic but then the 'public rooms' are lush with gilt and marbling with some of the most wonderful chandeliers!Read more
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Day 12
Wednesday, July 25, 2018 at 1:59 PM
⛅ 19 °C
Altitude: 1,627 ft
Portugal Pena National Palace 38.787994, -9.3902338°47’17” N 9°23’25” W
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Pena Palace - O Fim
July 25, 2018 in Portugal ⋅ ⛅ 19 °C
A pilgrimage site since the Middle Ages, the chapel of Our Lady of Penha was replaced by a Hieronymite monastery whose foundation was authorised in 1503 by King Manuel I (1469-1521), the monarch during the great Portuguese discoveries.

The monastery was greatly damaged by the 1755 earthquake and finally abandoned after the nationalisation of the monasteries in 1834.

n 1838, German Ferdinand Saxe Coburg-Gotha (1816-1885), King Consort of Queen Maria II , bought the ruins of the monastery, the woods and the Castle of the Moors and initiated the construction of a road that would link the palace to Sintra.

The remodelling of the old monastery (red buildings) began in 1840 and, around 1845, Ferdinand extended it by building another complex (yellow buildings) which was known as the 'New Palace' inspired by the palaces and castles of Bavaria.

The German architect Baron von Eschwege was in charge of the remodelling and the new construction.

And, last but not least, our own Padlock snug inside the Castle, I was getting quite desperate in the end but on the way out...at last! 🤪Read more
Traveler Oh Sweetheart. Thank you 😘
7/27/18Reply
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Day 13
Thursday, July 26, 2018 at 10:05 AM
⛅ 22 °C
Altitude: 328 ft
Portugal Parque Eduardo VII 38.730282, -9.15442738°43’49” N 9°9’16” W
Eduardo VII Park
July 26, 2018 in Portugal ⋅ ⛅ 22 °C
The Eduardo VII Park (Portuguese: Parque Eduardo VII) is a public park in Lisbon

The park occupies an area of 65 acres to the north of the Avenida da Liberdade and the Marquis of Pombal Square, in the centre of the city.

Its name pays homage to Edward VII of the United Kingdom who visited Portugal in 1902, to strengthen the relations between the two countries. Until that visit, its name was Liberty Park (Parque da Liberdade).

Within the area of the Park are the Carlos Lopes Pavilion (the former Portuguese pavilion of the 1922 Rio de Janeiro International Exposition) and the Estufa Fria

On the northern top of the park is a flagpole where the present largest Flag of Portugal of the world is usually flown, but not today !Read more
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Day 13
Thursday, July 26, 2018 at 10:27 AM
⛅ 21 °C
Altitude: 328 ft
Portugal Parque Eduardo VII 38.730327, -9.15445338°43’49” N 9°9’16” W
Marquis de Pombal Square
July 26, 2018 in Portugal ⋅ ⛅ 21 °C
The square named after the Marquis de Pombal is right at the centre of Lisbon, with the convergence of both three of the capitals largest boulevards

The monument to the Marquis of Pombal, the prime minister responsible for the rebuilding of Lisbon following the Great Earthquake in 1755, shows him standing on a column with his hand on a lion, the symbol of power, and his eyes directed to the downtown area that he rebuilt.

The base is decorated with allegorical images depicting Pombal's political, educational, and agricultural reforms. Broken blocks of stone at the foot of the monument and tidal waves flooding the city symbolize the effects of the 1755 earthquake.

The surrounding paving stones are decorated with a mosaic of Lisbon's coat of arms.Read more
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Day 13
Thursday, July 26, 2018 at 11:12 AM
⛅ 24 °C
Altitude: 151 ft
Portugal Praça do Município 38.708523, -9.14139638°42’31” N 9°8’29” W
MNAC
July 26, 2018 in Portugal ⋅ ⛅ 24 °C
Museu Nacional de Arte Contemporanea do Chiado (MNAC)

A real disappointment I cannot believe this is a true representation collection of Modern & Contemporary Portuguese Art from the late 1800s to today

The theme is ‘Portuguese Art: Reasons and Emotions’ and runs until April 2019

The recent work is simply too naive, which I accept is not to my taste,Read more
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Day 13
Thursday, July 26, 2018 at 11:47 AM
⛅ 24 °C
Altitude: 49 ft
Portugal Arco da Rua Augusta 38.708703, -9.13695738°42’31” N 9°8’13” W
Rua Augusta Arch
July 26, 2018 in Portugal ⋅ ⛅ 24 °C
The Rua Augusta Arch is a stone, triumphal arch-like, historical building and visitor attraction in Lisbon, Portugal, on the Praça do Comércio. It was built to commemorate the city's reconstruction after the 1755 earthquake. It has six columns and is adorned with statues of various historical figures. Significant height from the arch crown to the cornice imparts an appearance of heaviness to the structure. The associated space is filled with the coat of arms of Portugal. The allegorical group at the top, made by French sculptor Célestin Anatole Calmels, represents Glory rewarding Valor and Genius.

Originally designed as a bell tower, the building was ultimately transformed into an elaborate arch after more than a century, it should be noted that due to the height the figures had to be huge and the central figure is 23 feet tall!Read more
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Day 13
Thursday, July 26, 2018 at 11:55 AM
⛅ 24 °C
Altitude: 33 ft
Portugal Praça do Município 38.706994, -9.13890538°42’25” N 9°8’20” W
Praça do Comércio
July 26, 2018 in Portugal ⋅ ⛅ 24 °C
The Praça do Comércio is located in the city of Lisbon. Situated near the Tagus river, the square is still commonly known as Terreiro do Paço (Palace Yard), because it was the location of the Paços da Ribeira (Royal Ribeira Palace) until it was destroyed by the great 1755 Lisbon earthquake.

After the earthquake, the square was completely remodeled as part of the rebuilding of the Pombaline Downtown, ordered by Sebastião José de Carvalho e Melo, 1st Marquis of Pombal, who was the Minister of the Kingdom of Portugal from 1750 to 1777, during the reign of Dom José I, King of Portugal.Read more
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Day 13
Thursday, July 26, 2018 at 12:50 PM
⛅ 24 °C
Altitude: 154 ft
Portugal Jardim da Cerca da Graça 38.7167, -9.133338°43’0” N 9°7’60” W
King Jose I
July 26, 2018 in Portugal ⋅ ⛅ 24 °C
The statue depicts King Jose I on his horse, which several snakes at its feet.

The statue stands on a pediment flanked respectively left and right, by allegorical sculptures of Triumph and Fame, which symbolize the submitting of the continents to the Portuguese.
In front of the pedestal, facing the river, is a large relief showing the royal coat of arms, under which was placed a bronze medallion with the portrait of the Marquis of Pombal.
On the opposite face there is a bas-relief allegory to the Royal Generosity, translating the monarch's commitment to the reconstruction of the city destroyed by the Earthquake.

The statue was unveiled in 1775 and was the first statue dedicated to a King in Portugal.

The bronze equestrian statue of Joseph I of Portugal (1750 – 1777) was designed by Machado de Castro in 1775. Joseph I was King of Portugal during the Great Earthquake and is the first cast bronze statue in Portugal it is also the oldest public statue in Lisbon and the country.Read more
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Day 13
Thursday, July 26, 2018 at 1:00 PM
☀️ 25 °C
Altitude: 20 ft
Portugal Estátua de Dom José I 38.7073, -9.13649438°42’26” N 9°8’11” W
Cais das Colunas
July 26, 2018 in Portugal ⋅ ☀️ 25 °C
Cais das Colunas is located at Praça do Comércio, in the historical center of Lisbon; its marble steps used to be the noble entrance into the city, through which heads of state and other prominent figures have arrived. It used to give access to ferry boats and other vessels connecting Praça do Comércio to the Tagus' south bank.

The pier was named after the two columns (colunas) that can be seen on the side of the main steps. These simple yet elegant pillars were designed by architect Eugénio dos Santos and were part of the city reconstruction plan after the 1755 earthquake nearly destroyed it.

The two columns are replicas of those thought to have been in Solomon's temple, they're representative of wisdom and devotion.Read more
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Day 13
Thursday, July 26, 2018 at 2:03 PM
☀️ 25 °C
Altitude: 26 ft
Portugal Estátua de Dom José I 38.7075, -9.1354238°42’27” N 9°8’8” W
Populi
July 26, 2018 in Portugal ⋅ ☀️ 25 °C
Populi - Caffé & Restaurant on the Praça do Comércio

A good 'people watcher' space, what a strange variety of people, of which I accept I am one, and street hawkers selling all sorts including sunglasses, Jogo da Velha and Maconha

I just had the Veal Sushi cheese and sour cream with Parmesan Crisps and Basil, I believe, absolutely gorgeous, washed down with a Jack Daniels and Coke!Read more
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Day 13
Thursday, July 26, 2018 at 3:13 PM
☀️ 25 °C
Altitude: 72 ft
Portugal Square of the Fig Tree 38.71245, -9.13832338°42’45” N 9°8’18” W
Rua Augusta - Stone
July 26, 2018 in Portugal ⋅ ☀️ 25 °C
Rua Augusta a really busy area, to the rear of the Rua Augusta Arch, full of Street Cafes, Coffee Houses and Living Statues, I particularly liked the Miss Havisham

Enjoying my last Pastéis de Nata and Port Wine before I head back to the apartment to pack ready for my trip to Salamance tomorrow, all 474 km of it!Read more
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Day 15
Saturday, July 28, 2018 at 10:00 AM
☀️ 15 °C
Altitude: 2,707 ft
Spain Plaza Mayor 40.964825, -5.66445640°57’53” N 5°39’52” W
Salamanca
July 28, 2018 in Spain ⋅ ☀️ 15 °C
This is the most beautiful place...

I think I could come back here, in fact I believe I may have to, as there’s just not enough time to see all the things I planned and I've been skimming, which is really bad

It's only 360 km from Santander so about 3 hours, the Hotel Ibb is a 20 minute walk into the City so, again, not too bad, but there's a lot closer!Read more
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Day 15
Saturday, July 28, 2018 at 10:13 AM
☀️ 16 °C
Altitude: 2,671 ft
Spain Iglesia de San Marcos 40.969833, -5.66354540°58’11” N 5°39’49” W
Parroquia San Marcos
July 28, 2018 in Spain ⋅ ☀️ 16 °C
The church of San Marcos de Salamanca, is a Romanesque building that is located in the area of the old city wall in the Puerta de Zamora

It was built in the late eleventh century and was intended to be a parish. It is unique for its round plant and its small size (around 22 meters in diameter). The building was the headquarters of the Royal Clergy of San Marcos

In spite of being circular in the outside, the interior of the church does not present the typical centralized plant of the circular churches, but it is divided in three naves finished in three apses, like a basilical plant

There are data from the year 1200 by which King Alfonso IX of León had given this parish to the association of the clergy, which was called Real Clerecía de San Marcos. Hence, it worked as clergy until the expulsion of the Jesuits (1769 ), when such a name passed to the College of the Holy Spirit of the Jesuits, which was henceforth used by the diocesan clergyRead more
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Day 15
Saturday, July 28, 2018 at 10:39 AM
☀️ 17 °C
Altitude: 2,644 ft
Spain Plaza de los Bandos 40.966879, -5.66469340°58’1” N 5°39’53” W
Casa de Dona Maria La Brava
July 28, 2018 in Spain ⋅ ☀️ 17 °C
The house of Dona Maria la Brava is a private house built around 1485, a great representative example of the houses of the Spanish nobility of the second half of the fifteenth century. It is located in the Plaza de los Bandos, in the city of Salamanca.

In the lot where the real house of Mrs. María Rodríguez de Monroy was, another descendants built around 1485, of which only the façade remains, slightly altered by a balcony with heraldic and vegetal decoration that was later opened.Read more
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Day 15
Saturday, July 28, 2018 at 10:42 AM
☀️ 17 °C
Altitude: 2,644 ft
Spain Plaza de los Bandos 40.966887, -5.66461940°58’1” N 5°39’53” W
Parroquia de Nuestra Señora del Carmen
July 28, 2018 in Spain ⋅ ☀️ 17 °C
The Church of Our Lady of Carmen

The church of Nuestra Señora del Carmen is also known as the church of Carmen de Arriba and it is located in one of the best-known squares of Salamanca, the Plaza de los Bandos, which is very close to the main square.

Previously it was part of the old Convent and College of San Elias of the Discalced Carmelites.

The church began to be built in 1690 and the person in charge of the work was the Friar Antonio de Jesús María. The church is built with the characteristic stone of Salamanca and has a discreet but very beautiful facade in which the triangular pediment that it has in the top part of the door and where an image of San Elías stands out.

The facade also has two very beautiful side bell towers that add more height to the building.Read more
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Day 15
Saturday, July 28, 2018 at 10:54 AM
☀️ 18 °C
Altitude: 2,605 ft
Spain Palacio de Monterrey 40.965168, -5.6663340°57’55” N 5°39’59” W
Palacio de Monterrey
July 28, 2018 in Spain ⋅ ☀️ 18 °C
Unfortunately we were not allowed to take any photographs inside the Palace so those images have been taken from their website

The Palacio de Monterrey is a building of the Spanish city of Salamanca, one of the greatest exponents of the Plateresque artistic style.

Built by the III count of Monterrey, it is currently owned by the House of Alba, which is the owner of that county. It was a building much admired and imitated in the nineteenth century, giving rise to the so-called Monterrey or Neoplateresque style, a historicism that took up the aesthetics of Plateresque

It was declared a National Historic Monument, equivalent to the current BIC term with Monument category, on May 6, 1929.

In May 2018 four extra rooms that have been refurbished become open to the publicRead more
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Day 15
Saturday, July 28, 2018 at 11:05 AM
☀️ 18 °C
Altitude: 2,641 ft
Spain Plaza Mayor 40.9638, -5.66618740°57’50” N 5°39’58” W
Iglesa de San Martin
July 28, 2018 in Spain ⋅ ☀️ 18 °C
This famous construction is one of the few buildings of the full or dynastic Romanesque in Spain and shows obvious relations with other buildings of the Camino de Santiago such as the Cathedral of Jaca, San Isidoro de León and the Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela

Its origin is to be found in a Benedictine monastery founded by Doña Mayor, Countess of Castile and Queen of Navarre (widow of Sancho el Mayor) in 1066, although the current temple had to be built in the last two decades of the eleventh century

As far as architecture is concerned, the debt that this church owes to Medieval Byzantine architecture (consolidated from the 9th century by Armenian influence) is evident and merged with the tradition of Latin basilical temples to form a mestizaje as outstanding as that of Frómista.Read more
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Day 15
Saturday, July 28, 2018 at 11:18 AM
☀️ 19 °C
Altitude: 2,618 ft
Spain Palacio de Monterrey 40.96505, -5.66669840°57’54” N 5°40’0” W
Iglesia de la Purisima
July 28, 2018 in Spain ⋅ ☀️ 19 °C
The convent of the Agustinas and the church of la Purísima form a cloister set located in the historic centre of Salamanca

The foundation of the convent is due to Manuel de Zúñiga and Fonseca, Count of Monterrey, in 1636 to house his daughter, Inés Francisca de la Visitación, who was prioress of it. The works were completed in 1687. The Convent is located in front of the Monterrey Palace, residence of the patron.

The Church of the Immaculate, public part of the convent, was thought by the count as a funeral chapel for himself and his family.Read more
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Day 15
Saturday, July 28, 2018 at 12:59 PM
☀️ 22 °C
Altitude: 2,710 ft
Spain Casa de las Conchas 40.962984, -5.66610740°57’47” N 5°39’58” W
Vita Ignatii (The Life of Ignatius)
July 28, 2018 in Spain ⋅ ☀️ 22 °C
Clerecia - College of the Company of Jesus

The Royal College of the Society of Jesus is an imposing building that was commissioned by Queen Margaret of Austria, wife of Philip III, and which began to be built in 1617, six years after her death

The architect Juan Gómez de Mora was in charge of starting the project, but since the works lasted some 150 years, many left their mark on this school. Among them, the famous Andrés and Jerónimo García de Quiñones, present in a large number of buildings of the time

It was the school and residence of Jesuits for a century, until they were expelled from Spain

Since 1940 it has been the seat of the Pontifical University of Salamanca

Due to the initial function for which it was built, the building is divided into three parts: the church, the school and the residence.Read more
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