Day 21: Lisbon

Food in Portugal is much cheaper than its European counterparts. Like Singaporeans, they indulge in gastronomy. Pastry shops are abundant. Alfresco dining cafes are plentiful. Due to the price, Portugal was where I was very willing to spend money on food.

We woke up at around 10.30am in the morning. Gosh! That was the latest I had ever woke up during my travels. It was a classic example of "你等我起床我就赖床" mentality.

We started the day by arguing with the hostel about its atrocious conditions. (refer to the previous post on the blog) Despite being defeated honourably, we refused to be distracted with the outcome. The sun was beckoning to us.

Gonçalo introduced us a small cafe right in the middle of Lisbon which offered food at really low prices. After being so numbed to the high costs in Sweden as well as the places I had visited during this trip, I was suprised and delighted by the low prices. I can't recall the actual price but trust me, even with the strictest budget, you can't resist the temptation to reach into your pocket. The food in Portugal is delectably cheap.


A cake and vegetable soup for breakfast. In all, I spent no more than 2.50 euro, I think. Don't be fooled by its portion. It's enough to fill up your stomach.

According to Gonçalo, the soup that we ordered was very spicy. Really? I didn't even notice that!




District of Baixa in Lisbon

In 1755, an earthquake devastated much of downtown Baixa. It emerged from its ashes with a gird-like downtown neatly laid out. Navigation in the district is easy since all streets are laid out at right angles with one another. With our hostel right in the middle of Baixa, eveything is very convenient.

The city was also spruced up in anticipation of Euro 2004. Everything was neat and clean.


Elevador de Santa Justa... it costs 1 euro to get to the top. In fact, during our last day in Lisbon, we discovered a way to get to the top for free.

Elevador de Santa Justa was opened in 1901. Its architect was the same person who designed the Eiffel Tower in Paris. During that time, Paris was the role model for all major cities around the world. Lisbon aspired to be Paris of Portugal as well. Hence, the Portuguese engaged the services of Eiffel to build this tower in Lisbon. Unfortunately, it's obviously ain't as impressive as the French counterpart. At first glance, this cast-iron structure looked as though it was built from leftover materials from the Eiffel Tower.


Belém: Jerónimos Monastery on the left and the Monument to the Discoveries on the right.

Belém is about half an hour's tram ride from the city centre. The Monument to the Discoveries commemorates the Portuguese greats who set sailed from Lisbon to outlying territories as far as the Philippines. I thought the monument was bombastically chessy though.

Jerónimos monastery is a prime example of the late Gothic Manueline style. Cathedrals in Portugal are somewhat different from those in Europe. Abandoning the "all-churches-are-the-same-in-Europe" mindset, I couldn't deny the fact that Portuguese cathedrals are unique in its own way.


Antiga Confeitaria de Belém

Up next, traditional Portuguese egg tarts!! They are those kinds which you get them in dim sum restaurants. However, they spice up their tarts with white icing and cinnamon powder. Heavenly divine! So reminiscent of the egg tarts in Singapore. According to Gonçalo, the shop that we bought the tarts from was the most popular in Lisbon and held the record of being the oldest.

I can still remember the name of the pastry cafetaria... Antiga Confeitaria de Belém. The name card is still in my hands.