Portugal 3 - Lisbon to Elvas

 

From Coimbra we headed down to Lisbon, this time by bus as we thought we might see a bit more. The bus seats were very comfortable but not too much leg room and you couldn't really walk around. But yes, we could see a bit more!

Lisbon was a big city - Marie didn't really want to go there for that reason, so we only stayed one night. Went to the old city with its narrow winding lanes and then on to the waterfront and along to this massive square which I'm sure they would have and national celebrations there.

Behind this square was the main shopping street with all the usual 'High Street's shops any big city would have, including a few buskers which we enjoyed. They had this crazy tin sardines shop where each can would have a year on it, with an interesting fact for that year.

Here are ours:

They may be a bit hard to read, so:

1964 says 'Beatles became a worldwide phanomenon, thanks to their American tour's, and 

1965 says 'Rolling Stones release the single "Satisfaction"'

We then left Lisbon over a 10km bridge! And headed inland to Evora, followed by Elvas, both walled cities, with very narrow lanes, which often had cars coming down! and aquaducts supplying water, amazing considering that they were built over 1000 years ago.

And a University - imagine this being your Uni building!!

And every town had at least one church....

Mostly in incredibly good condition and still used today.

And then we did a wine tour (in a small place called Estremoz). Lots of grapes grown around this area, as well as olives and cork trees!

Interesting labelling though. The good wines were branded '.com' and the top of the range were branded 'blog' - I imagine in an attempt to feel very sophisticated! Also some of their wine is still pressed by feet stamping - done by four people bare foot in a tank trampling for several hours!! 

Needless to say, that without lunch and on a hot afternoon, the walk back to our accommodation was 'entertaining'.