Day 3 Lisbon
We are beginning to feel quite comfortable getting around the city now as streets and neighborhoods are starting to look familiar.  Of course it helps so much because we have Susan to navigate via maps or her phone that works!!!

Lisbon's name probably originated with Phoencians "alis ubbo" which means "calm port"  here on the Tagus River. Susan discovered this miradouro, or scenic lookout, near the castle which had another lovely view of the river and city of Lisbon.  Later we came back for lunch  at the same spot   Notice the purple flowers on the jacaranda tree in the foreground and the tiled wall scene behind near the cafe terrace.


It's amazing that we are in an area that was settled  so long ago. Up on the castle hill  archaeologists have found traces of artifacts showing that the area  by the castle was settled 7 B.C.  Today we walked through the Alfama neighborhood which used to be where sailor's quarters were in 6-8 A.D. We traveled along narrow cobbled streets zigzagging around like a rabbit warren through this once Moorish and Medieval  neighborhood.  They had tiny balconies in this neighborhood that were one and a half hands wide to comply with a health initiative to keep the town well-ventilated.We climbed our way up to the top of yet another hill to visit the castle of Sao Jorge (St. George). Here is a little statue of St. George just inside the  castle gate pictured  above on the left. You've heard of him of course, from the 14th century with his slaying the dragon connections.  Alfonso Henriques was a Christian noble who asked the Crusaders for help removing the Moors that probably built this fortification, from his country of Portugal.  The Crusaders prayed to St. George and won. Henriques took the castle in 1147. Notice the sloping walls of the castle designed to stand up to 14th century cannonballs- pictured above and to the right.   The Portuguese built an additional wall that once reached all the way to the river to hold off the attacks of the Spain  This fortification has been a palace, followed by a garrison when the palace moved. This castle suffered lots of damage as did most of the city from the earthquake in 1755.



After lunch we walked down and easterly direction near the water to visit the National Tile Museum.  We have seen a quite a few buildings faced with or bordered with beautiful tiles so it was interesting to go see many rooms in a former convent showing
many panels of tiled art.
Back "home" again with fruit, cheese, crackers, pizza, and a glass of white wine,
Sounds like it will be a noisy Tuesday night as people are celebrating a soccer match or something.  We noticed a lot of police around the square In addition, college students are just returning and  we have seen many of the freshmen  getting an orientation,
( drinking) with an upperclassman dressed in a black cape which seems to have become a tradition. .


Ciao!