From Paradise to Almost Paradise

From Madeira to Lisbon was sea day #43, but no matter as we were "Out Of Africa!" Please don't get me wrong, there are many places on that continent that I dearly love and would happily visit again and again! Some of my best travel memories are from various places in Africa. However, there are some that I am strongly opposed to seeing a third time. Back to scheduled sea day #43 (due to bad weather and/or high swells, some unscheduled days at sea have been added), the seas are still rough but we are well cared for and entertained by the crew, some of whom are pictured herein. A very special shoutout to my best buddy, Franklin. He makes certain that I have my breakfast drinks before I can even request them. If, for some reason he is busy elsewhere in The Terrace Cafe and someone else serves me, he is very quick to point out to them that I should always have a large glass of fresh squeezed orange juice. (Shudder to think what my blood sugar count will be when I get home)

Doesn't get much better than this every morning!

And then came Lisbon on Wednesday June 10th, Portuguese Day - a national holiday celebrating their independence from the dictatorship of 48 years. This revolt/rebellion/overthrow is, according to our guide, the only time in history to be accomplished with NO bloodshed! Now that's quite a feat, don't you think? This bloodless coup took place on June 10, 1974. Ah ha! That explains why all those former Portuguese territories gained their independence in the mid-seventies! The newly formed democracy could not afford to be their protector nor provider. (A more cynical thought also occurred to me: these various territories had served their purpose - of enriching Portugal.) In any case, I love the Portugal of today! Mary and I were booked on the same excursion so we teamed up to see the sites of Lisbon! First stop, a Cathedral, closed due to the national holiday. Oops! This stop was to be of 40 minutes duration and our only opportunity for a water closet for the next two to three hours. So, Mary and I found the neatest little sandwich shop, tended by two of the most accommodating thirty-somethings one could hope to meet. Even though we made no indication that we planned on buying a thing, they very politely instructed us to the facilities. Mission accomplished, we stayed and visited with them for a bit before I purchased some water and a chocolate dessert... which remains in my refrigerator as of this date. Bringing food back on board is akin to taking coals to New Castle!

From this adorable little sandwich shop, we strolled around an adjacent park where we were accosted by the same street person at least three times. Also sighting our first sign of homelessness in the park: a neatly folded and stacked bunch of blankets leaning against a tree. This triggered the question of our guide as to the percentage of homelessness. Her answer, stated very apologetically, was less than four percent. The government is very much aware of the problem and is taking steps to eliminate it. Good luck with that! Otherwise, Lisbon is a beautiful, clean, well maintained, religious, proud city!

The good citizens of Portugal back in the seventies may not have cared for their dictator, but he did accomplish some good for his people. Under his reign, he acquired the plans used to build our very own Golden Gate Bridge (at little-to-no cost) and soon thereafter, Lisbon's very own copy of the Golden Gate Bridge was completed. Theirs is red. Our guide said she wasn't sure but theirs might be a tad bit smaller. In addition to the copycat bridge, Lisbon has their very own Christ The Redeemer Statue overlooking said bridge and harbor. Probably not a coincidence that the original is found in Brazil - a former territory of Portugal.

At least this city's weather makes the bridge easier to see!

Belem Tower - The Tower of Saint Vincent (16c.)

Monument of the Discoveries - celebrating the Portuguese Age of Discovery during the 15th and 16th centuries

Toward the end of our tour we were quizzed as to the four most important "F"s of Portugal. I must admit, I failed her test miserably. Her answer in order of importance to her and her countrymen was: First - "futball" - or as we know it soccer. Portugal SHALL win the World Cup this year! No question! After all they have "the most handsome player of all..." Second - faith, predominately Catholic. Hmmm! Really, that's second? Third - some artsy thing or other. Fourth - I haven't a clue as I am, being my usual judgmental self, still pondering her placement of "futball" as their number one priority... (I shall hear no comments about my burnt orange blood!!!!!)

After all too short a visit to Portugal, we are returned to our ship bound for Le Havre, France...

Today is Someday! See Portugal!