Belem is located at the mouth of the River Tagus, where the caravels set sail on their voyages of discovery. There is an amazing array of architecture in the Mosteriro dos Jeronimos (monastary) and the Torre de Belem (Moorish style watch tower). Along with a beautiful park, art galleries, museums, cultural centre and planetarium.
Some of us are more cultured and were interested in the history, museums and churches ......
....while others of us were most interested in finding the famous Pastel de Belem (apparently the BEST Pastel de Nata in Portugal), sitting at a sidewalk cafe enjoying a coffee/dessert, people-watching, walking in the gardens and sipping sangria!!!!
The bus ride, to and from Belem was wonderful, allowing us to see many parts of this lovely, vibrant city, that we would not have seen otherwise!
Getting back to our apartment, we enjoyed a few glasses of wine, couver (Portuguese appetizers), story-telling and hilarity, laughing our way to the European supper hour, when we walked to a recommended restarant, where we had a VERY fun and tasty meal!! Our server was amazing and contributed to a few more hours of laughter and crazy-fun!!
We are now tucked into our very lovely apartment, for the night! I remain the only one up, and......as I type this blog post, I am 'accompanied' by the sound of the wind whispering in the courtyard below our open windows, reminding me how very blessed I am to be here, in this place and space, at this time, with these special friends!!
Tomorrow.....A bus/train ride to explore the beautiful city of Sintra!!! Hope you will join us, via blog-world, for some of our adventures.....
Sounds wonderful . . . I am sure the food was wonderful ... interesting to see the architecture and the cobblestone patterns. Saw so much of that in Rio . . .would have enjoyed the countryside . .. always like to see how the people actually live
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