lisbon, portugal

LISBON day 1

due to some mix-up at our apartment, we reached belem quite late. hmm.. we were rushing for time to make it to all the belem hot-spots, we were hoping to have time to catch the belem egg tarts, maybe a portugese meal... but then... we walked past this sushi shop.... buffet wei.. 10.90 eat all you want wei.. how could we resist right??

there was sushi, salami, even their frying stuff, forgot what it's called.

really ichibang！

first, we went into the chapel of the jeronimos monastery. vasco da gama is supposed to be buried there, but we couldn't find his tomb. the place was very grand though.

outside the monastery

after the chapel, we went inside the jeronimos monastery and saw the cloisters. it really makes you catch your breath. it was so beautiful! no wonder it was the most visited place in lisbon. the architecture was so intricate.. so delicate.. and the colour just perfect. i have never considered myself an 'architect' person. i mean, they're just all buildings, what's all the fuss about rite? but no.. this place really makes me look at buildings in a totally new light.

our 'group' photo in the toilet. hey, that's the only place can find mirror ma...

the monument. more steps to climb. we didn't though, since it was quite a hazy day. i just assume the view would have been not as spectacular.

with the san francisco bridge look-alike.

we finally reached belem tower, and realised why we couldn't see it from afar along the shore. it was soooo tiny! i still loved the place though. really nice!







dinner was the famous belem egg tarts, with my regular dark berry mocha. this is life man..

after dinner we made our way to st george's castle.

cats also like slugging

one of my most favourite view

by the alfama seaside

LISBON day 2

we went to Sintra, a nearby village, well known to be a fairytale come true.

we walked past the natural palace with its pointy chimneys..


then we went to the pena palace up on the hill.

our water-source for most of our trips. looks so gross now..

we even went around the gardens, created and designed by some famous person. i found it a bit disappointing though. it was full of midgets!!

the lake of seashells.. disappointing right? well, i certainly was. i was thinking something fairytale-like. gah, can't even see the seashells.

the royal duck house. i really think they are overdoing it though. haha..

lunch was our first portugese meal yet. not bad, and quite cheap too! everything was expensive around town. even water! they really wana squeeze the tourists dry.


after lunch, we went to the quinta de sangria, known to make us feel like children in a playground (according to nuna). it really lived up to what he said! it was full of underground grottos.. so mysterious and exciting..

it was like peeking out from an underground cave.. so fun!

outside the quinta palace

down the well. way cool~

above the lake of moss

sliding stone wall.. so super 'chun' lo..

back in town at Bairro Alto

dinner was at a place nuna recommended. it was quite pricey, but really nice. portugese food was not as spicy as i expected though. i will miss the portugese food that used to be available at the rasah food court...

LISBON day 3

we had the famous portugese egg tarts from town for breakfast. muahahaha.. simply delicious!

me with our fluffy friend by nuna, our 'landlord'.

after breakfast, it was time to say goodbye to our comfortable apartment. sigh.. i'm already missing the slanted roof above the bed which could be opened up to have a spectacular view of the national pantheon.

our numbered days at lisbon passed way too fast. it's really nice. maybe not as nice as barcelona, but nice in another way. till now, lisbon and barcelona are my favourite in this trip. i like toledo too, but it's way too hot for me! one day though.. i wana go porto.. haha.. one day..

p/s: lisbon is soooo full of lengzais.. the first person we met, the tourist information guy, was soooo cute. speak english fluently and with style too! then the train station security guard also soooo lengzai. even the ice cream seller by belem beach also lengzai! goodness.. and they are all so helpful, even the old apaks. just using their hand gestures, they are more helpful than any map. somehow, we can understand. maybe they are psychic.. ^^