August 24

The day started bright and sunny but with a wonderful breeze.  We decided against taking the hop on hop off bus because the ship docked close to town.  They often don’t know which pier they will dock at until close to arrival – when there is more than one, and today we were lucky to have the town center so close.

So, we had a lovely day of walking around Lisbon, sight seeing and shopping.  We got an early start because we need to be back on the ship at 2:30 today for a 3 PM departure.

This is another city with lots of tile on the houses and some of the old buildings.

Here we are enjoying this wonderful city.

And here are our shadows!!

In Porto and also in Lisbon, they use lovely little cable cars around the city as well as city buses.

Here is one of the flower stands opening in the morning.  Many shops weren’t open when we started, and some of the cafes were just opening their umbrellas.

Here’s a shop with some of that old port wine we mentioned.  Note the sign!  And the bottles ARE very dirty, many have been there for decades, and the prices show it.

So we had a lovely time shopping.  The owner of Zara lives in La Corona, and I had to pay a visit to the shop.  We both also bought handmade Portuguese shoes!  Love them.

Yes, these people ARE real and not statues!

And this IS a statue!  And you can see the way the streets are paved here in Portugal – it is all small pieces and large pieces of granite.

Here’s the guard at the archeological museum, not sure why one is needed.

Another interesting thing – many of the shops are so architecturally interesting, there are lines to get in.  Yesterday they were charging 5 euros to enter a bookstore and you got your money back if you made a purchase.  Here’s a bookstore with the old roman arches, you can see them as you look toward the rear of the store.

Other interesting buildings and sights.

Part of the fountain near the archway

Port, of course!

Note the fish and the fabric hanging on this balcony – so pretty!

The archway to the main street from one of the squares.

I am not sure what they do in THESE bathrooms!

The view from the ship