That was definitely the words of wisdom to live by today!!! The busy weekend was survived by all, so it was decided to take a little trip today and breathe in some fresh air. We headed to a place by the sea we had not been to before. It is wintertime here in Portugal and it has been raining every day, but we figured we would simply pack the umbrellas and see what we see.
As we drove out of Lisbon, we crossed the "25 de Abril" bridge (which is almost an exact match to the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco) over the Tagus River. On the side opposite Lisbon stands Cristo Rei, a 92 foot statue of Christ built 1949-59.
25 de Abril Bridge
Cristo Rei
Our drive through the hills towards the sea took us to Sesimbra. It was once a small town in the center of a large bay but over the years has been built up to house the many Lisboetas that come to the sea in the summertime. As it is wintertime, the town was quiet and the skies were grey.
grey skies and water
We settled into a cozy, clean little restaurant for lunch and ordered a favorite of ours, Naco na Pedra (steak on a stone.) Mmmm, what's that you say? Its a raw steak brought out on a VERY VERY hot stone, a piece of marble. The steak cooks right in front of you and you eat it as it is cooked to your personal liking.
Naco na Pedra
At this restaurant, as many here in Portugal, first you pick out your lunch (fish) then they prepare it for you. Here the fish were in the "freezer" outside the front of the restaurant are under an umbrella and the hot coals were right behind it... O's fish was brought to him head, eyeballs and all, after being cooked on the outdoor coal!
As we enjoyed our lunch by the window, the clouds blew away and the sun shone brightly. The bay and the water were sparkling...
... diamonds on the water!
We continued up the road to the fisherman's boats in the harbor. The boats shone brightly in the sun with their vivid colors.
Above the town and water on the hill is the castle. Now, O wasn't all that excited to drive up there but did accommodate the rest of us. "Se viu uma, já viu todos!" (If you've seen one, you've seen them all!, was O's feeling as we drove up the hill to the castello.) But we don't get to see a castle every day and the weather was beautiful!
The view to the sea. Sesimbra in the center of picture with the harbor on the right.
A Igreja (the Church) at the castle
The beautiful interior with blue tiles dipicting the life of Christ all around
Again, a view of Sesimbra (center left)
Castello walls
Upon leaving the castle, we drove to a place that pictures and words will be very hard to describe and tell you about...
Cabo Espichel. Sheer clifs drop straight into the sea at this place where the land ends dramatically. Hense, "if you step on the wrong rock..." Now we are in Portugal, no need for railings or anything other than a sign that warns you once. A few pictures will have to do...
This was the site of a popular place of pilgrimage in the 13th century. A local man had a vision of the Virgin Mary rising coming up from the sea on a mule. Legend has it that tracks of the mule can be seen embedded in the rock. (We didn't climb the cliffs to find the tracks!!!) On either side of the church a long line of pilgrims' lodgings facing inwards to an open courtyard where celebrations were held.
A peak inside the church.
Notice the warning!?! There is M taking pictures at the edge of the cliff...
Chapel of Memory (left) and ruins behind the church.
Looking to the lighthouse and the sheer drop off of the cliffs.
Behind the church
Mae d'Agua (or cistern at opposite end of courtyard and church.)
Ruins within the walls of the lodgings
Ruins of the old "Opera house" and a view of the lighthouse..
A view from the lighthouse looking at the church and cliffs.
WOW!!! is all I can say at times to describe what we see. I have tried in a few pictures to show you what I saw, the camera doesn't begin to capture the site - the church, the ruins surrounding it, the cliffs, the ocean and the cold wind that blows against the cliffs.
R & R, a bit wind blown, but standing on the edge of the cliff.
An incredible place!!!
These pictures are unbelievably beautiful! I've never been to Portugal, but I imagine you have captured the best of what they offer, the colors are so vivid and the cross....oh, the cross! Thank you Ruth!
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