Summer 2015: June 2015

Monday, June 29, 2015

Portugal 2

We saw cubic Porto, red and white.

In 1496, King Manuel I, member of the House of Aviz, petitioned the Holy See for permission to construct a monastery dedicated to Jerónimos in Belém, as a good omen for Vasco da Gama's journeys to the New World.

King Manuel originally funded the project with moneys obtained from the Vintena da Pimenta, a 5 percent tax on commerce from Africa and the Orient.

This unique Gothic style known as 'Manueline.' This style is typical for Portugal and uses Gothic and Moorish elements.

Vasco da Gama made it back and is now buried in the church.

We went to Paistis de Belem, a confectioner who had been making the famous Belem Pastries for almost 200 years.

Here they are. They are served warm and are absolutely wonderful.

Many copies are around. Those are the real ones.

Originally invented by the monks of the monastery, they are made out of creme after a secret recipe.

Portugal 1

We made it to Portugal and visited Cascais.

Here is Sharon. It was great too see her again.

We walked around at the beach.

It was Jake's birthday.

The next day we went to the Tile Museum.

And took the trolley.

It went up a very narrow lane.

We went up further,

very uneven pavements,

to the Castelo São Jorge.

On the site are Bronze Age excavations, but most of the structure was built by the Moors.

It overlooks the river.

On October 25th, 1147 Dom Afonso Henriques conquered Lisbon and became the first King of Portugal. From then on the Castelo began its golden age as home for royalty.