This certainly is a town full of diverse sights to see and things to do. For our last full day in Lisbon, we hit the ground running and delighted in the sunshine (finally).

We boarded the train and headed to the Torre de Belém, a fortified tower located in an ideal setting to begin our explore.

This UNESCO World Heritage Site played a significant role in the Portuguese maritime activities of the era of the Age of Discoveries.
The tower was commissioned by King John II to be part of a defense system at the mouth of the Tagus river and a ceremonial gateway to Lisbon.
The tower was built in the early 16th century and is a prominent example of the Portuguese Manueline style, but it also incorporates hints of other architectural styles. The structure was built from limestone and is composed of a bastion and a 98.4 ft, four-story tower. It has incorrectly been stated that the tower was built in the middle of the Tagus and now sits near the shore because the river was redirected after the 1755 Lisbon earthquake (which impacted the entire town greatly, we have learned). In fact, the tower was built on a small island in the Tagus River near the Lisbon shore. What an interesting history lesson.
I had researched what was happening in town and this was one of the tops on my list. For the first time, the works of the charismatic Dutch artist M. C. Escher, who many consider a genius of geometric imagination, is exhibited at Museu de Arte Popular. The entire group was 'in'.
For those who don't know him, Maurits Cornelis Escher (1898-1972) is one of the world's most famous graphic artists. His art is enjoyed by millions of people all over the world.
This exhibit far exceeded any expectations we may have had. We knew far too little and learn so much in the hours spent here. In addition, the curator set up some wonderful interactive components. Note Steve and I are in his Hand with Reflecting Sphere.
He is most famous for his so-called impossible constructions, such as Ascending and Descending, Relativity, and his Transformation Prints, such as Metamorphosis I (above). It was amazing to look closely at the details and marvel at the complexity.
But he also made some wonderful, more realistic work during the time he lived and traveled in Italy, which surprised and delighted us Italianphiles.



Lunch was along the Tagus River. Wow!
We stand before an amazing monument, Padrão dos Descobrimentos, located along the river where ships departed to explore and trade with India and Orient. It, too, celebrates the Portuguese Age of Discovery during the 15th and 16th centuries.
One of the best of these explorers, Vasco da Gama, lays at rest in Santa Maria de Belém. What a beautiful church.



Our next explore was of the gardens of the National Palace of Belém. Over time, this has been the official residence of Portuguese monarchs and, after the installation of the First Republic, the Presidents of the Portuguese Republic.
The five buildings that make up the main façade of the Palace date back to the second half of the 17th century, and were built at a time when the monarchy and nobility increasingly desired to seek respite from the urbanized confines of Lisbon.


A sangria break was at Time Out Market Lisboa. This is a sensory overload of a food hall located in the historic Mercado da Ribeira. The market has 35 kiosks selling regional specialities, such as Azeitão sheep's cheese, Alentejo ham, custard tarts from cafe Aloma, sardines, wines and chocolates. Five top chefs have restaurants here. The original fish, fruit and vegetable market stalls occupy the other half of the landmark building.

One of my goals was to peruse the oldest bookshop in the world. Bertrand has been doing business since 1732 and is the cornerstore of the Bertrand chain. The location of the original store underwent an enforced change due to the massive earthquake in 1755, but has been at Rua Garrett ever since. Fun stuff.
We ended the day in a small café, dining on pumpkin soup, beet salad and Vinho Verde. Tomorrow we will spend the morning, reminiscing about our wonderful time together.