Guided Tour of Lisbon

Having traveled with Pat once before we knew that we would be well organised and kept busy.

Day one and we met the coach and of course Pat at Vale Paraíso where we left the car and enjoyed being driven to Lisbon by a very professional driver, we stayed in a super hotel very close to our first visit destination, the Oceanarium which was amazing, for us the sea otters and angel sea horses were high light’s.

Then a gentle stroll back to the hotel for a superb buffet supper.

Day two, back onto the coach and to the Coach Museum amazing collection over two floors the oldest at 400 years old looked very uncomfortable but was the transportation of King Filipe II , for me as an ex road transport engineer seeing the development of the the suspension was of great interest and the prisoner transport coach has many of today’s improvisation’s!!
On leaving a 20 minute coach ride through modern traffic pulled by Clop and handled very professionally by Gabriella was irisistable.

Almost next door we visited the Quake Museum, I can only say an unforgettable experience!

Day three we enjoyed an independent wander – our free day, so off to the cable car plus the Vasco de Gama shopping centre and finally an open top bus tour.

Day Four back onto the Coach and off to the Palácio da Ajuda – The Royal Residence full of arts and furniture of that time then next door to the Tesouro for the Crown Jewels and Royal Insignia plus a huge collection of silverware.

Day five back onto our trusty coach and back to Belum for the changing of the guard in front of the presidents palace with horse backed musical accompaniment.

Followed by a visit to the President’s Museum and the Monastery of Jerónimos after which thank goodness for that coach !

That evening our coach very kindly delivered us to the Casino for dinner.

Day six and a very much a favorite of ours but the only visit that we had been to before on our many trips to Lisbon the Calouste Gulbenkian museum which always has more for us to discover every time we visit, Pictures by Turner, and many others plus busts and statues and French furniture plus plus plus and the final exhibition of Rene Lalique jewellery, simply fabulous.

Then the coach ride home with a stop off for a fabulous buffet lunch.

Thank you so very much Pat for all of your efforts.

Bob Sheppard and Alan