Portugal

Dec 28, 2011-Jan 2, 2012
AC872 YYZ-FRA, LH1166 FRA-LIS, LH1173 LIS-FRA, AC877 FRA-YYZ

We always like getting away for the New Year holidays to take advantage of our vacation times and to get a nice break to start the year.  This year we found a nice fare to Lisbon and really enjoyed the opportunity to visit both Lisbon and to see the Algarve region.  Portugal is a great country with lots to see and great food at a pretty low cost.  We had some nice, mild weather to kick off 2012.  We spent the first few days in Lisbon and then drove south to a resort near Vilamoura where we spent a quiet New Year’s Eve and explored the coast.  On our way back to Lisbon we took the scenic route through Evora with a lot of interesting history.  On our last night in the city, we had a nice dinner and then stayed by the airport before our early flight home.

Dec 28-29
Overnight flight to Lisbon via Frankfurt, explore Lisbon that afternoon

Tree-lined boulevard in the centre of Ava da Liberdade

Beautiful entry doors to LIsbon’s Rossio Railway station

Closeup of Rossio fountain

Lisbon’s Santa Justa elevator provides quick access to higher elevations

Triumphal Arch in Praca do Comercio

LIsbon Cathedral (Se)

Interior of LIsbon Cathedral (Se)

Lisbon’s famous and very touristed Tram 28 winding through the old streets

Santa Engracia Church sitting high above the River Tejo

After some port, we take Elevador da Gloria back down and to a great seafood dinner

Dec 30
Explore Lisbon before picking up the car and driving South to the Algarve

Remains of the Convento do Carmo left by 1755 earthquake

Looking down on Rossio Square from one of the many elevators in Lisbon

Courtyard of massive Jeronimos Monastery in Belem

Interior of church within the Monastery

We check out monument of the discoveries before sampling Belem’s famous pastelarias

Roman Bridge in Tavira in the Algarve just before a good dinner in a British pub

Dec 31

Cape St. Vincent -- the Southwest tip of Portugal

Looking down on the town of Silves from Silves Castle

Jan 1
After a quiet New Year we head back to Lisbon via Evora

Fascinating Capela Dos Ossos, chapel in Evora constructed of the bones of about 5000 people

2nd/3rd century Templo Romano in Evora city centre

Close up of partially harvested cork tree

Cromoleque des Almendres; 5000/6000 year old Neolithic stone tombs

A forest of cork trees near the megaliths

Sintra’s national palace -- very busy on the New Year holiday

Jan 2
Early morning flight back to Toronto through Frankfurt