Landing In Lisbon

We knew it was going to be tricky finding our hotel in Lisbon, especially because it's such a big city. Crossing the bridge into the city wasn't too bad, it was navigating the main roads and motorways that got the better of us. So many one way roads and roads that you couldn't turn into at all - frustrating.
Anyway we found the hotel eventually ready to stay put for 3 days. First job was to get some washing done so while I tackled that job Tony went on a recon mission to find out where Vodafone was. Our phones have not worked since we left Egypt :-(.
The next day we spent out and about after sorting out the phone, sort of, at least we can text Jase. The photos show what we got up to while in the big smoke. Very different from the tiny quiet towns we've stopped at.

The entrance down to the metro station where we caught
the train each day.

X Factor was in town. Not as popular as in the US,
looking at the numbers that were queued outside.

We spent most of the day at the Oceanario. They had a temporary exhibit on turtles.
I counted one but Tony couldn't see any. That part was disappointing...

However the permanent exhibits were fantastico! My faves - the puffins,

the penguins (it was feeding time which was hilarious to watch),

and the otters, who spent their time chomping on pieces
of ice and annoying each other while we watched.

Entrance to Vasco de Gama Mall from the Metro Station. We managed to
watch the latest Planet of the Apes Movie dubbed in Portuguese.

Most of our third day was spent on a funbus tour and then relocating places we had passed.
The tour was excellent and would recommend using them, especially hopping on and off.

There were queues everywhere so we didn't bother waiting.

Lisbon is full of monuments, both old and new.

This bridge across the Tagus River is the same design as The San Francisco Bridge.
It's shorter than the one we used to enter the city.
You can see the statue of Christ, similar to the one in Brazil, on the other side of the river.

Bull fighting is still popular in Portugal. Great architecture, not sure about the
bullfighting though.

View from the top of the city park back towards the Tagus River.

Lunch at the Hardrock Cafe, Lisbon style.

Lisbon's Town Hall.

Three days was enough to see the main sights and wander around the city. The Metro is easy to use and a cheap way to get around but the Funbus is a definite just to get your bearings. We hoped getting out of the city was easier than getting in ...