Geneva, Switzerland – Watch Capitol

The Watch Capitol of the world is no doubt Genève, Switzerland. Many, if not all, of the major buildings that surround Lake Léman are adorned with signs from almost every watch manufacturer in Switzerland.

Lake Léman – Clock Manufacturer Signs – Geneva, Switzerland

Though one would have thought that at this point, old mechanical watches would have out-grown their usefulness, but there must still be enough interest in them to support all the manufacturers. Apparently it is more like the diamond trade, than a typical consumer item.

Geneva – The City

It is difficult to categorize Geneva since the city appears to have many different sections and subsequently a different look and feel around every corner. It some places almost haphazard, where a blend of modern and provincial architectures are often seen close together.

Lake Léman – Brunswick Monument – Geneva, Switzerland

Lake Léman – Point Mount Blanc – Geneva, Switzerland

English Gardens – Fountain of the Four Seasons – Geneva, Switzerland

Fountain du Perron – Geneva, Switzerland

Grand Theater of Geneva – Geneva, Switzerland

Rue de la Corraterie – Geneva, Switzerland

Tour de L’Ille – Tower of the Isle – Geneva, Switzerland

Fontaine de l’Escalade – Geneva, Switzerland

Molard Plaza – Molard Clock Tower and Old Gate – Geneva, Switzerland

Lake Léman – Jet d’Eau or Jet of Water – Geneva, Switzerland

Hotel Edelweiss

A three star hotel in the Cornavin area of the city. It sits a few blocks from the lake on the north side of the city. Conveniently located to the train station and the lake cruise station, it is a quiet little hotel with a restaurant. The rooms are adequate, though the air conditioning does not work until some undisclosed time in late spring, so your room can be uncomfortable with the sun coming in, so opening the windows is a must.

Lake Léman

Of course the main attraction in Geneva is Lake Léman and the start of the River Rhone. It is a very clear lake and does not appear very large near Geneva, but as you travel out further on the lake it widens into a formidable body of water.

Lake Léman – Lighthouse – Geneva, Switzerland

City Parks

There are numerous parks throughout the city, enough to call Geneva a Green City. Though you may not agree or enjoy some of the haphazard architecture that composes the city, they were mindful enough to include a lot of green space throughout it environs.

Banc de la Treille – Longest Bench – Geneva, Switzerland

Bastion Park

One of the main parks, Bastion Park, is located across from the Geneva Theatre and contains the Reformation Wall. It is a very nice park for an afternoon stroll and to cool off. Many of its walkways are shaded and there are fountains where you may collect water for drinking.

Bastion Park – Luther’s Reformation Wall – Geneva, Switzerland

Bastion Park – Water Fountain – Geneva, Switzerland

Bastion Park – Old Fortress Wall – Geneva, Switzerland

Park du Pin

A smaller park further to the east is Park du Pin. It resides on the knob of hill with many pines and other shrubbery. Strolling through it is enough to take your mind off the busy streets that are around it. On the top, there is seating where one can enjoy the breeze that blows in from the lake.

Promenade du Pin – Overlook – Geneva, Switzerland

Promenade du Pin – Statue – Geneva, Switzerland

Botanical Gardens

Not far from the center of the city on the N15 tram are the Botanical Gardens of Geneva. An impressive collection of species from every continent adorn this park. It is strategically located close to the Genève-Sécheron train station as well, which also provides commuter transportation for the United Nations in Geneva.

N15 Tram – Nations Stop – Geneva, Switzerland

United Nations – Flags and Main Entrance – Geneva, Switzerland

The park is laid out in four sections. One housing most of the botanical gardens plants from each continent. A second has livestock and out buildings for the housing of exotic species from the tropics. A third has a view of the lake and a final section is purposed for outdoor activities.

Botanical Gardens – Entrance – Geneva, Switzerland

Botanical Gardens – Zen Garden – Geneva, Switzerland

Botanical Gardens – Patti – Geneva, Switzerland

Botanical Gardens – Erick – Geneva, Switzerland

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Geneva_68_BotanicalGardens_54

Botanical Gardens – Plants – Geneva, Switzerland

Botanical Gardens – Hill with waterfall, ferns – Geneva, Switzerland

Botanical Gardens – Waterfall rock – Geneva, Switzerland

Botanical Gardens – Everything in bloom – Geneva, Switzerland

Botanical Gardens – Tropical Venue – Geneva, Switzerland

Basilicas, Cathedrals and Churches

There are a number of important churches in Geneva, below are a few to note.

Basilica Notre Dame of Geneva

The Basilica Notre Dame in Geneva is compact in size and is reminiscent of some large cathedrals we have seen elsewhere^[1]Saint Mary’s Church and Cathedral in Hudson, New York. Unfortunately during our stay, mass was being said and we felt obligated to leave.

Basilica Notre Dame de Geneva – Entrance – Geneva, Switzerland

Basilica Notre Dame de Geneva – Nave – Geneva, Switzerland

Basilica Notre Dame de Geneva – Stained Glass Window – Geneva, Switzerland

Russian Orthodox Church

The Russian Orthodox Church in Geneva carries the characteristic golden domes of other orthodox churches. The inside is also gilded in area and very compact. There is a sign asking for donation of 2CHF at the entrance, however during our stay we carried no cash at all on us, so just took a photograph from the doorway.

Russian Orthodox Church – Inside – Geneva, Switzerland

Cathédrale Saint-Pierre Genève

The Cathédrale Saint-Pierre Genève is located in the old section of town, perched on the hill close to Place du Bourg-de-Four, an important piazza in the town. Unfortunately it was not open while we were here, being closed for a Stabat Matar concert series.

Cathedral Saint Pierre – Back View – Geneva, Switzerland

Cathedral Saint Pierre – Side View – Geneva, Switzerland

Cathedral Saint Pierre – Archaeologic Site – Geneva, Switzerland

Cathedral Saint Pierre – Front and Entrance View – Geneva, Switzerland

Tour du Romandie

In 2025 Geneva hosted the Tour du Romandie, the last stage race of the spring before the large stage races of the summer. We were fortunate enough to catch the last stage, Stage 5, or Time Trial Stage, on the end of Pont du Mont Blanc. Very exciting.

Tour of Romandie – Pont du Mont Blanc Turnaround – Stage 5, Time Trial Venue – Geneva, Switzerland

Geneva_70_TourRomandie_07

Geneva_70_TourRomandie_12

Geneva_70_TourRomandie_13

Restaurants

Traveling can be daunting, especially when it comes to the different cuisines. The most challenging of which can be the meat based ones, which may not necessarily agree with everyone’s digestive system. Hence, keeping an open mind when in a cosmopolitan city like Geneva is a good thing. French cuisine can be very good, but it can also take a toll on the body after a few days.

Auberge de Savièse

The little restaurant Auberge de Savièse is on Rue des Pâquis and offers typical French cuisine. If you are into crepes, fondues and similar fare, this place offers them all at reasonable prices, at least for Switzerland. They also offer simple things, like soups and salads, if you prefer something lighter. We just had soup and a salad, so didn’t take any photographs.

Zhong Tong

A Chinese restaurant on Rue du Cendrier 10 has pretty good Chinese food. The service is good and it can get busy, but is never overcrowded. If you are craving vegetables, a must stop, especially after all the cheese and other meat oriented dishes exist within the city.

Zhong Tong Chinese Restaurant – Dessert, Cirese (cherry) Ice Cream, Pineapple and Oranges – Geneva, Switzerland

References[+]

References
↑1	Saint Mary’s Church and Cathedral in Hudson, New York

15 April, 2025

Ivrea, Italy – Lake Sirio Repose

After a day of familiarizing ourselves with the town Ivrea, it was time to do some hiking and see the surrounding countryside. Though probably not known to the layperson, the lakes and surrounding area were formed by glacier activity around 9700 BCE. All five lakes and the long, gradual hill in the distance that is not a mountain of the Alps, are actually glacial moraines from that time. Here, after a long hike, we were able to repose along Lake Sirio for a long and needed lunch, as well as a magnificent view.

Five Lakes Hike – Sticker and Course Route – Ivrea, Italy

The Five Lakes Hike

In and around Ivrea are hiking trails known as the Five Lakes Hike through which part of the Via Francigena trail also passes. None of the hiking trails are difficult, per se, however many of the surfaces are poor, so hiking shoes or a good trekking shoe is commended.

Unfortunately, due to time and the weather, we were unable to visit all of them and had to forgoe seeing Lake Nero and Lake Campagna. Luckily, they appear very similar to the ones below that we were able to visit, so no harm done.

Lake Sirio

Our first lake that we encountered was Lake Sirio, perhaps the largest of the five and it has the comenserate amount of lake resources around it for swimming, sunbathing and other activities.

Five Lakes Hike – Lake Sirio, Erick – Ivrea, Italy

The trail winds around this lake perhaps three quarters of the way and then veers off into the woods towards Lake Pistono. We followed the trail and then made a wide circle back around, essentially making a circle, to revisit this lake and have lunch at Restaurant Il Cigno.

Five Lakes Hike – Lake Sirio, Castello di Montalto – Ivrea, Italy

Five Lakes Hike – Lake Sirio – Ivrea, Italy

Lake Pistono

Lake Piston is a smaller lake and only offers a few trails to get close to the lake. We found this lake surrounded by more water, which also means more insects, so bug lotion or spray is recommended, they are voracious!

Five Lakes Hike – Trail Marker for Via Francigena – Ivrea, Italy

Five Lakes Hike – Trail Marker for a Big Bench – Ivrea, Italy

Five Lakes Hike – Lake Pistono, Erick – Ivrea, Italy

This lake has one distinction, it is home to one of the Big Benches, which can be found throughout Piedmont in different areas and settings. Such projects make it fun and interesting to get out and find such silly objects. However, having said that, most are in areas that are out of the way and may present difficulty for some. But if you are able, the sights can be beautiful, so go for it!

Five Lakes Hike – Lake Pistono, Castello di Montalto – Ivrea, Italy

Five Lakes Hike – Lake Pistono, Patti on the Big Bench – Ivrea, Italy

Five Lakes Hike – Lake Pistono – Ivrea, Italy

Five Lakes Hike – Lake Pistono, Erick on the Big Bench – Ivrea, Italy

Lake San Michele

A smaller lake and closer to Ivrea is lake San Michele. Though we had some bother getting there and visited the Chapel of the Three Kings unintentionally, since the Italians with money just love to block public access to things, even roads, if they can do so.

Five Lakes Hike – Polveriera Park – Ivrea, Italy

Five Lakes Hike – San Michele Lake – Ivrea, Italy

So, we were unable to continue our travels using the Via Boaro, since it is blocked by a gate and a fancy house with video surveillance, so if you have the same idea – don’t bother. Instead, use the Via Cascinette and Via Lago San Michele roads to get to the lake. There is a lake park entrance that may be used, or you can continue on Via Lago S. Michele and see the lake once you round the bend in the road.

Churches And Chapels

Though not known for the churches or chapels, there are a few that can be visited in the area. We found the following when we continued our Five Lakes Hike the next day. The Sanctuary was open, but the chapel appears closed, perhaps for good.

Five Lakes Hike – Monte Stella Sanctuary – Ivrea, Italy

Five Lakes Hike – Church of San Lorenzo the Martyr – Ivrea, Italy

Five Lakes Hike – Chapel of the Three Kings – Ivrea, Italy

Five Lakes Hike – View from Monte Stella Sanctuary – Ivrea, Italy

Restaurants

Il Cigno

We made note of this restaurant on Lake Sirio when we were outbound headed for Lake Pistono and made plans to swing back around for lunch. It has amazing seating right along the shore of the lake with marvelous views of the Graian Alps.

Five Lakes Hike – Erick at Ristorante Il Cigno, Lake Sirio – Ivrea, Italy

The food is good and prices are reasonable. We were here during the off-season, but one can easily imagine that it gets quite busy in the summer, especially on the weekends, so plan accordingly.

Five Lakes Hike – Patti’s Linguini with Octopus – Ristorante Il Cigno, Lake Sirio – Ivrea, Italy

Five Lakes Hike – Erick’s Insalata Mista – Ristorante Il Cigno, Lake Sirio – Ivrea, Italy

Five Lakes Hike – Erick’s Bonet – Ristorante Il Cigno, Lake Sirio – Ivrea, Italy

Ristorante Pizzeria da Romano

Not far from our hotel, Hotel 3T, along the Stata Stradale (SS26) is the Ristorante Pizzeria da Romano. We ate here one evening only because we did not want to venture from the hotel, who’s restaurant unfortunately was closed.

Ristorante Pizzeria da Romano – Pizza Margherita, Bufalina – Ivrea, Italy

Here is where you will find all the locals looking for excellent pizza at great prices. We ordered a salad, two pizzas, half liter of wine and water for around thirty Euros.

La Gustiera

Another good place to eat, but come early if you do not have reservations, is La Gustiera Osteria. Located on Via Quattro Martiri, La Gustiera offers a select menu every evening of authentic Piedmont cuisine, perhaps half fish and half meat, so something for everyone’s taste.

La Gustiera – Spaghetti Bolognese and Linguini with Cherry Tomotoes and Olives – Ivrea, Italy

Trattoria Monferrato

Almost directly in the old city center on Via Gariglietti is the Trattoria Monferrato. Having trouble finding a place to eat elsewhere, we found a table free here on a Saturday just by luck.

Trattoria Monferrato – Pork Filet and Potatoes – Ivrea, Italy

Diorite rock near Trattoria Monferrato – Ivrea, Italy

The food here was very good, a cross between home cooking and something made by a chef. The pork filet with gravy was delicious, along with a side of potatoes and some wine the meal was very enjoyable. Knowing the difficulty we had finding a place to eat, we shared our large table for six with a German couple from Frieburg and had a very entertaining conversation about them traveling through Italy on E-Bike.

Erick with Regina and Leo, who we met at the Trattoria Monferrato – Outside Caffe Torino, Piazza San Carlo – Turin, Italy

Our Hotel

We stayed at one hotel for the entire weekend on the north side of town, only to have more convenience leaving on our hikes.

3T Hotel – Castle Sabaudo, At Night – Ivrea, Italy

Hotel 3T

A rather modern hotel with most amenities. The hotel staff can be a bit problematic on the weekends, since we had to ask a few times for towels and toilet paper. So, attention to detail is not a priority.

Hotel 3T – Breakfast pastries and cappuccino – Ivrea, Italy

Another drawback was the restaurant, which was closed for dinner, so we had to go every night, which can be annoying if you had a long and tiring hike. However, the hotel is clean and the bed and pillows were very comfortable, a big plus when you need a good night’s rest.

12 April, 202514 April, 2025

Ivrea, Italy – A Piedmont Weekend

If you are into hiking and enjoy a really good weekend excursion, then the Metropolitan town of Turin has something great to offer, the tiny little town of Ivrea. Known for being part of the Via Francigena^[1]The ancient pilgrimage route from England to Rome. and Five Lake hiking area, it is a great place to spend a few days.

Via Francigena – Hiking and Trail Sign – Ivrea, Italy

Via Francigena – Hiking and Trail Guide – Ivrea, Italy

Via Francigena – Way through the city – Ivrea, Italy

Getting There

This town can be reached in just under an hour’s train ride from Porta Nuovo in Turin. The Regional Veloce (RV) runs directly from the main train station, through Porta Susa and onto Ivrea. Unfortunately, the line no longer continues to Aosta, so those who are stopping over have to use the bus service to continue their journeys.

Porta Nuovo Train Station – Main Lobby – Turin, Italy

Ivrea Train Station – Outside – Ivrea, Italy

The Hotel

We stayed at the Hotel 3T on Via Sant’Ulderico, a modern hotel that has most of the amenities. One thing I disliked about this hotel, at least during this time of year (Spring), is that the thermostat makes you believe you have control over the temperature in your room, when in fact you don’t!

The Town

The town is cut in two by the Dora Baltea river, which offers a few courses for avid kayakers and seems to draw them from all over. The river here cuts right through the native diorite rock, which can be seen everywhere you look and presents a dark geologic hardness that makes it such a stable building foundation; practically everything, including the hospital, is built on it.

Dora Baltea River – Train Bridge to Aosta, closed – Ivrea, Italy

Dora Baltea River – Ponte Vecchio – Ivrea, Italy

Dora Baltea River – From Ponte Vecchio – Ivrea, Italy

Dora Baltea River – Fontana Camillo Olivetti – Ivrea, Italy

There is not much to the town itself, just the Lungodora, or walkway along the river, and one central main street where one can find most of the shops, cafes and other stores.

Dora Baltea River – Corse Re Umberto – Ivrea, Italy

Castle Saubauda

A large rectangular castle built in the fourteenth century by the Savoy family. It is only open certain times during the year and one has to reserve their guided tour ahead of time. We were only able to see the outside and sometimes at night it is lit up in different colors.

Ivrea Cathedral

Actually known as the Cathedral of the Assumption of Saint Mary, or Cattedrale di Santa Maria Assunta, is very close to the castle on the hilltop. It is in need of restoration and there are several, apparently small projects already underway inside the cathedral.

Cathedral Santa Maria Assunta – Il Duomo, Entrance – Ivrea, Italy

Inside the cathedral is actually quite impressive. The nave is well decorated with ceiling frescoes and religious art. It is quite dark and reminiscent of the Sistine Chapel before that was restored and suffers from decades, if not centuries or candle and other smoke.

Cathedral Santa Maria Assunta – Il Duomo, Nave and ceiling – Ivrea, Italy

Cathedral Santa Maria Assunta – Il Duomo, Altar – Ivrea, Italy

Cathedral Santa Maria Assunta – Il Duomo, Aisle – Ivrea, Italy

Cathedral Santa Maria Assunta – Il Duomo, Altar screen entrance – Ivrea, Italy

Cathedral Santa Maria Assunta – Il Duomo, bricked up window – Ivrea, Italy

Cathedral Santa Maria Assunta – Il Duomo, Nave and Organ – Ivrea, Italy

Cathedral Santa Maria Assunta – Il Duomo, Transept – Ivrea, Italy

Cathedral Santa Maria Assunta – Il Duomo, Altar screen ceiling frescoes – Ivrea, Italy

Cathedral Santa Maria Assunta – Il Duomo, Altar screen frescoes – Ivrea, Italy

The Crypt

The main attraction of the crypt are the frescoes. When possible the caretakers of the cathedral have installed lighting, so that you can adore without the need for using the flash on your camera, which you should never do.

Cathedral Santa Maria Assunta – Il Duomo, Crypt – Ivrea, Italy

Restaurants

Moma

Moma is actually a bar and restaurant, so you can stop their early for a drink before dinner, or wait until 7PM and dine there as well. They have a fairly good selection of food which may be considered cosmopolitan and some Piedmont dishes. Both of our dishes were very good and came with rather large portion size which is unusual of Italy.

Moma Restaurant – Norwegian Salmon with Potatoes and Eggplant – Ivrea, Italy

References[+]

References
↑1	The ancient pilgrimage route from England to Rome.

1 April, 20251 April, 2025

Porto, Portugal to Turin, Italy – Interesting Views

Here are some interesting views on our trip back to Turin, Italy from Porto, Portugal. Luckily, the weather was perfect on both ends of the trip so our flight was totally uneventful.

Porto, Portugal to Turin, Italy – Sierra de Cebollera – RyanAir Flight

Porto, Portugal to Turin, Italy – Pyrenees – RyanAir Flight

Porto, Portugal to Turin, Italy – Maritime Alps – RyanAir Flight

Porto, Portugal to Turin, Italy – City of Turin at Night – RyanAir Flight

1 April, 2025

Lisbon, Portugal – Additional Sights

On our last couple of days in Lisbon we went across the bowl^[1]I note this because it is the lower flat portion of the city the rise gently to the north. and visited the sights in and around the oldest part of the city, Alfama. Then after that we took the 15E Tram and visited Belém, the most important part of the city with respect to ports and its historical noteriety.

Alfama the Other City

This area includes the Moorish Castle of São Jorge and a number of the overlooks that the area enjoys. Of course, there is also Lisbon Cathedral, which actually looks like it might have been destroyed by the great 1755 earthquake and rebuilt afterwards, but the cathedral and area were largely spared from any damage due to that quake.

Lisbon Cathedral – Exterior – Lisbon, Portugal

Perhaps contrary to popular belief, Lisbon and Porto are very busy ALL YEAR. It appears that since RyanAir has a HUB in Porto, everyone and his cousin comes to the area for at least the weekend and many for the entire week. This not doubt puts real stress on Porto, which I can not imagine during the summer when it is really hot and full of tourists.

Lisbon on the other hand is a larger city and can handle more people, however, it has the double wamy of having cruise ships dock as well. So expect the lower parts of Lisbon to be always crowded.

Some walk from the Chiado part of town, where our hotel was located, and across the promenade of R. Augusta, is a totally different part of the city, Alfama. Here you can find the Santa Apolónia train station; in fact, check any train ticket you have that travels to Porto or beyond, and you might notice that it might not be necessary to go all the way to Oriente train station, some of those trains actually start in Santa Apolónia.

Tagus River to the Ocean – Lisbon, Portugal

If you walk the area it is quite steep, so be prepared, or for those less inclined to walk and climb, take an alternate mode of transportation like the 12E Tram, a Tuk-Tuk or the bus.

Church of Our Lady of Grace

The Church of Our Lady of Grace stands on top of one of the hills on this side of the city. It has a beautiful ceiling in the nave, but the altar is rather plain and typical among other churches we have seen.

Church of our Lady of Grace – Nave – Lisbon, Portugal

Adjacent to the church is the Convent of Grace, which is temporarily being used as a modern art museum. However, it is nice just to drop in and see the fascinating Portuguese tiling that adorns the walls.

Church of our Lady of Grace – Convent – Lisbon, Portugal

Castle of São Jorge

The Castle of São Jorge is a large Moorish castle with a commanding view of the overall area of Lisbon. It has a surrounding wall with a central castle and a number of amenities, including a cafe and a restaurant.

Castle of São Jorge – Tagus River – Lisbon, Portugal

Castle of São Jorge – Tagus River and Bridge of the 25th of April – Lisbon, Portugal

Though you can purchase tickets at the gate, we found the entire staff appeared to be very confused and we got numerous conflicting stories as to what was available, when and where we had to queue in line. We decided to purchase our tickets online, this was actually quicker and more convienent. However, we still had to stand in a line for about an hour, and it isn’t even tourist season, so bring your patience.

Castle of São Jorge – Lisbon Overlook Area – Lisbon, Portugal

Castle of São Jorge – Points of Interest in Tile – Lisbon, Portugal

Castle of São Jorge – Old Bronze Cannon – Lisbon, Portugal

Castle of São Jorge – Interior – Lisbon, Portugal

Castle of São Jorge – Peacocks – Lisbon, Portugal

Castle of São Jorge – Entrance to Castle proper – Lisbon, Portugal

Castle of São Jorge – Interior of Castle – Lisbon, Portugal

Castle of São Jorge – Interior of Castle, Ramparts – Lisbon, Portugal

Church of Saint Vincent de Fora

The Church of Saint Vincent de Fora is actually pretty far from everything else, but still walkable. From the Church of Grace and some of the observations points, it can be easily seen in the distance, usually with the National Pantheon dome looming in the frame.

Church of St. Vincent de Fora – Dome of the National Pantheon – Lisbon, Portugal

The interior is actually quite spartan and perhaps not worth the effort. However, for a fee you can enter other portions of the grounds like the sacristy, which is known to be far more opulent than the church itself. Having been in so many churches in the past few months, we decided to save our money and continue our travels.

Saint Vincent de Fora – Exterior – Lisbon, Portugal

Saint Vincent de Fora – Nave and Interior – Lisbon, Portugal

Belém the Port City

Noted in history as the port from which Vasco da Gama departed for his adventures to India, this port town’s most noticeable attribute is it tower. But there is also the monastery, its cloister and the church, all of which represent fabulous examples of the late Gothic Portuguese Manueline style of architecture.

Jerónimos Monastery and the Church of Saint Mary of Bethlehem

When you exit the tram the first thing you notice is the Church of Saint Mary of Bethlehem across the street. Then the Jerónimos Monastery comes into view, as an extension to these architectural marvels.

Church of Saint Mary of Bethlehem – Jerónimos Monastery – Lisbon, Portugal

Belém Tower

The Belém Tower, or more precisely, the Tower of Saint Vincent, stands just off shore and was actually a lighthouse in the past.

Restaurants

Rendez Vous

After we visited the Church of St. Vincent we stopped at a small restaurant along the way back called Rendez Vous. They have sort of an eclectic menu which probably does not appeal to everyone, but we found the food and wine very good and would commend the place to anyone looking for something a little different.

Rendez Vour Restaurant – Tuna Salad – Lisbon, Portugal

Rendez Vour Restaurant – Greek Salad, Bread and Fries with Olive Oil and Oregano – Lisbon, Portugal

References[+]

References
↑1	I note this because it is the lower flat portion of the city the rise gently to the north.

30 March, 202530 March, 2025

Sintra, Portugal – Missed Outing

With optimism in the weather and a plan for a good day, we headed to Sintra, Portugal, in the hopes of seeing the Moorish Castle or the National Palace of Pena. Unfortunately, shortly after we arrived our hopes were dashed after we learned the weather had trashed the place and everything in the park was more or less closed due to too many fallen trees, so a missed outing.

How To Get There

By metro it takes about forty-five minutes, leaving Lisbon’s Rossio metro station, a number of blocks from our hotel uphill, to Sintra station about a dozen stops away. This metro line is very busy, so be prepared.

Rossio Station – Platform – Lisbon, Portugal

The Town

Is chaotically laid out and has many narrow passageways and alleys. As with most of Portugal, you get the feeling you must always climb up or down, so be prepared for a lot of steps.

Quinta da Regaleira

The Quinta da Regaleira was another issue. Though we wanted to visit the property, it only has reservations and time slots. Aside from that, the line was so long, since everyone was looking for alternatives due to the closures, that it was quickly out of available times. So we took some photographs and turned around.

Biester Palace

Having failed to come on a day when the majority of the park was open, we settled on the Biester Palace, so that the day and trip was not a total loss.

Biester Palace – Stairs to Palace – Sintra, Portugal

Biester Palace – Front – Sintra, Portugal

Biester Palace – Back Entrance – Sintra, Portugal

Sintra_13_BiesterPalace_05

Sintra_13_BiesterPalace_06

Not technically a palace, the residence that is called Biester Palace stands prominently and views from the grounds are very nice. The grounds are quiet enough and there is a cafe where one can enjoy a hot or cold drink while enjoying the beautiful flora.

Biester Palace – Rooms – Sintra, Portugal

The house itself is decorated with wood, a majority of its finish and main rooms are adorned with something similar, if not, oak. One comes away with the house having an almost Spartan interior and the chapel appears to be the most adorned room in the house.

Biester Palace – Chapel – Sintra, Portugal

Biester Palace – Bathroom – Sintra, Portugal

Biester Palace – Scullery – Sintra, Portugal

There is an elevator, though it was never electrified and gives the appearance that it was only used when company was present, or for other civil tasks.

Biester Palace – Elevator Hand Mechanism – Sintra, Portugal

Biester Palace – Elevator – Sintra, Portugal

The Ninth Gate

One claim to fame this house has that might appeal to some, it was one of the locations where Roman Polanski shot the film The Ninth Gate. It was during Dean Corso’s travels to visit Victor Fargas that the house and fountain are involved in the movie.

Biester Palace – Ninth Gate Book Prop and Postcards – Sintra, Portugal

Restaurants

In Sintra there are plenty of restaurants and cafes, so you shouldn’t have a difficult time to find a place to eat.

Fatto da Claudio Coelho

A nice place for lunch, service Italian food and other specialties. We each shared the bruschetta and a pasta special, so something simple and somewhat light.

Fatto da Claudio Coelho – Patti Waiting For Lunch – Sintra, Portugal

30 March, 2025

Lisbon, Portugal – Piazza And Park

Our first day consisted mostly of getting to know Lisbon a bit and visiting the main piazza, walking the main avenue and visiting the park. The weather could not have been better and we enjoyed blue skies and mild temperatures for our outing.

The City

Since our hotel was located in Chiado, the Avenue of Ribeira das Naus was not far away. First we visited a few monuments along the riverfront and some artwork, then we headed for the Piazza of Commerce.

Park Of Europe

The city is actually pretty nice and very clean, the city appears to make a concerted effort to maintain the streets and cleaning activities can be seen all around. A few blocks below our hotel was the Avenue of Ribeira das Naus, a gorgeous waterfront walk that takes you to the piazza. On a clear day, it is crowded by tourists and weekenders walking leisurely toward their unknown destinations.

Avenue Ribeira das Naus – Lisbon, Portugal

Piazza of Commerce

The first really large attraction to see in the city is the piazza, which proudly displays the Gate of Rua Augusta as one of its entry points.

Plaza of Commerce – Arch of Rua Augusta – Lisbon, Portugal

This is a very large open space that is surrounded by cafes and restaurants. In the center is the Equestrian Statue of King José I which towers over onlookers. On a bright sunny day it may seem vaguely reminiscent of Venice’s San Marco’s square near the water.

Avenue of Liberation

To get there we walked the Avenue of Liberation, a long and beautiful walk covered by sampietrini (small cobblestone) and dotted by fountains. It is flanked by high-end stores and dealerships and a shoppers paradise no doubt.

Rossio Plaza – Fountain of Anjinhos – Lisbon, Portugal

Avenue of Liberty – Fountain – Lisbon, Portugal

Avenue of Liberty – Trees in bloom – Lisbon, Portugal

Avenue of Liberty – WWI Monument – Lisbon, Portugal

Avenue of Liberty – Marques De Pombal – Lisbon, Portugal

Park Of Eduardo VII

It is a rather large park that rises up out of the bowl that is Lisbon is the Park of Eduardo VII, named after a king of the United Kingdom.

Park of Eduardo VII – Carlos Lopes Pavillion – Lisbon, Portugal

Park of Eduardo VII – Monument of the 25th of April aka “Pirilau” – Lisbon, Portugal

Throughout the city you will find many different modes of transportation. The most ubiquitous form would be the Tuk-Tuk trucks that are all over the main tourist spots. When you venture further out, you will have to look for more mundane forms, like the streetcar or tram, which we have in Turin and find eminently fitted for the job. There are also numerous cable cars sprinkled throughout the city, where the hills dictate a hardy form of transport.

Príncipe Real – Old Tram Line and Stop – Lisbon, Portugal

Calçada da Glória – Old Cable Car – Lisbon, Portugal

Restaurants

Though we have sampled the Portuguese cuisine, we found that there is only so much of it one can eat; so we quickly revert back to the food we love.

La Trattoria

La Trattoria is an Italian restaurant in the San Antonio district of central Lisbon. It is not easy to find and we found ourselves to be practically the only tourists there, the rest were business people who come to enjoy the buffet. It is a contemporary Italian restaurant that offers many staple Italian dishes, as well as the buffet for a fixed price. The food is very good and priced a little higher than you will find in other areas.

La Trattoria Restaurant – Calzone – Lisbon, Portugal

La Trattoria Restaurant – Margherita Pizza – Lisbon, Portugal

27 March, 20251 April, 2025

Lisbon, Portugal – Travel Day

Lisbon, Portugal – Arrival and First Day

We had beautiful weather for our trip from Porto to Lisbon. The train was packed and this was even the off-season for travel. As far as comfort, the train line between the two cities is a bit rough and curvy, so if you have any form of travel sickness, take your medications!

There were several areas along the way that showed the affects of all the rain Portugal has received this spring. Several places were flooded and there appeared to be a lot of farm land underwater.

Weather and Flooding along the way – Porto to Lisbon, Portugal

Lisbon Central Station

The main train station in the city is Lisbon Central Station, which is also a bus and metro hub, so you have several travel options when you arrive to your hotel. We chose a cab, but be careful and take a photograph of your meter before you get out, our cab driver still tried to rip us off. Instead of the 12.60€ he was owed, he tried to charge us 20€ and finally got 15€. He was very talkative and did show us a few sights along the way, but it still annoyed the both of us.

Palácio das Especiarias

We stayed at the Palácio das Especiarias, a boutique hotel on the edge of the old historic part of town.

Palacio das Especiarias – Entrance – Lisbon, Portugal

They have individualized rooms, a beautiful garden and many free amenities.

Palacio das Especiarias – Garden – Lisbon, Portugal

Palacio das Especiarias – Room – Lisbon, Portugal

Palacio das Especiarias – Stairway – Lisbon, Portugal

Palacio das Especiarias – Stairway to Breakfast – Lisbon, Portugal

Palácio das Especiarias – Daily Breakfast – Lisbon, Portugal

Every day after 3PM, they have free wine and cheese downstairs, which you may also take up to the garden or even your rooms. The wine appears to come from the Duoro River region and is pretty good.

Palacio das Especiarias – Welcome Room – Lisbon, Portugal

Restaurants

Azia Thai Restaurant

Pretty tired from our journey we immediately started looking for comfort food, what better cuisine than Chinese food!

Azia Chinese Restaurant – Inside – Lisbon, Portugal

It is a small restaurant but prepares all manner of dishes, from Thai, Japanese to Chinese. They also have a pretty good wine list with half bottles. The wonton soup with noodles is very good and highly commended.

Azia Chinese Restaurant – Spring Rolls and Wine – Lisbon, Portugal

Azia Chinese Restaurant – Soup and Salad – Lisbon, Portugal

Azia Chinese Restaurant – Chicken Fried Rice – Lisbon, Portugal

Azia Chinese Restaurant – Wine – Lisbon, Portugal

26 March, 2025

Porto, Portugal – Last Day

On our last day in Porto, we saw the Lello Bookstore, the Old Stock Exchange and took the funicular up to the upper portion of the Luis I Bridge and rode the gondola back down to the Vila Nuova de Gaia.

Second Great Wall Of The City – Porto, Portugal

Luis I Bridge – Upper Bridge – Porto, Portugal

Luis I Bridge – Upper Bridge, Vila Nuovo de Gaia – Porto, Portugal

Lello Bookstore

After an early start we climbed our way back up to the Miragaia, not only for breakfast, but to stand in line to see the inside of a bookstore.

Lello Bookstore – Ceiling and Staircase – Porto, Portugal

Lello Bookstore – Ceiling Skylight – Porto, Portugal

Lello Bookstore – Decus in Labore – Porto, Portugal

Lello Bookstore – Skylight – Porto, Portugal

Lello Bookstore – Upstairs – Porto, Portugal

Palácio da Bolsa

The Palácio da Bolsa, the Stock Exchange Palace or Euronext Lisbon, used to house the stock exchange for Portugal. Now, only certain members of the administration have offices here, and hence, it is required to have guided tours.

Palace Stock Exchange – Exterior – Porto, Portugal

Palace Stock Exchange – Chairmen Room – Porto, Portugal

Palace Stock Exchange – Meeting Room Ceiling – Porto, Portugal

Palace Stock Exchange – Commercial Telegraph – Porto, Portugal

Palace Stock Exchange – Eiffel Room – Porto, Portugal

Palace Stock Exchange – Last Royal Family Portraits – Porto, Portugal

Palace Stock Exchange – Plaster False Wood – Porto, Portugal

The tour only lasts for about thirty minutes and you learn of the many former leaders and functions of the palace. It is an active building and holds many events internally, including operettas for small crowds.

Palace Stock Exchange – Galleria – Porto, Portugal

Palace Stock Exchange – Bronze Chandeliers – Porto, Portugal

Palace Stock Exchange – Main Stairway – Porto, Portugal

Of particular note is the reception room where the wealth of the stock exchange and Portugal was to promote and entice investors. The walls are festooned with non-sensical Arabic symbols denoting the rooms secular monetary cause.

Palace Stock Exchange – False Arabian Secular Meeting Room – Porto, Portugal

Palace Stock Exchange – Arabic Secular Saying – Porto, Portugal

Six Bridges Cruise

There are several lines that promote a voyage to see the six bridges along the River Duoro in the area. The problem is, it is actually only five bridges and one viaduct, so don’t be surprised if your counting is minus one. However, we found it a good fifty minute excursion along the waterway and rather relaxing, if not totally uneventful.

Palace Stock Exchange – Six Bridges Cruise, Out To The Ocean – Porto, Portugal

25 March, 202525 March, 2025

Porto, Portugal – Another Look

After a dismal start and a break in the weather, we were able to explore the city of Porto a bit more rigorously. There are probably only a handful of streets that do not go up or down, so have your trekking legs prepared.

Vila Nova de Gaia – Duoro River – Porto, Portugal

São Bento Train Station

The inner city train station, and perhaps the original Porto Central Station, is the São Bento Train Station. Known for its tiled waiting hall, it is known now more for its artwork than for its use as a primary station; Campahnã having eclipsed it as the main train station now. Unfortunately, it is beset by a very large public works project outside at the moment, so access is through side entrances for the most part.

Sao Bento Train Station – Entry Hall – Porto, Portugal

Sao Bento Train Station – Tracks – Porto, Portugal

Praça da Ribeira

A scenic spot on the River Duoro in the center of the old city is the Praça da Ribeira. It has several pieces of art to enjoy and the Cube Fountain, which is surrounded by a myriad of restaurants and cafe tents. It is along the Cias de Ribeira or promenade where you can enjoy a nice walk, listen to music or just enjoy the river.

Praça da Ribeira – Cube Fountain – Porto, Portugal

Luís I Bridge

Between the Praça da Ribeira, RibeiraDoPorto and the other side of the river, or Vila Nova de Gaia, is the Luís I Bridge, which was originally proposed by Gustave Eiffel, even though he did not win the competition to build it.

Praça da Ribeira – Luis I Bridge – Porto, Portugal

Luis I Bridge – Douro River Upstream – Porto, Portugal

Luis I Bridge – Vila Nova de Gaia – Porto, Portugal

Luis I Bridge – View of Praça da Ribeira – Porto, Portugal

Vila Nova de Gaia

On the other side of the river is the area or civil parish of Vila Nova de Gaia. This prefecture or parish you can find many of the great port wine houses, such as Sandeman, Kopke and Warres to name a few. It also has a very nice river side promenade that can be enjoyed on a nice sunny day.

Vila Nova de Gaia – Sandeman Port – Porto, Portugal

Churches

Our visit here continues with a few other churches, which we were unable to see the previous day.

Church Of Saint Anthony

A regular church by any measure, the church of St. Anthony does have a remarkable gilded altar, which would be the prize of any structure.

Church of Saint Anthony – Nave and Altar – Porto, Portugal

Church of Saint Anthony – Altar – Porto, Portugal

Carmo Church

Best known for its Portuguese tiled exterior, the Carmo Church sits on top of the hill next to the Lion Fountain and its park. The tiling on the outside is unfortunately covered with a gauze, no doubt to protect the surface of the tiles from prolonged exposure to the elements, so taking photographs at a distance is probably best.

Carmo Church – Entrance with Church of the Carmelitas on the left – Porto, Portugal

The interior is nice and in the baroque style of churches. Its other claim to fame are the side altars depicting Christ in one form of tribulation or another.

Carmo Church – Nave from above – Porto, Portugal

Carmo Church – Nave and Altar – Porto, Portugal

Carmo Church – Nave and Organ from above – Porto, Portugal

Carmo Church – Side Altar – Porto, Portugal

The Hidden House

Between the Carmo Church and the Church of the Carmelites is the Hidden House. A four story structure built between the two to prevent the appearance of impropriety, though it has had other uses throughout its 250 years.

The Museum

The museum of the Carmo Church houses the typical treasure and other important items used and passed down by the church through the years. There are some things of note, like the collection of hands, as well as other peculiar things that have to be seen to believe.

Restaurants and Cafes

The restaurants and cafes in Porto come in clusters, perhaps due to it being a tourist hot spot. They seem to line most of the more important streets and more heavily trafficked areas.

Casa Deolinda

A good spot for lunch would be the Casa Deolinda right within the Praça da Ribeira. We actually felt more compelled to eat here only due to the weather, but we were not disappointed. The food was good and the service was above what we had experienced in other places. The prices were not too bad either, considering its location.

Praça da Ribeira – Restaurant Deolinda – Porto, Portugal

Restaurant Deolinda – Vegetable Soup with Tuna Salad – Porto, Portugal

Restaurant Deolinda – Vegetable Soup with Cod Fish Fritters and Hot Chocolate – Porto, Portugal

The weather too, did not disappoint.

Fabrica da Nata Cafe

Known for its Portuguese Nata, or Pastel de Nata, are a custard cream delight found at Fabrica da Nata. There is a special little room within the cafe where they prepare these treats inside a glass enclosure. The cappuccino in Portugal is bit different from its Italian parent, it has more milk and is usually not as strong.

Fabrica da Nata Cafe – Inside – Porto, Portugal

Fabrica da Nata Cafe – Breakfast – Porto, Portugal

Popina Restaurant

On the smaller scale, if you are looking for an authentic Portuguese adventure in cuisine, look no further than Popina. They have classic dishes here that are served like appetizers and are meant to be shared, so think family-style in a way. You select several items from the menu, all of which are brought out when they are ready, and them divide them accordingly. The order in which they are brought out though can appear a bit confused and disorderly, but bear with the process and you should not be disappointed.