Trip to Belem  

Took a great tram ride out to this interesting part of Lisbon.  

First things first - a cup of coffee.

Torre De Belem is a fortified castle on the mouth of the Tagus river, built as part of the defense system and as a ceremonial gateway. From here the navigators like Vasco da Gama set out to discover the trade routes. It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site in Manueline style.

On the Torre .

Bill stands guard  in the Moorish style watchtower.

View through a Manueline window.

Monument to the Discoveries (Padrão dos Descobrimentos) celebrating the Portuguese Age of Discovery during the 15th and 16th centuries. It was opened in1960 to commemorate the 500th anniversary of the death of Prince Henry the Navigator.  It represents a three-sailed ship ready to depart, with sculptures of important historical figures such as King Manuel I, the poet Camões, Vasco da Gama, Magellan, and several other notable Portuguese explorers, crusaders, monks, cartographers, and cosmographers.  Prince Henry the Navigator sands at the prow holding a small vessel. The only female is queen Felipa of Lancaster, mother of Henry the Navigator.

Prince Henry the Navigator leads the pack.

The Monastery of Jeronimos, another UNESCO World Heritage building, was built by the Infante Henry the Navigator around 1459.

The south portal.

Inside the nave of the church with it's slender octagonal pillars.

The Manueline cloisters.

People queuing up at the 19th Century cafe, Antiga Confeitaria, for Parteis de Belem, the original home of Portuguese tarts.

The cafe has room after room of tables and, of course, the walls are all tiled.

Bill enjoys his tarts - a great way to end the outing.