Exploring Lisbon & Oeiras

The marina at Oeiras certainly knew how to keep their visiting yachts tied to the dock with a free bread delivery every morning, a shuttle to the supermarket, a pool and the friendliest staff we felt very at home.... Although we ended up staying a day longer than planned when the new water pump that was installed a few days ago in Vigo gave up (it turned out the manufacturer had sent us an outdated version) - so Andrew spent half a day installing the old chinese pump again!! (we did also get a swim in at the pool).

The entertainment every night came in the form of the Pokemoners - we have no idea about Pokemons or what the were doing but every night a gathering of silent teens would appear with their smart phones on the marina wall. The ironic thing about this gathering of people addicted to their phones was that the wall behind them was painted with yacht logos of those embarking ocean passages - something that happens in jumping off points around the world and I bet they didn't even register that those paintings were a symbol of real adventure.

Pokemon Go Gathering in Oeiras Marina every night

We did a huge supermarket shop with the help of the car shuttle from the marina staff, met the lovely Pam and Graham on Allegra who are on a similar route to us - we had a lovely evening of drinks with them, before our friend Sarah from Sydney arrived for a few days of fun. First stop was Lisbon - where we had a great morning exploring and eating tarts in the heat before heading to the more relaxed historical district of Belem for lunch and a visit to the Maritime Museum.

Lisbon - Praca de Commercio

Andrew & Sarah with statute of statue of King Jose I

Pedestrian Street Lisbon- gorgeous city

So many churches and trams in busy Lisbon

We are sure this art was of two guys who were playing guitars in the nearby ally - not busking just playing beautifully

We loved this run down area that had been turned into an art gallery

All eyes on Sarah

Girls in Lisbon 

Belem - Jeronimos Monastery - construction started in 1501

Beautiful Belem

 Belem was just lovely after the hills, heat and bustle of Lisbon - we could have spent a lot longer there. Sarah was very keen to see the Monument to the Discoveries so we were sad to find it was under repair - it's shaped like the front of a ship and includes 30 statues of people who were involved in the Portuguese Discoveries lead by Henry the Navigator - it is absolutely stunning overlooking the river (we'll just have to go back to see it without scaffolding).

Monument to Discoveries under scaffolding :-(

In front of the statue in the pavement is a wind rose including a map of the routes taken by the discoverers - pretty cool!

Wind Rose and Map showing Discovery Routes - Gifted to Portugal by South Africa

Tejo River with 25th April Bridge

The Martime Museum is fantastic and so detailed, with english notes - Andrew thought it was one of the best museums he's every been in. As it sits in one end of the Monastery you get to see the building as well as the historical journey.....

In the art gallery we were delighted to find this picture of our neighbour from Ilas Cies....

Sarah with yacht Sirius (she lives on Sirius Cove, Sydney) - Sirius was built for King Luis in 1877; just so elegant

Royal Barge Built 1778 last used when Queen Elizabeth visited Portugal in 1957

After a long and tiring day, we returned to Oeiras for a fantastic dinner with Lee & Andrew of sv Katherine at the marina, before heading out into the ocean again next morning.....