7/29/14
Lisbon is now in our wake and we are once again steaming
ahead across the wide and windy Atlantic. As we take some long but gentle
rolls, let me tell you a little about the fun times we had in this last
exciting port, which were awash with sunshine and almost endless activity!
While some us would have been content to sit in a café eating classic dishes
such as bacalhau (cod) prepared in a thousand and one ways, Lisbon itself was
waiting!
The first thing most
visitors to Portugal’s capital city will hear about is the Great
Earthquake of 1755, which destroyed much of what was then one of the wealthiest
cites in Europe. After the devastation, the city was rebuilt on a grand scale
and much of what we see today still retains this early splendor. Sprawled across
seven hills, Portugal’s capital requires impressive legwork to explore in a
mere three days. Fortunately, public transport options abound in the form of
trams, buses, trains and the occasional elevador, which kept our calve muscles
from screaming too badly and let us experience some mind-blowing views!
Docked right next to the Alfama – Lisbon’s ancient
section which was left standing after the earthquake – most of us began our wanderings through the
city’s narrow becos (alleyways), which
gradually ascend towards the Castelo de São Jorge for a spectacular glimpse out
over Lisbon’s traditional red-roofed buildings. From here it was an easy stroll
through the tiled streets and buildings of Baixa, the shopping district, to
pick up souvenirs before hitting the student-friendly bars and high streets of
Bairro Alto. Those cadets who weren’t too tired from their ‘night shifts’ out
in the city headed the next day to Belem, a neighborhood steeped in maritime
history where explorer Vasco de Gama set sail for India in 1497. The impressive
Mosterio dos Jeronimos commemorates his return, and was once home to monks from
the Order of St. Jerome, whose job it was to comfort weary sailors. Maybe they
too had “Q’s” to pass or something as hard as the Coast guard licensing exam to
study for?
Many among our shipmates also ventured further afield,
preferring to take day trips to see sights beyond Lisbon’s urban landscape. One
group ventured as far as Fatima, a sight important to Catholics where visionary
peasants are said to have glimpsed the Virgin Mary. They returned with
wonderful shots of the town’s basilicas as well as of the beautiful
countryside. Another contingent of cadets and some crew headed north to the
beach town of Cascais to soak up some sun, and to try some paddle boarding.
Once a small fishing village, this fun little coastal town now boasts three
beaches, a pedestrian-friendly old section and a great shore-side bike path, as
well as lots of post-beach activity. Belonging to the frigid Atlantic, however,
the water was almost spine-tingling! A quick dip in these clear but icy seas
was enough for me, but not for the enthusiastic Dive Club, whose members
slipped on full wetsuits with hoods for a two-tank scuba diving trip to a
nearby island.
The divers are still talking excitedly about the types of
fish they encountered, which included at least one octopus!
A different type of scenery altogether awaited yet
another pack of my shipmates on a jeep tour of Sintra village, a World Heritage
site full of narrow cobbled streets, nearby mountains and royal palaces dating
to as far back as the 9th century.
Following hiking trails through the mountains and around
nature preserves such as Parque da Pena, we wandered among the redwoods, lakes
and valleys covered with ferns and often surrounded by a cool tropical mist.
Along the way, castles rose mysteriously out of the fog!
A mere 10 miles west of town, we made a final stop at
Cabo da Roca, the 150-meter sheer cliff that is the westernmost tip of Europe.
Although New York City wasn’t exactly visible on the horizon, we snapped some
pictures and waved to you all back at home. We are now on our final homeward
stretch with only the pounding surf of the Atlantic Ocean to go!
Cadet Shout Out: Chris Marshall, 3rd class, says hi Mom
and Dad! Miss you see you soon. Love you much & got you some great gifts.
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