Portugal 2023 - Day 15 - Belem

 

Torre de Belem.

Again, took it easy in the morning, and left only around 10:50. Walked to the Figuera square, and got into the 15E bus right as we approached the bust stop (it was already there).

We bought the tickets to Torre de Belem last Saturday intending to go on Sunday, but changed the plans because we thought Sunday would be really busy there.  We were, of course, right, but Wednesday, was also very busy. The Mosteiro de Jeronomos line stretched around the building - reminding us for the two-hour wait we had in 2017 when we visited.

So, we abandoned any idea of going to the Monastery, and instead crossed the park in front of it, went under the railroad tracks, came out at the embankment, and walked it to the Tower. 

We discovered a bit of a line to the Tower of Belem. Wound up standing there for about an hour and fifteen minutes.

The end of the line.

The rest of the line.

The repeat visit to Torre de Belem went roughly the same way as the first visit in 2017.

Approaching the tower.

 Went down to the bastion, then up to the courtyard, and then further up the tower. This time they had some weird arrangement for moving people up and down the only stair, where you went from floor 1 to floor 2, then to floor 4, and then down to floor 3.  This involved standing in lines at each floor waiting for the sign that you could proceed.   But, eh, well, this is  a piece of history.

Inside the bastion.

View from the courtyard.

View from the second floor balcony.

After the visit to the Tower, we walked back to the Monastery the same way. The line was smaller, but still not worth the wait time. Instead, went to Starbucks, and sat there for a while with some coffees and cold drinks. Additionally, visited  Pasteis de Belem shop next door and finally bought some authentic pasteis de Belem.

Pasteis de Belem store.

Ate a couple right outside. The key difference I could spot is in the way the dough was rolled. The nata filling was good - some say it is not as sweet as with other pasteis de nata, but I think it was similar. 

After that. we took the 714 bus to Cais do Sodre, from there took metro to Matrim Moniz. After that, I went to one of the local Indian restaurants and put in an order for some chicken biryani, butter chicken, and a lamb curry (don't remember which kind, but it came in a thick dark red curry sauce). Came home with the food, we combined it with the leftovers from the previous day and had a nice dinner.

After that, pretty much called it a day.

Steps.  Phone says 9820.  The watch showed 10,275 at the end of the day.

Alcohol. nothing new. Continued drinking the Warre's porto.

Next. My birthday