“Man maintains his balance, poise, and sense of security only as he is moving forward.” Maxwell Maltz
Mar 27, 2017
I had scheduled a three-hour Segway tour of Lisbon, to David’s dismay. I’m constantly pushing him out of his comfort zone during our vacations, but this one qualifies him for the Star Trek Motto “Where no man has gone before”
During our instruction period, I asked him to be honest. I was willing to cancel the reservation if he was not comfortable. Our guide Ruben took his time with him, so off we went. Guess what – it was the zip lining experience all over again, once he got the taste of it ….. watch out Lisboa.
Speeding on Segways we’re off to see Lisboa stopping at multiple places:
Prada do Comercio, the old custom area of Lisbon, with its monument to the Republic.
Miradouro da Senhora do Monte, with it’s panoramic view of the city and The Castelo.
St. George’s Castle, a royal residence until the early 16th century with perfect postcard views over the Alfama, the only part of the city to survive the 1755 earthquake.
Elevador de Santa Justa inaugurated on the 10th July 1902 and it is the only vertical lift in Lisbon for public service. It was built by the architect Raoul Mesnier du Ponsard and has a cast-iron structure, enriched with filigree details. you can call it the Eiffel Tower of Lisbon.
The Alfama is the oldest district of Lisbon, spreading on the slope between the São Jorge Castle and the Tejo river. Its name comes from the Arabic Al-hamma, meaning “hot fountains” or “baths”. The area contains many important historical attractions, as well as an abundance of Fado bars, restaurants, and really cheap and tacky souvenir shops.
Our Segway tour of the Alfama took us through its picturesque labyrinth of narrow streets and small squares, very much a Moorish influence, it was very similar to what we experienced in the Medinas of Morocco.
Lisbon Cathedral is the oldest church in the city. Since the beginning of the construction of the cathedral, in the year 1147, the building has been modified several times and survived many earthquakes. It is nowadays a mix of different architectural styles.
Little did we know that the tour included food stops, that really brought a smile to David’s eye, there were 3 food tasting stops including a local delicacy called the Alfama(flaky crust, lemon curd and topped with almonds) … my new favorite; Davids holy grail quest of finding the perfect Natas and Pasteis do Bacaluh.
Segway is a two-wheeled, self-balancing, battery-powered electric vehicle. Computers, sensors, and electric motors in the base of the Segway keep the device upright when powered on with balancing enabled. The rider commands them to go forward or backward by shifting their weight forward or backward on the platform. It uses gyroscopic sensors and accelerometer-based leveling sensors to detect the resulting changes in its pitch angle and, to maintain balance, it drives its wheels forward or backward as needed to return its pitch to upright. In the process, the rider establishes and then maintains the desired speed by modulating the extent and duration of their fore/aft weight shifts. To turn and steer, the rider shifts the handlebar to the left or right. It responds by adjusting the speeds of the wheels in opposite directions.
The maximum speed of the Segway is 12.5 miles per hour and is capable of covering 24 miles on a fully charged lithium-ion battery. We covered about 12 kilometers according to Ruben.
After our tour, we had planned to visit the Fashion Museum, but it was closed as it’s currently going through a major renovation. We wander aimlessly through the historical center and check out some interesting shops.
In our wandering we came across a very lovely find – the Igreja De Nossa Senhora Da Oliveira or Our Lady of the Olive tree church.
You blink and you miss this church even if you’re standing right by the door It’s found in an ordinary building downtown, but the tiny interior is quite a surprise. The original church dates from 1262 but this is a reconstruction after the first one was destroyed in the Great Earthquake.
The ceiling features an 18th-century painting of the Assumption of the Virgin, while the walls are decorated with blue-and-white tiles of the same period. They depict different events of the life of the Virgin, from Birth to “Flight into Egypt.”
Beautiful simplicity at its best.
Our hotel Lisboa the Fontecruz came as a courtesy of uncle Marriott(hotel points). The facade is a mix between classic and millennial contemporary which extends through the interior. Located on the city’s main boulevard, with plenty of natural light and offering panoramic vistas of Avenida Liberdade and the surrounding oldtown area, ours has a balcony and beautiful view of the hills above the city.
Tonight’s dinner at Sea Me Pexaire Moderna, about a 20-minute walk from our hotel, in the Barrio Alto, was an appetite-opening walk, up steep hills and steps, but well worth it. The restaurant was packed in facto a Monday night, “no reservation no table”. Sea Me is a fusion of sushi and typical Portuguese food – a lovely collision:
Sardine’s Sushi – lightly grilled – they melted in your mouth Soft shell crab sushi Calamari salad with seaweed and roe Black ink rice with mussels And the finale……giant tiger prawns, grilled with a squeeze of fresh lemon
Of course wine; it’s so cheap in Portugal – a wonderful white blend from the Douro Valley.
The walk back – no steps but we had to walked uphill, before we came down on a steep downhill walk.
