Site-seeing in Portugal
20 Jan 2005
Printable Version
Taken January 16, 2005
Sara's Apartment — Lisbon, Portugal
This is everyone ready to devour the WONDERFUL meal Sara made for us on Sunday. Names are from left to right: Sara, Esther, (Rosie's Boyfriend), Rosie, Danae, Jerry, Mom & Dad Fails. The meal was bacalhau com natas (a traditional Portuguese meal with cod, potatoes and cream) and muqueca (a Brazilian dish with shrimp, fish in a cream sauce) with a wonderful homemade chocolate pudding for dessert.
Taken January 16, 2005
Boca do Inferno — Cascais, Portugal
We went for a ride Sunday evening and watched the sunset over the Atlantic Ocean.
Taken January 16, 2005
Boca do Inferno — Cascais, Portugal
Translated it means Hell's Mouth, this natural formation caused by salt water erosion is amazing. (It's also very dangerous to walk across as people die every year doing so because occasional big waves crash over it.) Yes, of course Danae & I walked over it (Mom & Dad Fails have the picture). Sara didn't appreciate that we had walked across, all she could think of was Mom Cann scolding her for riding on a motorcycle! :)
Taken January 16, 2005
Torre de Belém — Lisbon, Portugal
Mom, Pops and Danae in front of this monument which was built in 1515 to defend the entrance to the Tagus River (Rio Tejo). This spot served as an embarcation point for many of the famous Portuguese explorers such as Vasco da Gama, and is a symbol of Portugal's maritime glory. It has served many different functions over its many years of existence (a fortress, a prison, a customs control station, etc.), and stands as a symbol of Portuguese power and glory on land and on sea.
Taken January 17, 2005
Cristo Rei — Almada, Portugal
This picture is overlooking Lisbon from the Cristo Rei monument. This is just like the one in Rio de Janeiro (see http://www.cristo-rei.com/). The people are from left to right: Sara, Joca (Sara's husband, who is Portuguese), Jerry, Danae, Mom & Dad Fails.
Taken January 17, 2005
Pastelaria ??? — Belém, Lisboa, Portugal
Here we are eating Pasteis de Belém, a famous pastry that this particular pastelaria (pastry shop) is known for. Others try and immitate, but since the recipe is secret, they don't quite compare. They are VERY good!
Taken January 17, 2005
Expo — Lisbon, Portugal
This picture is taken at the Expo in Lisbon. Portugal hosted the last World Expo of the 20th century (see http://www.expo98.pt). The new person in this photo is João Ricardo Moniz Alves da Silva, who was my only Portuguese missionary companion.
Taken January 18, 2005
Castelo dos Mouros — Sintra, Portugal
This castle was built by the Moors in the 8th or 9th century. We enjoyed walking around it and seeing the beautiful views. (There were a lot of big stairs, huh Mom?!? :))
Taken January 19, 2005
Fountains — Conimbriga, Portugal
This city dates back to before Christ. The ruins are mostly from the 1st to 4th century. The ruins are truly amazing to witness. The mosaics are one of the most impressive things, besides this fountain they built that still works! For more info see: http://www.conimbriga.pt. FYI, the awning you see is a modern addition to protect the fountains.
Taken January 19, 2005
Fonte das Lágrimas — Coimbra, Portugal
This is the famed Fountain of Tears. It is part of the most famous Portuguese (and Spanish) love story of Pedro & Inês. The story of the love of Pedro and Ines, which has survived through the centuries, is remembered in the works of authors such as Camoes, Victor Hugo and Ezra Pound. See below for a concise description of the legend.
Taken January 19, 2005
University Tower — Coimbra, Portugal
Mom Fails and Danae sitting on the steps of the library at the University of Coimbra. The university was initially established in 1290. In its early years it moved back and forth between Lisbon and Coimbra, until it was finally established at Coimbra in 1537 by King João III.
Taken January 19, 2005
The General Library — Coimbra, Portugal
This picture was taken inside this Baroque library on the University of Coimbra's campus. We had a great conversation with the guard there who gave us many insights into this historical, functioning library, including the reasoning behind the resident bats!
Taken January 19, 2005
Portugal dos Pequenitos — Coimbra, Portugal
This is an interesting picture of different woods that are from a Portuguese colony: Moçambique.
Taken January 20, 2005
Shopping Brasilia — Porto, Portugal
We spent a good portion of our day roaming this shopping center, checking back on our laundry that we washed at this laundromat.
Taken January 20, 2005
Mission Home — Porto, Portugal
Jerry, Danae, and Sister Fails! :) It was so good to see her. (If you can't tell, the two sisters are crying.)
Taken January 20, 2005
Mission Home — Porto, Portugal
Elder Zirbe, Jen, President and Sister Greene, and Elder ???. The full-time missionaries present on 20-January-2005.
After enjoying our trip to Paris together, we joined Mom & Dad Fails in Lisbon. Danae & I stayed with Sara Fernandes and her wonderful family. Sara, who is Brazilian, lived with Danae's family for five months while she was studying for the TOEFL about 9 years ago. Sara, Joca (her husband), Esther and Moroni (there children) were VERY gracious hosts. They not only invited us to stay with them, but they acted as our tour guides for Lisbon. We are very grateful for their extreme kindness in helping us get a much better view of Lisbon than had we done it alone!
Thanks to Sara and company, we saw many great sights in the Lisbon area: Boca do Inferno, Cascais, Torre de Bélem, Monumento dos Descobrimentos, Cristo Rei, Bélem & Mosteiro Jerónimos, oldtown Lisbon, Expo, and Sintra (including Castelo dos Mouros).
After visiting Sintra on Tuesday (the 18th), we started northward, with Coimbra as our next destination. We spent that afternoon and the next day in Coimbra. During the 24 hours we were there we saw the city where I worked as a missionary, the chapels, Portugal dos Pequenitos (which is a place that has many of the major historical and architectural buildings in miniature), Conimbriga (ancient Roman ruins), the University and Library, Quinta das Lágrimas and the botanical gardens.
After our whirlwind day in Coimbra, we headed up to Porto, where we rested (and did laundry) in anticipation of seeing Jen that night: Thursday, 20-January-2005! :)
Then we saw Jen!!! It was SOOOOO good to be there and to participate in the testimony meeting of the missionaries going home. What a blessing it is to be a missionary, and to continue to be missionaries throughout our lives.
Love,
Jerry & Danae
The legend of Pedro & Inez (as stolen from http://www.geocities.com/papagaia2/batalha.htm) ...
The Abbey of Alcobaça contains the tombs of those impossible lovers, Dom Pedro and Ines de Castro. After the death of his wife, Prince Dom Pedro fell in love with her Spanish lady-in-waiting, Dona Ines de Castro. Fearful of her brothers' influence, leading nobles poisoned King Dom Afonso IV's mind against her. He sanctioned her murder, unaware that the couple had married in secret at Braganca, to legitimize their children. "Inez's heron-neck was severed at Coimbra" (at Quinta das Lágrimas where a never-ending fountain was formed from her tears [Fonte das Lágrimas]).
When Dom Pedro succeeded to the throne two years later, in 1357, two of the three murderers were brought to him at Santarem, tied to an ox-yoke. He is reported to have ripped out their hearts and eaten them, before exhuming Ines' decomposing body and compelling the nobility to do homage to her, prior to her entombment in the abbey.
The tomb of Dom Pedro and Ines de Castro stand in the transepts, foot to foot, as requested, so that on Judgment Day they will open their eyes and see one another.