This morning we took a tour group walk through Lisbon’s neighborhoods. The thing I love about Lisbon are the street tiles/mosaics and the trams. Sept. 10, 2013

A close up of the street tile/mosaics in Lisbon. Sept. 10, 2013

An incredible view of Lisbon from a stop the elevate de Santa Just a, the 150 foot tall iron elevator. Sept. 10, 2013

Part of our first full day group walking tour in Lisbon included taking a ride on the elevate de Santa Just a, the 150 foot tall iron elevator with an incredible city view. Sept. 10, 2013

A long distance view of the Praça do Comércio Square in Lisbon near the Tagus river. Sept. 10, 2013

The Sao Jorge Castle in Lisbon which was first built by the Moors in the 11th century.

Some of our group members getting off the tram as we head to our first Fado performance. Sept. 11, 2013

We ended our time in Lisbon with a group dinner and a Fado performance. Although the origins of Fado are difficult to trace, it is commonly regarded as simply a form of song which can be about anything, but must follow a certain traditional structure. In popular belief, fado is a form of music characterized by mournful tunes and lyrics infused with a sentiment of resignation, fatefulness and melancholia. Sept. 11, 2013

We spent the morning at the world-class Gulbenkian Museum. Calouste Gulbenkian (1869-1955), an Armenian oil tycoon, gave Portugal his art collection which includes this early 14th century Yuan dynasty China porcelain tea cup. Sept. 11, 2013

A sculpture that caught my eye is this “Homage to Jean Goujon” (1919-24) by French sculptor Alfred-Auguste Janniot (1889-1969) at the Gulbenkian Museum in Lisbon. Sept. 11, 2013

After visiting the Gulbenkian Museum, we ventured over to the Belem District, which is three miles west of downtown Lisbon. The area is home to some important sights from Portugal’s Golden Age when Vasco de Game and company turned the country into Europe’s richest power. Belem was the send-off point for voyages in the Age of Discovery. Sailors would stay and pray here before embarking on their journey. The Belem Tower, built between 1515-1520, protected Lisbon’s harbor and welcomed its sailors home. The grand buildings of Belem even survived the great 1755 earthquake so this is the best place to experience the grandeur of pre-earthquake Lisbon. Sept. 11, 2013

In 1960, Portugal honored the 500th anniversary of the death of Prince Henry the Navigator by rebuilding The Monument to the Discoveries. The 170-foot concrete structure shows that exploring the world was team. It too is located in the Belem District. Sept. 11, 2013

In 1960, Portugal honored the 500th anniversary of the death of Prince Henry the Navigator by rebuilding The Monument to the Discoveries. The 170-foot concrete structure shows that exploring the world was team. It too is located in the Belem District. Sept. 11, 2013