pHimages

Photos from an overnight in Lisbon (Sep 8th) prior to travelling on to Chamonix.

Oriente railway station. Judging from the light and open structure of the roof, driving rain clearly isn’t a common feature of Lisbon weather…

Top-floor suite at the hotel Príncipe Real [38 43 2 N, 9 8 51 W] . As this was the only room available when booking and the price was quite reasonable for a city centre hotel, I hadn’t appreciated that it would be one of the two best rooms in the hotel. Again, splendid value of money (compared to the UK). Given the location close to the Bairro Alto, there was surprisingly little information on things to do of an evening – the sole recommendation was a fado restaurant (hardly sets the pulse racing).

Views from the front and rear. Lisbon is no chocolate-box city, but the scruffiness has its own charm.

The Botanical Gardens [38 43 7N, 9 8 59W] were just around the corner from the hotel.

Bark on an oriental plane.

Restored chemistry laboratory and lecture theatre at the Lisbon Museum of Science (adjacent to the Gardens).

Obelisk in the Praça Restauradores [38 42 57N, 9 8 30W] commemorating the restoration of independence from Spain following a war of succession triggered by a revolt in 1640. The light was fading at this point; a better picture can be found here.

Night shot of a “travessa” (narrow cross street) off Rua da Bica de Duarte Belo.

Restaurants: The Bengal Tandoori was just down the street from the hotel and was clearly used to visiting Brits en manque de curry. Followed by a small nominally Irish bar off rua da Rosa with a happy combination of good music and caipirinhas.