Lisbon, Portugal

We arrived in Lisbon on Saturday morning, and guess what?  No suitcase for me!  We picked up our rental car, and headed to the bed and breakfast Olivia had reserved for us - Family Macedo Bed & Breakfast.  Loved it AND the owner, Antonio!  Olivia had booked one room for three people for one night.  Because Antonio loved that we were surprising Olivia, who also didn't know that Caroline was coming, he let us have two rooms for the price of one, AND we were able to stay an extra night to take full advantage of Caroline being there with us.  He suggested a restaurant around the corner for lunch, and when Olivia arrived in Lisbon, he brought her there -- with her eyes covered.  Wish I had a picture of her face when she saw Caroline sitting there.

 Family Macedo Bed & Breakfast with antique Portuguese furniture, 

a tiny little kitchen, a shared bath, and a precious patio.

After lunch, the four of us headed out to see the sights.

I was amazed that the city in general looked very rundown, but that so many buildings were covered in beautiful tiles!

 Most people in Portugal and Spain don't have clothes dryers.  They hang their clothes on their balconies.

Igreja de Santa Maria Maior (Church of Santa Maria Maior), or The Se - Our first European cathedral, and we were in awe.   
It is Lisbon's oldest cathedral, and is amazing!

We explored the Moorish Castelo de São Jorge, with amazing views of the city and the Tagus river.

 

A wonderful guitarist was playing in the courtyard.

And we went to bed tired and very happy with our first day in Lisbon, Portugal.