Cascais and Lisbon

Hi everyone,

We spent two nights in Cascais marina.  One day was spent looking around Cascais and another visiting Lisbon.

Superyachts in Cascais Marina

Within the marina complex there are an array of cafes, restaurants and bars, marine service workshops, a travel-lift etc.  Some seriously big yachts are berthed here.  Any marina featuring a helipad probably caters for superyachts, and there's one here.

Refreshments at one of the cafes in Cascais Marina

Cascais's waterfront area is nicely done.  Touristy but clean and tidy.  Lots of interesting memorials and statues, and some interesting buildings.  There are several nice-looking beaches which appear to be very popular.  There's a significant expat community and an array of English-style pubs in town.

One of many statues in Cascais

Peninsula War memorial

Colourful Cascais waterfront

English-style Pubs in Cascais

Cascais is at the end of a rail line to Lisbon.  It's a 40 minute ride into the city.  From the Cas Do Sodre station in Lisbon we walked along the sea-front past an array of impressive government buildings and large squares.

Cascais - Lisbon Train

Spectacular Portuguese Government buildings in Lisbon

One of the waterside squares in Lisbon

There were several canned fish shops - the Portuguese are very proud of their fishing heritage.  This time we went in and bought some produce.

Canned fish goods store in Lisbon

In amongst the government buildings was a very old church.  Unlike parts of the building the facade had survived earthquakes.  Very ornate carvings in the stone.

Church facade

Inside the rebuilt church

We walked up the hill into central Lisbon through lanes of old houses with tiled facades.  We eventually got to the cathedral which was well worth the 5 Euro entry fee.

Inside Lisbon Cathedral

Inside Lisbon Cathedral

Inside Lisbon Cathedral

Saintly Artifacts in Lisbon Cathedral

Lisbon faces south across the North Atlantic.  The views from the hills are pretty.

View from a hill in Lisbon

We continued walking up to the fort.  Nearby we found a small cafe for lunch.  Very nice, especially the sangria!

Refreshments in Lisbon

After lunch we walked across to a tram route and caught a tram to Bairra Alta, the old part of town.  Lots of impressive squares, boulevards and shopping areas along the way.  We came across a steep tram line which takes passengers up a steep hill.

Special 'high rise' tram - we walked!

In Bairra Alto we paused at a cafe on 'pink street' for a coffee.

Pink Street in Bairra Alta in Lisbon

From there it was back to Cas Do Sodre and a train back to Cascais.  We did a bit more exploring on our way back to the marina, discovering more pedestrian lanes with posh shops and nice cafes.  The patterned stones fool the mind into thinking the surfaces is curved but it ain't!

Back in Cascais

Cascais town museum

Cascais Marina

Last night we met John, the OCC's Cascais Port Officer.  He'd been helpful in confirming we were welcome to visit Cascais and it was good to buy him a beer.

We also met Ian of sv Thistle Doo.  He's been in the marina for a month or more.  We first met Ian in Gosport over the winter.  He's preparing his boat for a single-handed trans-Atlantic.

Today we had another walk around Cascais and found the Wednesday morning fresh food market.  Nice produce at very good prices.  From there we made our way to the Aucham hypermarket before heading back to Zen Again.

Cascais fresh food market

Zen Again is now out of the marina and at anchor just outside.  Hoping to head south to the Algarve when weather permits.  Cascais was a great stopover and a good place from which to visit Lisbon.