I will give few clues: Look at the picture of Golden Gate Bridge below, also look at California coast line, do you notice any thing different? Also think about the person who sought out India for spices and in the process made his country the richest country in 1500's. A country where the population is so intermixed that people from Mozambique ( little nation in Africa) do not feel any discrimination and last hint..where the Port wine comes from.
If you guessed Portugal, you are absolutely right, we are in Lisbon.
The flight was interesting to say the least. Lots of learning : Never fly US Air again, never have less than two hours between flights and never go on a fight without food never a havefull bladder before landing....live and learn.
Highlight was that in spite of all the delays, all six of us ( using different airlines) were all at the Lisbon airport together. Our friend's friend ( Hasmukh Bhai's friend Prakash Bhai) came with a seven seater van and he will show us around for three days or till we die of exhaustion, which ever comes first. If you think, i have too much energy, you should see this guy, i am tired just sight seeing and he is the one drove all over.
Here are few pictures. Our half day impression is , It is just like California with very cute OLD towns sprinkled all over and lots of history and therefore Castles. Greenie is so intrigued by them that she constantly has to ask , " is it real", " when was it built" " why" and on and on. It will be a fun trip.
We are staying right in the middle of old town, cobble streets, tile facades and lots of squares with lots of happy people, water fountains and old palaces. Apartment building is really old ( 1776..) but inside is redone for luxury living but NO Elevator ;(
But, we did not see the old downtown Lisbon today. Instead we saw the new town where the GG bridge ( no kidding ,it is built by the same people who built our GG bridge) is and it also have a huge statue of Jesus ( replica of the Brazil's) and Vasco De Gamma's monument ( he is the one who brought riches to Portugal by discovering the Naval route to India and hence access to spices) In those days ( 1500's and beyond) he who had the best ships and spices own.
We also drove to a resort town on Cascaise. It is the richest town in Portugal and you can see why. Weather, ocean, food and all the luxuries of the world. It is sort of like Carmel but lot bigger, older and cuter. I had to dip my toes in the Atlantic and discovered that is is NOT too much warmer than our Pacific ocean.
We also went to the "western End of Europe" , pretty picture is attached. It is a vert photogenic END.
So, today was to discover the luxuries of Lisbon/Portugal. It was totally unexpected. We came to see old medieval stuff and saw nature at it's best and very affluent places and things.
Good night,
saroj
If you guessed Portugal, you are absolutely right, we are in Lisbon.
The flight was interesting to say the least. Lots of learning : Never fly US Air again, never have less than two hours between flights and never go on a fight without food never a havefull bladder before landing....live and learn.
Highlight was that in spite of all the delays, all six of us ( using different airlines) were all at the Lisbon airport together. Our friend's friend ( Hasmukh Bhai's friend Prakash Bhai) came with a seven seater van and he will show us around for three days or till we die of exhaustion, which ever comes first. If you think, i have too much energy, you should see this guy, i am tired just sight seeing and he is the one drove all over.
Here are few pictures. Our half day impression is , It is just like California with very cute OLD towns sprinkled all over and lots of history and therefore Castles. Greenie is so intrigued by them that she constantly has to ask , " is it real", " when was it built" " why" and on and on. It will be a fun trip.
We are staying right in the middle of old town, cobble streets, tile facades and lots of squares with lots of happy people, water fountains and old palaces. Apartment building is really old ( 1776..) but inside is redone for luxury living but NO Elevator ;(
But, we did not see the old downtown Lisbon today. Instead we saw the new town where the GG bridge ( no kidding ,it is built by the same people who built our GG bridge) is and it also have a huge statue of Jesus ( replica of the Brazil's) and Vasco De Gamma's monument ( he is the one who brought riches to Portugal by discovering the Naval route to India and hence access to spices) In those days ( 1500's and beyond) he who had the best ships and spices own.
We also drove to a resort town on Cascaise. It is the richest town in Portugal and you can see why. Weather, ocean, food and all the luxuries of the world. It is sort of like Carmel but lot bigger, older and cuter. I had to dip my toes in the Atlantic and discovered that is is NOT too much warmer than our Pacific ocean.
We also went to the "western End of Europe" , pretty picture is attached. It is a vert photogenic END.
So, today was to discover the luxuries of Lisbon/Portugal. It was totally unexpected. We came to see old medieval stuff and saw nature at it's best and very affluent places and things.
Good night,
saroj
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