El Zorro: Back to Lisbon (返回里斯本)

After Obidos, we were taken back into the modern world.

and had a glimpse of how some got their power

But signs of traditional agricultural Portugal are everywhere

with its clusters of houses on hillocks, trees,and grass covered slopes

But soon, the streamlined functional shapes of contemporary world appear

huge, uniform and monotonous

A political movement calling for a referendum on an alternative socialism.

A park monument

A monument for King Edward VIII of England

A florist in the famous Rossio Square

Pork chops for the Portuguese style "pork chop bun" for which Macao is famous

to be served with a hotdog bun: very different from those we find in Macao

They serve Cod (bacalhau ) fillets too

salt cod slices

A small African group selling indigenous products from their home country

The Igreja de São Domingos in the Rossio Square completed in 1241, the largest church in Lisbon, the scene of royal weddings and of Inquisitions. It was damaged by the earthquake in 1531 and completely destroyed in the Great 1755 Earthquake, the rebuilding of which wasn't completed until 1897. Then it was destroyed by a fire in 1959 which also destroyed many statues and paintings. It wasn't re-opened until 1994.

The place is dotted with restaurants, bars, bakeries....this one sells "pineapple buns' ! Did pineapple buns originate from Portugal? or from Hong Kong or Macao?

Tripes.It looks as if Chinese are not the only ones who eat them.

samosas; probably something they picked up learned from their Indian colonies

Another type of samosa: did they learn it from Chinese or is the other way around?

Fried doughnuts

Cheap pan cake breakfast @ 1.95 Euros

The Rossio Square ( aka,Pedro IV Square) where numerous revolutions, executions, bullfights celebrations have taken place for hundreds of years since the Middle Ages. At the far side is the D Maria II Theatre.

Another side of the square. We find wavy patterns on the two-dimensional ground which cleverly creates the illusion of some up-down motions

a fountain

A florist at the square. I think I know why.

The Rua Augusta, the busiest pedestrian walk in the capital

Of course, plenty of pasteis de nata !

all kinds of rolls, tarts, cakes, fingers

croissants, tarts, meat rolls

pingos de tocha (torch drops): another item learned from the Indians

ham rolls

Another kind of rolls

Croissants and fruit tarts. "croissant misto" (mixing what?)

Doughnuts and flaky pastry, cinnamon bread and pies and tarts

Panetone, traditionally eaten during Christmas

Green custard bun

This is the famous 45-meter high "Elevator of Carmo,", built at the turn of the century by the Portugal-born French architect Raoul de Mesnier du Ponsard (an apprentice of Gustave Eiffel) which connects the downtown to Bairro Alto (highest points of the city). .

a buxom no-nonsense lady cleaner at work

a mobile gelado (ice-cream) cart

a performance art artist pretending to be a statue

All kinds of icecreams of all kinds of flavors

waiting customers

a pastelaria

a cinnamon bun

some scones

more pasteis de nata

chocolate chips cake

Tarte de maça (mace)

Pata de veado (Deer Paw)

various cakes

Almond tarts

Barriga de Freira (Nun's Bellies )!

Sintra's pillows

St. Clara's Pastry

Dom Sidónio (Mr Sidónio ) (almonds and nuts)

Tasty looking breads

chocolate rolls

regional doces( candies) of Algarve

Pizzas, Lasanha, Massas Pastas

The top of a fruit juice bar showcase

All kinds of fruit punches

Seafood dishes: assorted fish, lobster and octopus

Various Meat dishes

Handmade aprons and cushionettes

A street magician checking out messages

End of the pedestrian street: the Praça do Comercio (aka Terreiro do Paco) where you see the Arco Triunfal da Rua Augusta with its clock

First floor decorations with cardboard figure

A glimpse of the Bairro Alto, where you see a corner of the São Jorge Castle, towering above the city

The Lisbon Metro Station at Rossio Square

The Central Railway Station of Lisbon at Rossio Square (Estação de Caminhos de Ferro do Rossio), first opened 1890

Motorized two-wheel bikes for tourists

Mini tour cabs

Trees at the square

Statue of Pedro IV, King of Portugal, also Emperor Peter I of Brazil. Originally, the site of the column was occupied by a monument to the Constitution erected in 1821 by King John IV but it was pulled down 2 years later after absolute monarchy was reinstated. Then in 1852, the first rather primitive monument to King Peter IV (Pedro IV) was put up by Queen Mary II (his daughter) which the Lisboners referred to as "o galheteiro" ("the cruet-stand") because of its shape. But in 1858, it was replaced by a temporary statue of Hymenaeus during the wedding ceremonies of King Peter V in 1858 and King Louis I in 1862.. Then in 1870, the current marble statue was installed on a 75 foot column with him in a general's uniform, holding the Constitutional Charter of 1826 in his right hand and with four female allegorical figures of Justice, Wisdom, Strength, and Moderation, qualities attributed to the King, at the base of the pedestal.
The monument is intended in part to show Portuguese power when Brazil was still under its direct control. Brazil was claimed by Portugal as part of its empire after it was "discovered" in 1500 by the explorer Pedro Alvares Cabral and remained its colony until 1808, when the capital of the empire was transferred from Lisbon to Rio de Janeiro. In 1815, its status was raised from that of a colony to that of part of the Portuguese Kingdom upon the formation of the United Kingdom of Portugal, Brazil and the Algarves. But in 1822, it became independent with the creation of the Brazilian Empire governed by a bicameral parliamentary system as a constitutional monarchy, the constitution of which was ratified in 1824. In 1889, Brazil became a presidential republic following a military coup d'état. From 1964-1985, Brazil fell into the hands of an authoritarian military junta Since its new constitution of 1988, Brazil has become a democratic federal republic.