Teacher Aboard Logs

Well, there I was, happy to be at the helm. We'd left Ireland and I was feeling much better. The sun was out and it was warm enough that I was down to a shirt and jeans! Blasting along at 10 knots and daydreaming of chocolate milkshakes! Not for long, though!

Arrival in Lisbon

Nighttime came and we made our way into Lisbon. We passed under the 25 April Bridge, the largest suspension bridge in Europe. Right beside the bridge stands Cristo Rei, a giant statue of Jesus Christ that looks out over the harbor. The statue was erected May 17, 1959 to thank God for having spared Portugal during the Second World War. It stands 371 feet tall!

As we quietly motored up to the docks, it was dark outside but the lights of the city reflected against houses that seemed cut into the grain of the hills surrounding the port. The quarantine flag was hoisted, which means we needed to be cleared by the local officials before we could step off the ship. So we all went below to sleep!

Lisbon by Day

The next day arrived with bright sunshine and everybody was in a good mood. An agent visited the boat and offered to take our laundry and have it done for us. Usually, we each put our laundry in a bag or pillowcase labeled with our name. We find coin operated laundromats and two crewmembers take several hours to do everybody's laundry. We were grateful to have someone else take care of this chore for us, but we weren't prepared for what happened when it was returned two days later!

Instead of being in separate bags, all the laundry had been combined and separated into plastic bags by type! So one bag had all socks, one had all shirts, one had all underwear, well...you get the idea. Sheer bedlam! We still have items that nobody has claimed, and I'm missing a new pair of blue wool socks! Ah yes, the joys of sailing!

In the meantime, the crew busied itself with the ongoing maintenance that goes with the job. Brad cut a new piece of wood on deck.

Christine worked on splicing (joining) two pieces of line together.

In the meantime, Ellen brushed on tar used to seal the seizing from saltwater.

To pass the time, some of the crew pulled out their guitars and displayed their musical talents!

Once we had permission to go ashore, we quickly sought out telephones, cybercafes, and shops! Andy went his usual direction in search of interesting local foods. Do you think he'll find anything tasty at the fish market?

Anybody for octopus tonight?!

According to legend, Ulysses founded Lisbon. It certainly is believable for the city is steeped in legends and history but has an eye to the future. With its architecture, tropical gardens, Moorish influences, Manueline art, and salt air, it seems to teeter on the fine line between what is and what was! One of the best examples is the architecture found on the Se Patriarcal (cathedral church) in Largo da Se.

The sculpture is ornate and usually tells a story. This stone depicts two well-known stories from the Old Testament of the Bible. Can you recognize them.

See how intricate the carvings can be!

As night fell, I walked down a street called Rua Augusta to the Praca do Comercio (the Commerce Square). The square is marked by the Arch of Victory and the equestrian statue is of Jose I. The 18th century buildings house the stock exchange and various other ministries.

Go to Part 2 of the October 14, 2000 Log