The French may be more famous for their pastry, but.....

The French may be more famous for their pastry, but for Andrew it’s hard to beat a visit to Lisbon’s ...Pasteis de Belem

Upgrading to the Club Lounge level was well worth....that is for the Kramer's.  For only 1500 Starwood points per room per night, we were able to treat ourselves to the Club Lounge which provided us with Caviar & Champagne breakfasts and all you can drink wine and beer Happy Hours.  So don't you think that Andrew got his money worth???

The Sheraton Lisbon Hotel & Towers sits towering over the City of Lisbon.  It is actually the tallest building in Lisbon so you can imagine the views from the 25th floor at Sunset.  Yep, breathtaking views over Lisbon and the river Tagus!!

Our first day had to start at the famous 1837, Pastry Shop.  Yes, we were off to the town of Belem.

Pasteis de Belem

     It all began in the Belem Monastery District when the monks were threatened by the liberal revolution of the 1820s.  They decided to use their ties to a sugar cane refinery and a local general store to fight for survival.

  The monastery  began crafting its own delicacies, later known as pasteis de belem.

     Today, Belem still honors its sweet and virtuous history. The puff pastry is made by hand by three main pastry chefs who upon initiation must take a secret oath (i.e. sign a contract) in order to safeguard its almost 200-year-old recipe.  Can you believe it?  How can they keep a secret?  I guess Zach will never be able to get a job there!!  Keeping a secret is not his forte.
      It really looked like a mini quiche than a pastry.  Its flaky and slight burned crust was reminiscent of crème brulee. But it was neither hard nor caramelized. And its interior was like a custard.  All that mattered was it was GOOD.

      So, Belem is often referred to as the historical heart and soul of Portugal
But why?

The entire area of Belem is closely associated with the Portuguese Age of Discovery. The natural harbor made it an ideal launching point for the exploratory voyages which turned Portugal into a major economic force.

now that's big huh?A UNESCO World Heritage Site.........Jeronimos Monastery 

that's me... i guess Asher couldn't wait to take my photo

Asher preferred to show his backside instead of his beautiful smile

my boys..holiday card #100

I just love this boy.....he is sportin' the Barcelona Futbol Practice Jersey

Zach and Asher, can you please keep your shoes on....

 

 Who can reach the????

The tower of Belem.  Another UNESCO site. The tower is prominent since it's the closest thing Portugal has to a national monument.

Wait did I say Belem, Portugal or San Francisco? 
The 25 de Abril Bridge
It was inaugurated on August 6, 1966 and a train platform was added in 1999. Because of its similar coloring, it is often compared to the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco. In fact, it was built by the same company (American Bridge Company) that constructed the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge and not the Golden Gate, also explaining its similarity in design. With a total length of 2,277 m, it is the 21st largest suspension bridge in the world.

                                

The Castle of São Jorge 

  a moorish castle

We got lucky.  There was a special exposition in the Fortress that demonstrated the living moorish people.  We really enjoyed it.

Someone was keeping a watchful eye on us...

Photos around the Fortress

Victory...shooting the cannon!

Portugal Day 1...That was fun (and educational).  Sintra and Cascais tomorrow!!