Viewpoints Galore on Day 2 in Lisbon

Another beautiful, sunny day to explore the city. We took off on the historic tram 28 and rumbled our way to the Castelo de San Jorge. 

Well rested, happy girl! 

Also happy, but playing cool.

On the look out for their scavenger hunt items on the tram

We got off the tram at the Santa Luzia look out, a place I remembered fondly from our first visit when we had some fun with 9 month old Maeve.

Much more active kids this time around! 

Onward to the castle!

After the castle, I left the fam to cash in on my birthday present from Pete, a tile making class at Loja dos Descobrimentos. I learned the process from a kind older gentleman. First, I settled on a pattern and then traced it. Next, I used a pin prick stick to punch tiny holes along all of the lines. The traced image was flipped and placed carefully on top of my blank tile. Holding it firmly, I rubbed a small sack full of charcoal over the image, creating the pattern on the tile in the charcoal, which burns off in the kiln. Then I painted the tile and left it to fire, returning 2 days later to collect it. A fun souvenir from the trip!

Before firing

Meanwhile, Pete took the rowdy kids to the playground and then we met for lunch nearby. Controlling the kids was a challenge, so when Pete struck up a conversation with the couple next to us, my focus was elsewhere. After lunch, Pete took the kids home for rest time so I could finish painting my tile. I started talking with the couple then and found out that they used to be next door neighbors with my aunt and uncle in Minnesota! 

Live music means grooving time.

Sue and Dennis

 I walked home from lunch, taking in some of the big sites of Lisbon along the way.

It was a steep climb back to our neighborhood! I was feeling glad that the kids weren't in tow, though 3 days later we did this with them (with Pete carrying them both!).

Looking back to the castle on the hill opposite. 

In the afternoon, we headed up to the Principle Real neighborhood, where we found a great playground and solved our stressful-restaurant dilemma with a pizza picnic at the park. There was a bonus sunset over the hills!

One final viewpoint to end the day, Sao Pedro de Alcantara!

Rock, paper, scissors was the game of choice on this trip.

Some pastel de nata and Portuguese wine to end our night.