Lisboa Portugal- Part One

Portugal

Lisbon or Lisboa as pronounced by the natives has been Portugal's capital since the 13th century and encompasses the area around the steepest hill, San Jorge. It was first settled by the Phoenicians in the 12th century BC. In AD 714, the Moors captured Lisbon and held it for the next 400 years. 

Vasco da Gama set sail for India from Lisbon in 1497, and it became a center for successful voyages of discovery throughout the East and the new world for the next 300 years.The immense riches brought back by explorers ushered in a period of building and expansion. The city is steeped in much history and with the earthquake of 1755 followed a tsunami which caused the city to rebuild and become the flourishing capitol it is today. 

The architecture is heavily influenced by the Moors, Romans and the Gothic and Baroque periods.

In Belem the historic section of town, a 16th century Church of Jeronimos Monastery

is located that contains Vasco da Gama's tomb.

Lisboa is a city of a melting pot of cultures. Hordes of tourists with lots of traffic everywhere made navigating challenging .We were so happy to be on a tour with a local guide that got us to our destinations easily and had our tickets so we could avoid long lines to get into several popular attractions. 

City Sights

Belem Tower

We took a streetcar (tram) to get some spectacular aerial views of the city. 

Visited several churches and cathedrals with splendid treasures and off the charts statues, glided altars, frescoes and paintings.  They all took my breath away.

I was quite impressed with the Monument of Discoveries (a massive structure) which is located along the river where ships departed to explore and trade with India and the Orient. The monument celebrates the Portuguese Age of Discovery or Age of Exploration during the 15th and 16th centuries.

On either side of the slab are ramps that join at the river's edge, with the figure of Henry the Navigator on its edge. On either side of the monument along the ramp, are 16 figures (33 in total) representing figures from the Portuguese Age of Discovery. These great people of the era included monarchs, explorers, cartographers, artists, scientists and missionaries. Each idealized figure is designed to show movement towards the front (the unknown sea), projecting a direct or indirect synthesis of their participation in the events after Henry the Navigator. 

We stopped for a local favorite treat 

Pasteis de Nata, deliciously soft, sweet, custard tarts that are a cult in Lisbon. And one place is the undisputed master of making them. In Belem, just off the waterfront, is the Antiga Confeitaria de Belem - a blue and white-tiled temple to eggs, cream sugar and pastry.

The 170-year-old recipe is a secret, divulged to only three chefs at a time. The result is delicious - perfectly browned, with individualism catered for with sachets of icing sugar and cinnamon. The cafe turns out 16,000 tarts a day, all hand-made on the premises and served warm. Worth a trip to Portugal in themselves!

I did  think this wine stand was creative with their signage. Here you can get your wine, sit on chairs and enjoy the view of the Tejo River.

Enjoy a Mediterranean dish

 

Spanish Shrimp and Scallop Saute

recipe adapted from BHG Mediterranean Recipes and serves four. Each serving is 300 calories.

Ingredients:

• 16 fresh or frozen medium shrimp (8 ounces)
• 8 fresh or frozen sea scallops (8 ounces)
• 1 TB. flour
• 1 tsp. smoked paprika
• 1/2 tsp. salt
• 1/4 tsp. sugar
• 1/4 tsp. ground black pepper
• 1/8 - 1/4 tsp. cayenne pepper
• 2 TB. butter
• 6 garlic cloves, thinly sliced
• 1 cup grape or cherry tomatoes, halved
• 1/4 cup reduced-sodium chicken broth
• 3 TB. dry vermouth or dry white wine
• 1 TB. fresh lemon juice
• 3 TB. finely snipped fresh Italian (flat-leaf) parsley or 1-1/2 tsp. dried parsley
• 3 TB. snipped fresh chives or 1-1/2 tsp. dried chives
• 2 cups hot cooked brown rice

Directions:

• Thaw shrimp and scallops, if frozen. Peel and devein shrimp leaving tails intact if desired. Halve scallops horizontally. Rinse shrimp and scallops; pat dry with paper towels. Set aside.
• In a large resealable plastic bag combine the flour, paprika, 1/4 teaspoon of the salt, the sugar, black pepper, and cayenne pepper. Seal bag; shake to combine. Add shrimp and scallops to the bag. Seal bag; shake to coat shrimp and scallops. Set aside.
• Melt 1 tablespoons of butter in a large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Add garlic and the remaining 1/4 teaspoon salt; cook and stir for 30 seconds. Add shrimp and scallops to the pan in an even layer; cook for 2 minutes. Stir in tomatoes, broth, vermouth, and lemon juice; cook for 2 to 3 minutes or until shrimp and scallops are opaque, stirring occasionally. Remove from heat; stir in the remaining 1 tablespoon butter, the parsley, and chives.
• Serve in shallow bowls with hot cooked brown rice.

bon appetit!