Coimbra- day 2

Lots of stairs to get the heart pumping as we made our way to Joanina library. The bushfire smoke did not help the cause either. It’s considered one of the most beautiful libraries in the world and it definitely is gorgeous. The fun part for the kids was the level below it as it was the Prison academy, students were prisoned here for their wrongdoings.  You make you way up to the library with its ornate walls and ceilings. It’s divided into 3 sections. In the olden days they had bats inside the library to prevents insects from eating the books and they have leather rugs over the tables and books to protect from bat droppings.  Two colonies of bats still reside.

Then we headed to the chapel and the palace, roamed through the many rooms on display. Outside the courtyard there were still many freshers being welcomed to university life. It felt a lot like Hogwarts with all the cloaked students walking around.

We then headed to the botanical gardens where you can se the old aqueducts. Unfortunately the gardens were closed due to the bad weather so we decided to head to lunch uch and back to our apartment for the afternoon.

We ventured out in the evening as the smoke had settled a bit and walked around the river with the kids doing more cartwheels and we were all in stitches with our wheelbarrow races. The full moon was out and it was nice way to finish the day. 

Coimbra

Our day began with an imaginative tour by Aanya, who led us around while hilariously making up every "fact" as she went. She had us laughing, and the highlight was Savik taking diligent notes, which he later tucked into his journal. To top it off, we had to provide her with written feedback on her tour! 

Coimbra, a historic university town, is home to the oldest university in Portugal and the second oldest in Europe. The city was buzzing with activity as we witnessed the initiation of law students. The older students wore traditional black suits and cloaks, while the freshmen, dressed in red shirts, kneeled, sang, and followed the commands of their seniors.

The morning was spent wandering through the town's beautiful squares, admiring the architecture of various cathedrals, and strolling beneath ancient arches. For lunch, we enjoyed a meal at a vegan Mexican restaurant. We did have to shush Savik, though, when he mentioned a chicken burrito—right next to some bold graffiti declaring "Meat = murder."

In the afternoon, we toured the university's tourist areas, starting with the Cabinet of Curiosities. The collection was both fascinating and a bit unsettling, featuring stuffed animals, including a conjoined horse. Next, we visited the Academia Museum, a small space showcasing student life through the ages.

Our favorite stop was the chemistry laboratory, where we could participate in hands-on experiments. I especially enjoyed mixing colors—learning that with just red, blue, and green, you can create any shade.

We saved the library tour for tomorrow morning and instead spent the evening at a Fado concert. I wasn't sure how the kids would handle the soulful music, but the 45-minute performance was captivating. It was well-explained, and by the end, we were all singing along—la la la.

The day ended with a peaceful walk along the river. While we admired the cityscape, the kids had fun doing cartwheels on the grass. 

Lisbon- Coimbra

After a great breakfast at Manifest which is very reminiscent of cafes in Brisbane we got our car for the week.

We arrived at Coimbra in the afternoon and decided to have a relaxed day in our apartment. 

As Jeevan and I cooked dinner, kids played chess on the dining table and music played in the background it felt like home. 

A happy day. 

Belém

Today was a more relaxed day of sightseeing in Belém. The lines for all the major attractions were incredibly long, and since reviews suggested the best views were from the outside, we decided to take in the sights at a leisurely pace.

We started the day at The Local, as per Aanya’s request, then hopped onto a packed tram for a scenic ride to Belém. The tram passed by some beautiful local spots, though the kids were too absorbed in their e-readers to notice.

The heat was intense as we admired the imposing Belém Tower, built in the 1500s to intimidate any would-be invaders approaching Portugal by sea. Next was the Monument to the Discoveries, a tribute to the seafaring explorers of the 15th century who ventured across the globe, colonizing as they went. There’s a world map there showing where they traveled—it’s pretty much everywhere except Australia!

In the afternoon, we kept our promise to the kids and spent some time relaxing in a park, enjoying the shade, snacking, and playing card games. It was a much-needed break from the heat.

We then strolled past the magnificent Jerónimos Monastery, famously known as the birthplace of the Pastel de Belém. This particular custard tart has a secret recipe and even a patented name. It was delicious, but to be honest, it wasn’t much different from the pastel de nata we had tried before—and after—that!

As we continued to walk, we admired the stunning tiled buildings lining the streets, reminiscent of the country’s Moorish past. I especially love the pastel-colored houses in Lisbon, with their shades of yellow, pink, and blue.

Our last stop of the day was Tram 28, the classic tourist tram. We had hoped to catch Tram 12, which is less crowded and more local, but it never arrived. So, we squeezed ourselves onto the packed Tram 28 instead. Being a Saturday, all the squares were buzzing with activity, and live music filled the air as twinkling lights lit up the evening, creating a magical atmosphere as we chugged along.

In just two days, Lisbon has flown by, but we’ve managed to get a small, yet beautiful, taste of the city.