Day 5 in Lisbon....

Today started out on schedule with me catching the hotel bus to the Convention at 8:30 AM…and I immediately went to my “duty station” at the Plenary Session. I acted as a kind of “guide” for those looking for special areas and seats…and just kind of welcomed the 12,000 as they entered the Arena Center. The highlight of the session was the Awarding of the Humanitarian of the Year to a Sikh Indian doctor that did some amazing things for the poor in India in the field of ophthalmology. He was a great speaker and kept all of the huge audience listening carefully to the work that he did. Quite an amazing doctor and individual…and is now living and working at a research hospital in London. (As it turned out, as I finished my dinner at my favorite place and was walking back towards the hotel, I spotted him (in his turban) and went up and introduced myself and he and his family were most cordial and interesting. He told me about where he grew up, etc…so it was a good timing incident).  Following the Session I went over to attend one of the breakout sessions…then after noon caught the train to Sintra, a historic city about an hour on the train north of Lisbon. Lord Byron wrote of Sintra as “a little Eden”….and this really describes this place. It is an ancient city built by the Moors, with a huge castle high on the hill…but the uniqueness is in the setting and the natural beauty. Clearly one of the most beautiful areas I have ever been in. A combination of northern Italy and the lushness of the tropics with the ancient buildings of old Europe set amongst the lush hills. This is another must see if one comes to Portugal. Part of the city is now very “touristy”…for it is so beautiful….but I walked through the old town and then up to the Palace…then took a trolley on a 30 minute orientation ride….and have many photos to show the place. It is as pretty as any area I have ever seen. It was hot today, so I tried to do some of the walking in the shade, but was ready to catch the train back at 5….and got back at 6 to then ride the electric streetcar down to the Belim area, where the Jeromino Monastery is. This is one of the largest Monastery’s in Europe and the cathedral is completely preserved and used regularly. Another must see for all in Lisbon….and right on the water in Belim, which is the point from which Vasco da Gama sailed, along with many of the other Portege use explorers. A Naval Museum is adjoining the Church, which I am sure at one time was the home of the students. I came back by the Belim Pastry shop and store but passed on the sweets as there was quite a crowd in line. Went on down to the Presidential Palace, which is where the President lives…and got some photos of the Guards…as they did their version of the Changing of the Guards. Not quite England. Here again, the setting is great, in that the Palace looks out over the River opposite a gorgeous park. Then caught the streetcar back downtown and saw where they are setting up for a big festival on Saturday. Expecting a million folks at this concert, which is in the big square right on the water….they mentioned the artist…#1 in Portugal supposedly.

Then to dinner and back to the hotel…a full day…and we start again at 8 AM…all for now.