We devoted the whole next day to the capital of Portugal – Lisbon. It is necessary to say that we liked the city at once. Wonderful architecture, old narrow streets combine well with wide squares and new modern districts. It is very clean and there is no much traffic (we even found places where we could park).
We made up our minds to visit at first Tower of Belem area, then the Museum of Modern Art and the Coaches Museum on that day.
The tower Torre de Belem was originally thought as a five-storey fortified lighthouse on the river Tagus. It was built in 1515-1521 in the reign of Manuel I. Portuguese navigators sailed from there to discover new trade ways. Not so long ago the Tower was a prison and an armory. The embankment and the Tower top afford a magnificent view.
We drove around the home football stadium of Lisbon "Benfica"
Then we conceived the idea to become familiar with modern art. It should be noted that not all members of our delegation were keen on it, but the most part insisted. And we did not regret about it. Museo Design Berardo is five minutes drive from the Belem Tower. (www.museuberardo.pt).
The collection was gathered by the world famous patron of arts, businessman and pioneer in many fields Jose Manuel Berardo. He was born on 4 July 1944 in Madeira and he was the youngest of seven children. He was a collection maniac from his childhood. In the early eighties he started his first art collection however his first purchase was made in 1969. It is a large modern art center now with a permanent exposition and a number of alternating exhibitions of interesting modern artists. There are also shops of interesting design objects and shops for oeuvre.
Groups of children come here, who draw maybe their first abstract paintings right on the floor, being inspired by hung around pictures. Just great!!
Then we went to watch antiquity. The Coach Museum was located in the former riding school building. The exposition is very interesting and the coaches are very pompous. There is a coach on which Queen Elizabeth was met during her official visit to Lisbon. However the impression is spoilt by bad (improper) lighting. Semi-gloom keeps away from enjoying in full measure all the details. To take photos is also very difficult. The assortment in the souvenir shop is very scanty. All-in-all having a splendid museum location, its originality and exclusiveness, the exposition makers could not represent exhibits decently. What a shame!
I would like to note that even under the conditions of parking possibility around Lisbon we tried to find a nearby shopping-center with an underground car park, to park the car and go sightseeing near it. And at the end of the day you can do the shopping a little and eat at one of the numberless restaurants in the shopping center at your choice.
While continuing to acquaint you with positive and negative sides of our test drive by Opel Astra, I must tell you about the convenience of the automatic handbrake.
To apply the handbrake you should press the brake pedal and raise the automatic handbrake lever simultaneously. When the car starts moving the handbrake unsets automatically.
It is especially convenient when you drive along hilly town streets or start moving upward gradient at the traffic light. It is very comfortable!
This facility completely neutralizes the negative side of the fuel economy drive (when the engine periodically stalls) described above.
Our car was equipped with auto headlamps switching-on depending on outer lighting, which is very practical when driving in tunnels and under-roof parking.
(Previous parts: Part 1 , Part 2,Part 3, Part 4, Part 5,Part 6,Part 7,Part 8, Part 9)
