SETTING THE SCENE Ten days in late September

three nights in the hilly Douro above Pinhao, a four hour drive to the north,

Temptation could be resisted...

And the wines we enjoyed (Taylor's, Porto).

IN LISBON Castelo from the solid walls

a reminder of the historic tensions between church and state

made looking towards the heavens a more peaceful option.

Jeronimos Monastery the interior 1

the interior 3

Belem Tower

Discoveries Monument (for scale, look at the woman in the bottom left of the photo)

Maritime Museum seen through the globe,

and along the barrel of a gun.

and its 16th century chapel from above, looking across...

...and sometimes they marched on regardless! (here with Kyril).

The trams of the famous route 28.

Macs are everywhere these days.

and an offer of freshly cooked sardines;

a local character hovering outside a bar;

and others enjoying a break in the fado

the local market 2