Castelo de Sao Jorge (Castle of St. George) in Lisbon, Portugal

On March 26, 2024March 26, 2024 By Isobar ExpeditionsIn Portugal5 Comments

The Castelo de Sao Jorge is clearly visible from almost every location in the old town section of Lisbon, which is called Alfama. Visiting the castle is certainly a highlight of any visit to Lisbon, whether to walk along the castle walls or to see the amazing views of the city. There have been different fortresses on the hilltop throughout the centuries, but the current castle is built in the gothic style and is probably over 700 years old. As with all locations in Lisbon, it was damaged in the great earthquake of 1755, but has been completely rebuilt.

Portugal Flag on one of the Castle Towers

It is obviously a popular location for tourists to visit and adult tickets cost 15 euros per person. You can get a guided tour of the castle, but we chose to tour the castle on our own. We spent about an hour and a half walking the castle walls, the grounds, and looking at the view of the city below. Lisbon is a city built on several steep hills and is known as the city of seven hills, although it certainly feels like more than seven. We recommend starting your day by taking a car to the castle and touring its grounds and then walking down the narrow streets to the enjoy the shops and restaurants located in the old town area. If you prefer to walk up the streets to the castle, be aware that it can be somewhat strenuous.

We visited the neighborhood of Alfama several times during our week-long visit to Lisbon and ate at several wonderful restaurants located there. One of the places that we enjoyed the most was a small cafe that is nestled next to the castle walls and reminded us very much of when we visited The Alhambra in Granada, Spain. It was also the first place where we enjoyed a glass of Ginjinha, which is a liqueur made by infusing ginja berries (sour cherries) in alcohol. It is quite delicious, but be careful as you don’t taste the alcohol and it can sneak up on you.

In addition to all of the tourists, you will also find many peacocks wondering around the grounds, but be careful as they are known to bite if they feel threatened. They were also at the restaurant, Mercearia Castelo, where we drank Ginjinha and ate a snack. Our waiter actually fed one of the peacocks who seemed quite pleased to get a snack as well. Visiting Castelo de Sao Jorge was one of the first sites that we visited while we were in Lisbon, and it was certainly a great start to our trip.

Our First Stunning Baltimore Sunset

On June 2, 2022June 2, 2022 By Isobar ExpeditionsIn Maryland1 Comment

We always enjoy seeing sunsets and since we have some wonderful views from our new place, we enjoyed watching the sun go down from our rooftop deck. Sunsets near water are almost always very vibrant due to the humidity in the air and this one was no different. We will certainly have the opportunity to see many more, but we will definitely remember our first sunset in Baltimore. The sun set near the downtown area of Baltimore, which silhouetted the skyscrapers with an orange hue that was quite stunning. Obviously, we enjoy seeing sunsets during our travels, but seeing them at home can be equally calming and relaxing.

Top of the World in Baltimore, Maryland

On May 3, 2022May 3, 2022 By Isobar ExpeditionsIn Maryland4 Comments

As we continue to get acquainted with our new location and finish the process of moving in, we decided to take some time this weekend to be tourists in our new city. One of the things that we did was to go to the observation deck of the World Trade Center near Inner Harbor that is called “The Top of the World”. This is the type of thing that we would do anytime that we visited a city, regardless of where we are in the world, as these observation decks provide amazing views. In addition to the views, the deck also provides quite a bit of history regarding the city and information on many of the famous citizens that have lived there.

Looking Out Towards Our Neighborhood Off in the Distance

Like many cities located on the eastern coast of the United States, Baltimore has a rich history that goes back hundreds of years to the birth of the nation. Clearly it has evolved over time into the modern city that it is today. Inner Harbor is just a short distance from the city center of Baltimore, so the views from the observation deck include both views of the harbor as well of the city center. One of the things that we found interesting was that we could see the landmark of the local brewery in Baltimore, National Bohemian (Natty Boh), which is located near our new location, so we could almost see our new home from the deck.

There are many recognizable landmarks that can be seen from the deck, including the baseball stadium where the Baltimore Orioles play named Camden Yards. In addition to the navy and commercial ships that can be seen in the harbor, there are also several ships that are part of the living classrooms in Baltimore that people can tour that can be seen from the deck. It was definitely an enjoyable way to spend some time getting acquainted to Baltimore. It was also a clear and sunny day, which made the views even better.