St. George's Castle

We took a bus to St. George’s Castle. It may have been walkable, but it’s very high up on a hill. We’ve been starting early each day, and even though there are fewer tourists than in the high season, there are still crowds.

 

 

 

 

 

When we walked into the first square, we heard a loud scream. I thought it might be a child crying. No, it was one of the many peacocks living at the castle. They were quite tame (most likely looking for a handout), so picture taking was easy. I found a white peacock up on top of a roof and others nearby. Occasionally, they fanned out, even performing a little “shake your booty dance.”

 

 

 

Fish fountain

 The castle museum had many interesting exhibits.

Portuguese food today is similar to that of centuries ago, as attested by evidence on the bones that meat had been scraped off.

Storage containers were vital in order to survive during a siege.

Smoking became widespread in Europe in the 17th century. Tobacco was thought to be therapeutic for migraines and gout. Pipes were made of clay and decorated with ornaments. Apparently, these pipe fragments are excellent chronological indicators.

A working area of ruins as sections of the castle are still being excavated and studied.

 

 

The castle had amazing views from all directions. We were able to pick out places we’ve visited. Another plus for Lisbon is that it’s a much more manageable city than others.