In late November 2012, I revisited Belem, the neighbourhood of Lisbon that holds Portugal's most iconic set of monuments. I had but a few photos and memories of my first visit, which took place an astonishing 21 years ago! The fact that I am revisiting sites at all means that I am really getting old. The main difference between then and now is that the monuments seem whitewashed (they were very gray in my old photos), and that I now had the time and focus to look for interesting details.

Memorable in the church connected to the Monastery is of course the tomb of Vasco da Gama. I also enjoyed the two marble Transept chapels, with the royal tombs resting on the elephant's backs. In the monastery is a fine refectory covered with azulejos.

Across the road lies the Tower of Belem. I think I did not enter it in 1991, so I made up for it now. I bought a combination ticket for both sites (10 EUR). It is quite a small building, with not much inside. From the second floor a rhino sculpture is visible, a very exotic addition for a 16th-century European building. 

Lisbon in general is a bustling city: with great food and nightlife. Its history is omnipresent also: it was often from here that the great European navigators sailed out to "discover" the world. My best memories of my trip in 1991 are the fresh seafood, and a night at a Cape Verdian dance club: a new world disclosed itself to me, and I love Cape Verdian - Brasilian - Portuguese music since that moment.