kiwibird: Thrilling rides on the Yellow Bus tours of Lisbon

We decided that on this trip we would take bus tours, rather than focus on individual areas of historical significance and museums. And we certainly got our moneys worth from the tours, much more than we expected. Thrilling rides.

We saw the tours on the tourist map, which we picked up from the hotel. The Yellow Bus Company, run by Carristur, which was owned by Carris, the state bus company. The Yellow Bus Company ran open roofed buses, trams and a ferry. The ticket also lasted for two days, so it was possible to use the bus or tram to hop off on the following day, and to use any tram, plus free trips on the elevator and funiculars. Great value.

Lisbon now covers seven hills, so it is a very challenging city. The lower part of the city, Baixa, which I wrote about in my previous blog, was easy to walk around in, as it was flat. Baixa, with its wide avenues and squares, was rebuilt after the earthquake in 1755. We were able to walk down to it, from our hotel. And it was from the Baixa area that we caught our various types of Yellow Bus transport.

We took two Yellow Buses, going in different directions, with each trip taking about 1 hour 40 minutes.

The open topped Yellow Bus.

There were always cheerful and bouncy assistants at the first stop, who sold tickets and generally gave advice. They also helped people queue, which was important as not all people know how to queue like British people.

Our first trip out. The wife of the couple in front of us slipped into the bus while the assistant was looking the other way, in order to put her bag and coat on all the front seats. Spanish I think.

Walter looking very happy on the bus.

The couple found that having the front seat was not ideal. The jack for the ear phones did not work, there was no leg room and they realised that it was very hot there, as it was enclosed on three sides. No fresh air. So they moved further back. And we had a perfect view from the spacious seats behind.

The trips were fun, and we had a fantastic view of buildings and landmarks. The commentary was also very detailed and interesting.

It was also very exciting as the drivers in Lisbon drive erratically. We decided immediately that driving in this was a city not for people with a nervous disposition. Scary. Cars everywhere, ducking in and out, all moving fast. People often park where they stop on the road, which then causes traffic jams or sudden swerves. On an open topped bus one could see everything, and often the bus driver's fast erratic driving and near misses was more interesting than the scenery on either side of the bus.

The first bus driver drove through three red lights, fast. The second bus driver used his brakes at the last minute, so we were constantly being thrown forward. At times, as we went downhill, we thought we were on a roller coaster. Who wants to go on a ride at a theme park, when the Yellow Bus Company in Lisbon provide the same thrills.

It was impossible to take photographs. By the time one set the camera up on the telephone the scene had gone, or the bus was going so fast that the photo was blurred, or there was someone in the way. No standing up either, although some people did so. Brave people.

We were impressed with the number of police directing traffic on roundabouts and corners.

On the first trip we drove west along the River Tago, past the wharves, most of the area was under renovation. Should be very nice when finished. We drove as far as the Vasco de Gama tower, and then back inland to the airport, where we turned left and drove back to the starting point Biaxa.

I managed to take two photographs,

of two interesting buildings, which had been painted with graffiti.

The second trip had more significant buildings and historical features, as it included the port of Belem. We also drove past the pink Belem Palace, the official residence of the President of Portugal. The name Belem (from Bethlehem) has been long associated with seafaring and early Portuguese explorers. We also took a boat ride there, which meant that we could take photographs of significant features, which I will include in the next blog.

We stopped at the monastery, Mosteiro dos Jeronimos, where the huge number of coaches was most impressive. At least fifty of them and hundreds of tourists. But I managed to get a couple of photographs.

The extravagant monastery was funded on the spices that flowed into Portugal. Vasco da Gama spent his last night here before his journey to India. He was the first European to reach India by sea, via south Africa. His journey lasted from 1497 to 1499.

In 1820, during the Liberal Revolution, all monasteries and convents were closed down. And in the case of the Belem monastery, they started the Belem Pastries (Pasteis de Belem) which opened in 1837. The round shaped pastries with a secret filling can only be sold from the shop beside the monastery. There was a huge queue outside the shop but no photographs due to the bus travelling too fast. We never travelled back to the shop either, as we were very happy with the Pasteis de Nata, which were copies of the Belem pastries, and available everywhere. Very delicious.

The ports at Belem were very picturesque, and amazingly I managed to get this photograph without a coach in it as well.