In November I travelled to Portugal with my good old friend J. (With him I for example did last summer the Hansel's und Gretel's Adventures.) Few days before the trip my another friend celebrated her birthday which was at the same time the opening of her art exhibition. They we selling some pieces of jewellery in the place, and this symbol, Vesica Piscis (which among other things is the symbol of Jesus Christ) immediately caught my attention. (To make it clear: I am not Christian or don't follow any religion, though I would consider myself spiritual.) I had to have it and I bought it for couple of euros.
During this trip to Portugal, I started to see the symbol of Vesica Piscis everywhere and I have seen it everywhere since that.
I for example saw it daily from our hotel room's balcony in this plaza below.
I saw it in the decorations of the balcony wall. The tail and all!
And half of the symbol even in these parasols right down our balcony.
I saw it (or parts of it) in castles, art galleries, churches, chapels, in nature, in food, even in the plates I was eating from etc...
I have seen both God and the Devil very near in my life, but I had never met Jesus before. And because Vesica Piscis is the symbol of Jesus Christ, I knew it was time to meet him. And this post is the story of how that happened.
But first, some tourist photos! Starting from the Rossio plaza, the city center of Lisbon. (Part of these photos are taken by J.)
Lots of decorated tiles and laundry drying everywhere. These pics are from Alfama.
Portuguese men having dinner at the garage :)
J is being a living sign to the castelo de S. Jorge :)
Some graffiti in Cascais.
We had fish for dinner there, very fresh.
The kitchen of the palace.
One day we headed to the museum of modern art. We decided to walk through the big park (Eduardo VII). When we got there, the place turned out to be very soviet like: never ending straight lines and quite horrible concrete buildings.
The buildings were in bad shape.
Suddenly we found an oasis in the middle of all that. With swans!
Like I told, the swans are another sign given to me lately. White swans...
The Soviet Union thing continues. There was a dictatorship in Portugal still in the 70's before the Carnation revolution, and there are still signs of that time.
Yes, I am in it.
This pic is going to be on the cover of my book:"How I escaped from a rat race, moved to a tree and lived happily ever after" :)
How on earth did I get here?
Didn't want to ruin my white coat, so I took it off.
In a bar in Bairro Alto. J looking at the vine menu. We had excellent vino verde.
Having mohitos on the street outside the bar in Bairro Alto, which is the center of Lisbon night life. You could get two Mohitos for five euros. And believe me, they are strong, I couldn't finish it. It was cold in the night, so warm jacket was needed.
One night we also found a very popular (a bit brothel looking place :) Pensao Amor. They have for example cabaret shows, good music, you can dance etc. We saw pole dancing show just in front of our table.
Portas do Sol at night.
Praca do Comercio at night time.
The trams are small. Tram 28 is good for sightseeing. At the same time you'll get the roller coaster ride. It is going steep hills fast :)
So is also Santa Justa elevator. This pic is taken from the top.
And of course funiculars are popular tourist attractions. Some hills are very steep.
On another night we were eating at a nice place, this time in Alfama. We had some tapas, like cheese and olives, fish balls etc. and wine. There was a view to the other side of the river, where you could hardly see the Jesus statue in the dark. We were supposed to go to the other side of the river the next day to the Jesus (Cristo Rei) statue.
We were talking about the meaning of this trip and how Lisbon is easy, kind of basic city. Just go about everywhere and there is nice and something interesting. This trip was about some basic things, like eating. And of course about Vesica Piscis for me.
Suddenly I realized what I had just said. I counted the slices of bred in our table. There was five breads left. We had had two fish balls for each of us. There was still one left, because I didn't really like it. I remembered the story of Jesus and the five breads and two fishes. I looked at the fish ball. It was the shape of Vesica Piscis. "Look at the shape of the olives and the grapes on the cheese", J said.
I looked at the Jesus statue in the dark. I knew He was waiting for me.
We changed to a bar nearby. There was a chance to smoke shisha, the water pipe. We smoked and talked and suddenly I realized more. We had just talked about Basic Things. I am having a water pipe in my hand and I am breathing the smoke in. What could possibly be more basic things than water and breathing! Breathing, water, simple (preferably shared :) food and Jesus (which is the symbol of a warm and loving heart for me). Here are the basic things to happiness! Really!
This place was so nice that we came here again on the last night of our staying. It was up on the hill in Alfama near Castelo S. Jorge.
Btw, that lamp (reflection of light) in the top middle in the pic below is the shape of Vesica Piscis :)
Walking back to our hotel from Alfama through the silent city. We felt very safe everywhere. Only some drug sellers were sometimes annoying. Many drugs are legal in Portugal and sometimes we had to run fast, because the drug sellers were hanging behind us assertively and didn't seem to believe that we were not interested in their cocaine. In the end of our staying just one word or just a look and they left us alone, and sometimes even politely apologised for even asking.
Homeless people sleeping in the night. So sad.
The next day we took the tram and traveled to Belem. There is an incredible monastery.
J looked at me and said: "Look up, there are your shapes." :) And there it was, perfect Vesica Piscis fish shape and other symbols too. Several.
Looks like he is heading to the Jesus statue on the other side of the river :)
The carriage museum is also in Belem.
Cinnamon and powdered sugar on top. Delicious.
Then I knew it. I had to come here again the next day. By myself. I had to face the Jesus alone.
Later that night we went to eat to a nice restaurant in Bairro Alto with a view and had more cake for the dessert. I said: "Look at those lines in these plates. If you just continue the lines, what shape will you get? It is Vesica Piscis!" "Ain't that a bit far fetched?", J said. "No, not at all. Because I see it there!", I replied.
Then rushing to see Jesus. Rua do Crucifixo. I am definitely walking on His footprints here.
Then to catch the ferry to Cacilhas.
Finally I was up on the hill. I was approaching Jesus from behind.
Getting closer...
And here, when I was getting closer the statue and stopped for reading the sign, I felt it. The sacred heart of Jesus. Suddenly I felt overwhelming feeling of love in my heart <3
And of course Jesus was great too, I mean GREAT!
This is what it looks like, when Jesus turns his back on you :)
Ok, now I had met Jesus and it was time to leave. But I cannot leave with this stabbing picture :D So:
Up inside the statue is a small chapel. I went there and what did I see? The fish.
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On the last day we went to botanical garden.
Unfortunately the butterfly house was closed for the winter. In November some places are closed, but on the other hand in this time of year you never have to queue anywhere.
What a peace and quiet here was.
This post is dedicated to Jesus Chirst,
the main character of Christmas time,
Son of God,love's pure light
Radiant beams from thy holy face
With the dawn of redeeming grace...
<3
Congratulations if you made it through here! Bye, and see You soon!
<3
