Lisbon, day 2: No more nuns

I am in France now, but I need to tell you about my last day in Lisbon. First I visited the Belem church and Jeronimos Monastary. It dawned on me that maybe we have such problems with unemployment because there used to be many people living as monks and nuns, but no longer. I have visited countless abandoned convents and monasteries in Europe and there are quite a few in the US as well. I personally have no interest in this lifestyle - just a thought.

This is the number 28 electrico tram that runs through all the older parts of town. They have newer trams now but keep this line for the tourists.The Manueline ceiling of BelemHere lies Vasco de Gama, explorer and colonizer extraordinaire!I studied this flat-faced guy for a few minutes and finally decided it was meant to be a lion. There is very little chance that anyone in Portugal in the early 16th century had ever seen a real lion (and especially not the sculptor) so it was probably very impressive and I am guessing meant to signify Jesus, as he is the "Lion of Judah", from the book of revelations.Then I went to another part of Lisbon to visit the Gulbenkian Museum. The outside resembles a prison somewhat, as do many buildings of the late 1960s, but the collection is remarkable and a testament to the vision of Calouste Gulbenkian. It is amazing what money can do in the right hands. They have several Turners and Fantin-Latour that are wonderful but the real prize to me was the room dedicated to Rene Lalique. Pictures could never do the pieces justice, so I didn't bother. You should just go see it for yourself.
I love this painting of Madame du Barry.