February 23rd - Expedition Begins: Lisbon, Portugal

Walking Tour of the Chiado District (9:00 a.m.)

Stroll through the Chiado, Lisbon’s most fashionable neighborhood. FromRestauradores Square, ride the Gloria Elevator funicular to the Sao Pedro de Alcantara viewpoint for a bird’s-eye view of the city below. Lisbon’s funicular system was inaugurated in the late 1800s and was originally water-powered. Today the “elevators” are electric and have been declared national monuments. Walk down the Rua Garrett past the many charming cafes found here, including the A Brasileria, whose terrace bears the statue of Lisbon’s beloved poet Fernando Pessoa. View the Gothic ruins of the 14th century Carmo Convent, which was severely damaged in the 1755 Lisbon Earthquake. Following our walking tour, we drive back to the hotel.

Walking Tour of St. George’s Castle and the Alfama District (2:30 p.m.)

Begin our tour at St. George’s Castle, which can be seen from almost everywhere in the city. Its oldest parts date from the 6th century, when it was fortified by the Romans, Visigoths, and eventually the Moors. Walk through the Alfama, Lisbon’s oldest and most historic district. Because its foundation is dense bedrock, it

survived the 1755 earthquake, and is a village within a city still made up of narrow streets, tiny squares, churches, and whitewashed houses with tile panels and wrought-iron balconies. Stop for a drink in a local cafe, then stroll past the São Cristóvão church and descend the picturesque São Cristóvão Stairway to the Sao Domingos church, built on the site of a convent where the Inquisition would deliver its sentences.

At 6:30 p.m., attend welcome cocktail reception and dinner. This is your opportunity to meet your National Geographic experts, fellow travelers, and expedition staff. Following dinner, your expedition leader will provide important details for tomorrow morning’s departure.