Lisbon - The Sequel

 There were times when we thought it wouldn't actually happen, but...

On March 2, 2022, we were set apart for this return mission to the Lisbon Temple by President Hales.

(We're official. We're on 'the board'.)

The next day we met up with Kay and Larry - AKA - Elder and Sister Brown.

And we were off on our new adventure.

Now, from this point it all gets kind of blurry. 😕

4445 nautical miles 

10 hours 11 minutes in the air

not counting our layover in Amsterdam

and a

 7 hour time difference

 did a real number on these

 senior missionaries!

But - we did it!

So these are the things that have kept us busy in this first week of 

'Lisbon - The Sequel': 

First, we made a quick stop at the temple.

Lots of hugs, fist bumps, and smiles.

I must say that returning after these two years feels a little bit like coming out of a coma -

or being Rip Van Winkle. Not a lot has changed. The apartment is pretty much the way we left it. Our old stomping grounds are still familiar. Pingo Doce (our neighborhood grocery store) stills smells like bacalhau.

However, one major difference is the new paving of our path through the park to the temple. It used to be gravel and when the rained you could get pretty muddy.

 So - YAY!

Speaking of the temple, because it had just opened, everything was done in Brazilian Portuguese. But now, after two years, they have switched to European Portuguese which is exceedingly more difficult - for me, anyway. 

Another learning curve, I suppose.

We had Sunday dinner with the other two American couples.

Wayne and Margo Wilcox, Sonia and Wilson Duffle, Larry and Kay, and the Grandpa.

This is our new 'best friend' -

We used the Viagem card last time. We would reload it as needed - which is another way of saying, "all the time". But this little guy only costs 20 euros a month and you can use it

on ALL forms of transportation. Who knew?! (Wilson did!)

With that little card in hand, we headed out and about. 

This week's adventure took us to Jerónimos Monastery.

The construction of the monastery and church began on 6 January 1501, and was completed 100 years later. It withstood the 1755 Lisbon earthquake without much damage. It's located near the Tagus river in the parish of Belém.

The monastery actually replaced a church formerly existing in the same place. That former church was where Vasco da Gama and his men spent the night in prayer before departing on their expedition to India in 1497. You world history buffs will remember that he was a Portuguese explorer and the first European to reach India by sea, thus linking Europe and Asia by an ocean route, connecting the Atlantic and the Indian oceans and therefore, the West and the Orient. 

So it just makes sense that Vasco is also buried here.👍

 

The Archaeology Museum is located in the west wing of Jeronimos Monastery.

It's not very big but if you like Egyptian mummies and antique gold jewelry it was okay. (That is not a high recommendation from this blogger, hope ya know.)

But...while we were already in the neighborhood...

A ★★★★★ rating, for sure!

This first week was also filled with a lot of shopping, walking, frustration, remembrances, and 'oh yeahs'.

I just can't wait to see what these next twelve months have to offer.

Stay tuned...because who knows?!

Our address here is:

Av. Capitão Salgueiro Maia, 20

R/c C

1885-094 Moscavide

Lisboa, Portugal

The Ooma phone number is:

801-829-6682

(This is mainly for David. 😁)

And, of course, you can always text us!

801-388-9019

801-388-9017