Belem: "Bethlehem" of Lisbon

Home to all things heavenly in Lisbon, from the Jeronimos Monastery to the home of the supposed best pasteis de nata (cream pastries), Casa Pasteis de Belem.  Belem also holds a few navigational sites--the Tower of Belem and the Monument to the Discoveries.  So much history, religion, and culinary wonder is found in this parish of Lisbon.

A few weekends ago, Eric and I were invited to attend an embassy outing to the Coach Museum in Belem.  We signed up for the outing, knowing that Belem also held all the other sites that we were wanting to visit.

Not in Belem.  Actually from our neighborhood.  I took this
as we were walking to the bus to Belem.

We arrived in Belem half an hour to try out the famed pasteis de Belem for breakfast (not really a healthy breakfast but delicious, nonetheless).  We went at the perfect time;  there wasn't a line to get the pasteis, and we picked up our order shortly before two buses of tourists came in.

This is only the first part of the line.

Pasteis de Belem are the same thing as pasteis de nata, which are found allll over Lisbon, basically in every grocery store and pastelaria.  The difference is (apparently) a secret recipe that only three people (who happen to work at Casa Pasteis de Belem) know.

They are pretty dang good, but in my opinion, they're not exceptional.  I've had pasteis at different pastelarias that tasted pretty dang good too.  The difference is that the pasteis at Pasteis de Belem are in high demand, so they're always making fresh ones.  When you eat a pastel from there, it's so warm, so smooth, and so mmmmm.

Pasteis de nata from Aloma, a pastelaria ten
minutes walk away from where we live.

The rest of our time in Belem was spent at the Coach Museum...

National Museum of Coaches
Built by the Queen of Portugal in the early 1900s when she
realized the days of coaches were dying.

 

 

A more modern coach, made 2011.

Nothing's changed since the last time he was
here five years ago.

Pretty tile work inside the museum.

...the Jeronimos Monastery...

There was an earthquake, then a fire, then a tsunami in 1755
that destroyed a lot of Lisbon.  All of the monastery survived
except for the stained glass windows.

The crazily ornate Gothic design of this monastery is called
Manueline after King Manuel, who had this church constructed.

The tomb of Vasco da Gama.

A stained glass window that was
replaced in the 40s.

...the Monument to the Discoveries...

Leading all the discoverers is Henry the Navigator.

Cool cobblestone work near the monument.

...and the Tower of Belem.

This is the last thing sailors would see when leaving Lisbon
and the first thing they would see when returning.