Off to Lisbon tomorrow after a ride along The Thames Path to Plumstead

 Detail of Belem's monastery 

 Cathedral@Estrella with tramlines

Off to Lisbon tomorrow, so a small selection of photos to whet my appetite – not really necessary!

 The Vasco da Gama Bridge across the Tagus@Oriente 

(above and below)

Taberna da Rua das Flores

Late night coffee kiosk in Principe Real

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A ride along the Thames Path

Today I rode along the Thames path from Rotherhithe Overground Station to Plumstead and then back through Charlton, Blackheath and Lewisham. 

It is fascinating to see how the south bank of the Thames has changed over the past 45 years – of course there have been big changes on the northside too but I was riding the southside. Back in 1970 I did a short spell of supply teaching St Michael's in Bermondsey some time before the gentification transformation started. Then I have memories of the largely abandoned warehouses along the Thames close to the river and the empty space, as far as I can remember, that was Surrey Dock.    

I fancy the least changed part of the Thames Path that I rode today is the section between Greenwich and the Thames Barrier. Much of this has to be ridden with care as it is often quite narrow and bikes have to share the space with walkers, runners and dogs.

Next time I think I'll aim to ride from Rotherhithe (easy to take the bike there on the Overground from Forest Hill) to Erith following the Thames Path after the Woolwich Ferry. 

My abject apologies to the two female cyclists who asked me in Woolwich about a foot tunnel and I directed them to the Greenwich tunnel. Hopefully someone else gave them the correct information before they pressed on towards Greenwich!      

Oriente (Lisbon) – down by the Tejo

 Looking northwards towards the Vasco da Gama Bridge

Cold windy day beside the Tejo at Oriente, especially when out of the sun but brilliantly clear light and blue skies. 

 The Haunting Ballad of the Lonesome Gull...

(above and below)

 Strollers with Vasco da Gama Bridge in background 

The Marina

 Empty spaces from the 1998  Expo site @Oriente

 Reflections

Representing fish scales on the Oriente Oceanário extension

 Magnus meets a friend 

 The balloon man

 Reflections

More Lisbon photos: Vasco da Gama Bridge

The Tagus@Oriente – a pontoon, the river and part of the Vasco da Gama Bridge

This bridge is always impressive – its size and length. The longest bridge in Europe at a total of 17.2 kms. It took 18 months to build and opened on 29th March 1998 in time for Expo 98, which marked the 500th anniversary of Vasco da Gama's discovery of the sea route from Europe to India. The walk along the Tagus from close to Oriente Station and the Vasco da Gama shopping towards the bridge is a popular stroll – as well as attracting runners and cyclists.

Part of the high section of the bridge by the western shore (above and below)

Tree and cables

The bridge stretching across the bay

See also this post from February 2011.

Lisbon: warm sunshine and the Vasco da Gama Bridge

Looking northwards upstream along the Tejo. The block on the left hand side is being renovated and turned into an hotel

Despite a few menacing black clouds there was warm sunshine when we went for a walk along the Tejo this morning. The Vasco bridge is always eye-catching, especially when lit up by sunshine.

Photo by CRM