When the rain let up this afternoon, I wasted no time in grabbing the ferry to cross the river (to get to the other side) in order to check out the Cristo Rei monument. The view of it from my side of the river was enticing and the promise of a vertical fix (you can climb up Jesus (courtesy of a lift for 4euros)) had me sold. The banner coming down from the monument says "obrigado" which is "thank you" in Portugese. "Thank you" has two versions in Portugese--the male and the female ("obrigada"). For the first day of my visit I thanked everyone as if I were a man. A kind waiter duly informed me that based on his best assumptions, I should use "obrigada" all of the time. (I have.)
The base of the monument stands 209 feet, and Jesus himself is 92 feet. It took nine years to build starting in 1950. In 1940 the idea was hatched as a plea to God to free Portugal from WWII, and the monument itself is inspired by Rio's Christ the Redeemer monument.
The views of both sides of Lisbon are spectacular. This is facing north, showing the bridge going into my part of Lisbon.
This is facing east showing mostly not my part of Lisbon. I was pleased with the efficiency of my monumental task; I hit the ferry at 5 to 4pm; it departed at 4pm; I was on the 101 bus bound for Cristo Rei by 4:15pm; at Cristo Rei by 4:30pm, back down at the bus by 5:00pm; back on the ferry at 5:25pm. That's how you meet your maker (or his son at least).
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