Exploring Lisbon -3b

We spent the afternoon out west of the city center in the neighborhood of Belem, stopping first at the interesting "National Coach Museum." This is a collection of royal coaches from the 1600's to the early 1900's. It is housed in a lovely old building that was apparently a riding room. The first picture shows the riding room full of coaches. The second picture is a Queens coach from the 18th century. The third picture is of a coach from 1716, one of at least three elaborately baroque coaches sent by King John III to Pope Clement XI. This one has recently been restored, and the gold is overwhelming. The picture of the whole coach is without a flash, and the one of the figures on the front of the coach that will knock your eyes out was taken with a flash. These kinds and queens could ride in style, but not in comfort. Notice the rudimentary, hard wheels. There's also very little of a suspension system. Can't have been much fun running over cobblestones and rutted roads.