Last day, and it's modern Lisbon

Our last day in Lisbon and Portugal, so it's time to see something modern.  Lisbon was the site of Expo 1998 and the urban regeneration of Parques das Nacoes helped propel the city into the 21st century with cutting edge architecture, urban art and riverside gardens.

The area is close to the airport and so there is a modern line of the Metro running on its edge, indeed the Oriente Metro station is itself an attraction.  It's vaulted structure fans out into a concertina roof, it links directly to the very modern Vasco de Gama shopping centre, and is surrounded by modern office blocks and hotels.

It has a graceful walkway to the river with the flags of all the nations that were part of Expo 98.  Australia was not one of them. At the top end of the riverside promenade is the mighty Pont Vasco de Gama, at 17.2km long, it is the longest bridge in Europe.  Here the river is so wide it could be an ocean.  At this end there is also the Torre Vasco da Gama, a 145m high concrete and steel skyscraper shaped like the sail of a mighty caravel. Sidling up to the tower is a new 5 star hotel.

At the other end is a modern aquarium, a "scienceworks" and a water garden.  The two ends are joined by a tree lined promenade of gardens, water features, art works and restaurants, and up above, there is a 20m cable car running along the water's edge. (Cable Car just €2 for Seniors - indeed the Seniors Card has proved its value at around 10 attractions during this trip.) The area also has the big entertainment centre and exhibition halls from Expo 98.

Lunch of grilled chorizo (on a flaming burner on the table) and sangria (not as good as yesterday's). Some time in the Vasco de Gama shopping centre before the Metro back to town, and last wander to our apartment.

Feet up and clean up for the last supper!!  Went to D'alfandanga restaurant again as we have enjoyed it twice, but my menu selection tonight did not turn out as expected - enjoyable, but not the roasted on the bone pork shank with crackling that I was expecting.

Cooler tonight for the first time, and sunset is now just a little after 9.10pm, almost 30 minutes earlier than we first arrived in Lisbon nearly four weeks back.