Travelog post for: Mr. Casanova

Hip hei, mom! 

How are you?
Tell my bro Alex that I find it odd him calling me a "pussy" in a pejorative
sense, since he, if anyone, certainly is - a pussy - being a young
kitten, that is, krhm! 

I´m going to show you some photos we took in Cristo Rei,
which is a giant sized statue of Jeesus in Almada.



On April 20, 1940, the Portuguese Bishops, gathered in Fatima
for their annual retreat, made the following vow:
“If Portugal is spared from the War, a Monument to the Sacred Heart of Jesus
will be erected facing Lisbon, as a visible sign of how God,
through Love, desires to conquer for Himself all mankind”.

Portugal stayed neutral troughout the Second world war, and the giant statue of Cristo Rei
was inaugurated 1959.

Took some time to raise the money.
I have to mention that in the dictatorial regime where 70 % of the nation
was unable to read or write, the little kids troughout
the country were collecting coins in their piggybanks to support
the building of the statue. 



The kids´s collection produced a sum,
which
in nowadays currency  would be 7500 euros.
A huge sum, considering that there
were people ekeing out their living in the edge of starvation.

Sorry, but I think the nice guy Jeesus would have been more happy if
the kiddies had bought bread with their pennies.
Or sweets, or toys.
I´m sure they didn´t have many!



There is a lift inside the base of the statue,
and we took it up to see landscapes.
Besides, I wanted to tal a bit with the famous Jeesus.

"Hello, Jeesus!" said I.
"Oh, but do I see right?" said Jeesus, "Are there some toyvoyagers
again coming to meet me? Gee, that´s great! The more the better!"
"Ha ha, yes!" answered I, "We tought you would value our merry
company, instead of the ever-so-pious pilgrimers!"
"You´re so right, you little brat! said Jeesus, and laughed a bit, causing a giant wave in the river Tejo,
so that some Casilheiras (the ferries) made couple of extra loops.
"I´ve got kinda fed up with the fervent adoring.. don´t they have
anything better to do, oh my!"



Then we were watching the views from
up there.
This photo is taken to the direction of Laranjeiro where we live here. 

"In that case we´re just the right companion for you, since we´re
not specially pious!" said I.
"I have kinda noticed!" said him, "And that´s just great!
Pious brats make me sick."

"And what about the money used on building churches and temples,
instead of feeding hungry folks?" asked I. "Am I right thinking
that you´re not very happy with it?"
"Certainly you are, little buddy!" said he, "and you can tell that to others too!"

So, now I am. Not that I thought there to be many temple builders here! 



In this photo you can see the both banks
of the river - Almada and Lisbon.

While we were admiring the views Cristo Rei was asking about our
adventures, and we were asking about his life up there. 



Here is the city of Lisbon on the other shore.

I asked if it isn´t unendurably hot in summertime, up there.
Cristo Rei answered:
"Well, don´t you tell this outside the toyvoyaging circles, but sometimes
when it is very hot, I I dive into the river at night!"
"Uhm, hey.. do you have any other clothing under your gaberdine?"asked I.
"Yes, I do, and don´t you try to peek, you little brat!
I have swimming trunks!"
"Really? What color?" asked I.
"Red, with a pic of Donald Duck" said he! 



Here you see Ponte 25 de Abril, which
is connecting Almada to Lisbon, or Lisbon to Almada, depending
on the viewpoint.
"Good point", said Jeesus. 



Then we said good by to him, and he told
us to keep our tails up and ourselves spirited.

I guess we will! 

Yours, as ever
Senhor Casanova