Back on board, "Barco do Barreiro", "EVORA"

Less than two weeks ago I was in Lisbon, when the opportunity came to go back on board "EVORA", I didn't hesitate and think twice. My friend Luis Miguel Correia, was supposed to go on this trip, celebrating 132 years of the Port of Lisbon. At about 10.30 am, I got a call from him saying that he was not going to be able to make the trip, so, he suggested for me to take his place..... Can I do that ? I asked........... the answer was, why not, so needless to say that I was the first passenger ready to step on board a couple of hours later. I was born in Lisbon, but for 16 years I lived in Barreiro, which is about 20 minutes crossing on a catamaran from Lisbon today. During the years I lived at Barreiro, I was working in Lisbon, for six years, the only way for me to get there was taking the Ferry, known by locals mainly, as the "Barcos do Barreiro", "Barreiro Boats". I got my first car at the age of 18, but money was not much, so, the only way to get to Lisbon even at weekends was by ferry. "EVORA" was a regular for me, a "boat" that I always remembered very fondly, she was graceful, with beautiful public rooms for passengers, very spacious and full of varnished woods, a real treat. Over four decades on, I was once again able to greet an old friend, a member of my family, endless memories, I saw "EVORA" several times since she stopped her working career in 1975, but never had the opportunity to go back on board, she is not the same ship by any means, but she survived and still has a lot of personality and charm and there is nowhere else I'd rather be cruising the river Tagus.
"EVORA" was built in Germany at Kiel in 1931 with recycled plates from German tanks from the First World War, she was also the first ferry in Lisbon to be powered with Diesel engines and it was said that she was the first in the World fitted with stainless steel propellers. The cruise was also memorable, Lisbon always looks amazing from the river, one of my favourite passenger ships of today, the "AURORA" was also in Port and of course, the highlight was, my beloved "FUNCHAL", days after delivered to her new owners, SIGNATURE LIVING from Liverpool All photos Vitor Francisco, the ones below were taken on board the ship, showing her original form and the organisation to contact for private functions and cruises. 31.10.2019