Statue of King José I, Lisbon, Portugal

On All Saints’ Day, Nov. 1, 1755, an earthquake estimated at 9 on the Richter scale struck Lisbon, Portugal; it was felt from Ireland to Morocco.

In September ’07, on the “Downtown” tour with Lisbon Walker (Rua dos Remédios 84, 1100-449 Lisboa; phone [+351] 218 861 842, www.lisbonwalker.com), our guide, Rita, met us in Comércio Square, where this statue of King José I presides.

The king and the rest of the royal family were in Belém at the time of the earthquake and all survived; the square where his statue stands was flooded. (The tour currently costs €15 [near $22] and lasts two to three hours.)

HARVEY HAGMAN

Fort Myers, FL