Tibetan Prayer Wheel

We'll be in Lhasa for four days to give us time to acclimate to the high altitude. At an elevation of 3658m (around 12,000 feet), Lhasa is the highest city in the world. Though I acclimated well to Cuzco, Peru, I'm still not taking any chances so I will take a slow pace for the first couple of days.
I'm expecting that just wandering around Barkhor Square will be an enjoyable experience for me. I've read that it's filled with lots of narrow streets, stores and restaurants - probably a bit on the touristy side but I'm sure I'll find a way to get a bit off the beaten path.
There's not doubt that for me, the iconic image of Lhasa is represented by the Potala Palace.

Also to see in Lhasa is the Jokhang Monastery. Built in 746 AD by King Songtsen Gampo,

Another "must" see place in Lhasa is Norbulingka. Built in 1755 by the 7th Dalai Lama, it became the official summer palace during the reign of the 8th Dalai Lama. It has been described as having largest and grandest garden in the region and is often used by local residents as a picnic spot. With that in mind, I'm thinking it might be fun to pick up lunch in town and head on up to enjoy the grounds along with local Tibetans.
....and then there's Sera Monastery which was founded in 1419. Sera Monastery is one of the 'great three' Gelugpa (Yellow Hat sect of Tibetan Buddhism) university monasteries of Tibet. The other two are Ganden Monastery and Drepung Monastery.
At its height, Sera monastery was residence to more than 5,000 monks and five monastic colleges. Today, there only several hundred monks currently in residence. I've read that the time to visit the monastery is in the afternoon because that's when the monks, after finishing their morning scripture classes, can be seen debating in the courtyard.

Lhasa will be my "big city" intro to Tibet. From that point forward, I will be moving through the country, heading south on the Friendship Highway towards the Himalayas. We will be travelling by road and I expect the ride the be a bumpy one! Each town will be more remote in location, and the surrounding landscape more dramatic. Accomodations will become less "comfortable" once we leave the city and I don't have any idea what to expect for food. I will definitely be living out of my comfort zone for two weeks but whatever the adventure is, I'm up for it! More on what I'm hoping to see on my road trip through Tibet in future postings - I have some reading to do first!