Finally, I’ve processed enough photos to do a blog post. We’ve been busy decorating our back hall, nearly done now!
My first impression of Lisbon was that it’s a really grubby place, litter and chewing gum all over the place. It was nice in a way to think that the Brits aren’t the only scruffs in the world!. However, It’s a lovely place, full of interest, and we would love to go back, preferably in sunny weather! I had a look at one of our sites, and they had 165000 Lisbon pics, and all seemed to be sunny. So, maybe it will be good to have some that are not!
The next thing I noticed was the pavements. Fancy pavements are everywhere, it’s called Portuguese Pavement.
27 February 2018: Lisbon, Portugal – Traditional Portuguese Pavement, or calcada portuguese, the tiled pavement found in public areas of Portugal, here seen in Avenida Almirante Reis.
Grubby and Portuguese Pavement on one shot!
27 February 2018: Lisbon, Portugal – Police car and vans in Avenida Almirante Reis, also typical Portuguese Pavement.27 February 2018: Lisbon, Portugal – Portugese Pavement, or calcada portuguesa, the tiled or mosaic pavements found in many pedestrian areas in Portugal, here seen in Lisbon, the capital.
Tuk tuks are everywhere.
7 March 2018: Lisbon, Portugal – Tuk tuk driver wrapped up warm, waiting for business on the streets of Lisbon in early spring.1 March 2018: Lisbon, Portugal – Covered tuk tuks ready for hire outside Lisbon Cathedral.1 March 2018: Lisbon, Portugal – Electric tuk tuk in Lisbon’s Old Town, with the slogan Love Lisbon Go Electric.
As are tourists with carry on baggage.
Some rainy day photos:
5 March 2018: Lisbon, Portugal – Family wearing rain capes after a shower of rain at the Monastery of Jeronimos Belem Lisbon Portugal5 March 2018: Sintra, Portugal – Tourists with camera phones under a colonnade at Pena Palace, making the most of a very wet day.1 March 2018: Lisbon, Portugal – Tourists with umbrellas on the ramparts of Lisbon Castle, sightseeing in the rain.4 March 2018: Sintra, Portugal – Tourists sightseeing in the rain, early spring, at the Pena Palace.
What does everyone do when it rains? Runs inside the nearest church. This was Lisbon Cathedral.
Trams are everywhere. They do have modern ones as well!
7 March 2018: Lisbon Portugal – The Bica Lift, or Elevador da Bica, in the Misericordia district, a funicular railway line. Here the two trams pass each other on the tracks.
Graffiti is everywhere too.
28 February 2018: Lisbon, Portugal – A queue of people getting onto a red tram in Praca de Comercio, or Terreiro de Paco, on a bright sunny day, the last day of winter. On the left is the Rua Augusta Arch.1 March 2018: Lisbon, Portugal –
We did venture out one evening. There is a lovely fountain just by here, but it spends a lot of time switched off.
Convent of Our Lady of Mount Carmel illuminated at twilight, from Rossio Square, Lisbon, Portugal6 March 2018: Lisbon, Portugal – Praca do Comercio, or Commercial Square, with the equestrian statue of King Jose I, at sunset.Vasco da Gama Bridge, the 17km cable stayed bridge which spans the River Tagus near Lisbon, Portugal.2 March 2018: Lisbon, Portugal – Two men out for a walk on the boardwalk near Vasco da Gama Bridge, the 17km cable stayed bridge which spans the River Tagus near Lisbon.
We were lucky, the sun came out just as we got there, and went away just as we left.
5 March 2018: Lisbon Portugal -The Belem Tower, famous landmark and UNESCO World Heritage Site.
One of Lisbon’s most famous attractions.
The sea jumped up and got me, and the camera!
5 March 2018: Lisbon, Portugal – Tourists enjoying early spring sunshine at Monastery of Jeronimos, Belem.5 March 2018: Lisbon, Portugal – Tourists enjoying early spring sunshine at Monastery of Jeronimos, Belem.
Massive queues. Can’t imagine what it must be like in high season.
5 March 2018: Lisbon, Portugal – Historic Rossio Square, with the Column of Pedro IV, on a sunny day in early spring.
Look at that Portuguese Pavement!
5 March 2018: Lisbon, Portugal – two young women wait to cross the road into Rossio Square. In the centre is the Column of Pedro IV.
Even the crossings are tiled.
27 February 2018: Lisbon, Portugal – Santa Justa Lift, or Elevator.
It’s just a lift. Again, massive queues. We walked up the hill, it wasn’t that hard. Saved ourselves some euros and got fitter.
27 February 2018: Lisbon, Portugal – The ornate Santander building in Rua de Comercio, Lisbon, Portugal.
A very fancy Santander Bank branch.
2 March 2018: Lisbon, Portugal – The 145m Vasco da Gama Tower and the Myriad Hotel, Lisbon, Portugal.
Near the bridge.
What you can wear in Lisbon, if you want. No one I saw seemed to want, it was all international uniform – jeans, trainers, padded jackets.
1 March 2018: Lisbon, Portugal – The Cork Store, with a cork apron hanging outside. Cork items are major souvenirs from Portugal, often made individually by artisans.
I’ve told you about the cork. You can have bags, shoes, jewellery, postcards, and as you see, aprons. It’s very flexible and soft to touch. Don’t know how it would stand up to weather. I didn’t get anything, Ryanair baggage allowance meant I didn’t have any spare capacity.
3 March 2018: Sintra, Portugal – Tourists explore the Castle of the Moors at Sintra, Portugal, on an early spring day.
It’s almost like the Great Wall of China.
6 March 2018: Lisbon, Portugal – A view over rooftops to the Castle of St George, just before the sun goes down.
Sun!
7 March 2018: Lisbon, Portugal – Arched windows and ceramic tiles decorating an old building in the Alfama district.7 March 2018: Lisbon, Portugal – Close up of ceramic tiles in a morning glory design, in a panel decorating and old building.1 March 2018: Lisbon, Portugal – Traditional house in Lisbon’s Old Town, decorated with ceramic tile pictures in blue.
Some buildings are completely covered in tiles.
7 March 2018: Lisbon, Portugal – Two young males with carry on luggage looking at the view of the city from Miradouro
There are viewing points all over the city, called Miradouros. We walked around a few, it’s a very hilly city, so it was quite fun.
What else? We had a run in with pickpockets. Coming out of the supermarket, three men walked behind us, getting closer and closer. We crossed the road, they did too. I was suspicious, and dropped back. Just as I did, one of them started to open the flap on Colin’s trouser pocket. I shouted Oy! and he stopped, looked at me, and they all walked off. Colin was oblivious, didn’t even look round when I shouted. There was nothing in the pocket anyway, we always wear our travel vests.
There wasn’t much to buy in the supermarkets. British supermarkets are the best I’ve seen anywhere, so much choice. We ate a lot of soup!
A policeman gave me an apple, because it was Women’s Day. I don’t eat apples, nor does Colin, so I left it at McDonalds. Some people shouted us back, I explained to them, but they didn’t speak English. Ah well.
Plane was late back, stood in the queue for an hour before getting on the plane. Then couldn’t escape from the airport, major alterations going on there.
