Lisbon

Lisboa

We got a radiantly sunny day in Lisbon! Here is the famous Praca do Comércio, commonly known as Terreiro do Paço, located right on the waterfront with the iconic horse statue and King José I right out front.  Doing some wiki research to verify the name, I learned that this was originally the "Palace Yard" in the 1500's, for the king's palace, but in 1755, an earthquake and subsequent tsunami destroyed the Palace and a good part of Lisbon.  When the square was rebuilt, it was named for its commercial significance, being the centre of trade and port activity.

I asked Cassio to photograph this store, because of the Art Nouveau style and to remind me that there exists a place in the world that offers nothing else, and ONLY sells tins, in a range of small to quite large sizes, of EELS.  Yes, eels. Fábrica das Enguias, since 1942, has been selling eels. The tins are really quite pretty and the shop, beautifully designed.

Being fans of walking up steep hills, we never have taken the famous Tourist Tram number 28 when in Lisbon.  We understand that it is a good way to get around and see the sights of this hilly town without having to hoof it.

It was my second and Cassio's third time visiting Lisbon, so we elected to walk around parts of town that were a bit off the beaten track.

It was such a glorious day that everywhere we looked, even these graffiti covered walls, was picturesque.

I don't envy people who have to live with this kind of incline every day, but it sure is pretty!

As luck would have it, the Liberdade Antique and Crafts Market was open for business. Located along the tree lined Boulevard are numerous stalls selling all manner of antiques and hand made crafts.  There is something for everyone here!

These Jacarandá trees were everywhere with their purple blooms delighting the eye! The petals covered the ground and the sickly sweet, faintly urine like scent was a bit over powering (which for me is hard to believe, being a lover of fragrant flowers).  I looked them up to confirm their name which is of Guarani origin, (one of the Indigenous tribes of Brazil).  I guess, in addition to importing gold from their colony in South America, the Portuguese imported these majestic trees to line their streets.

Looking back at these pictures, I remember how tired my legs were at the end of the day!

We came upon this pretty park with a lovely view and a street musician playing an enchanting tune on an accordion.

Lisbon has no real beach front to speak of, but it does have a long boardwalk with places to stroll, stretch out, shop, sit under an umbrella at a cafe or bar... This was a happening place.