Portugal -

Lisbon – from a different perspective, Girl off the trail!

Gosia — Thu, 21 May 2020 16:46:22 +0000

Lisbon is mainly associated with yellow trams, breathtaking views and old district – Alfama. However, there’re many places in the capital of Portugal that are still overlooked by guidebooks. First of all, the streets of Lisbon are real street art gallery. Interesting murals can be seen in above mentioned Alfama and near Marim Moniz metro station. Painted in pink The colours of Lisbon aren’t limited to murals. Close to Cais do Sodré you can find a pink alley – Rua Nova do Carvalho. This place used to be the red lantern district, and now it’s the main party hub. Gallery on walls Furthermore, Portuguese street art is not an art for the art’s sake. An interesting idea is a street gallery called Tribute by the Wall, created by Camilla Watson. Her photos depicting the older residents of the city, adorn the walls of many buildings in Rua das Farinhas street. It’s an interesting idea which enables us to get to know Lisbon from the perspective of its inhabitants. More importantly, everyday many of these people sit at the windows and watch the life of the street. Mini bookstore Close to the photo gallery, at Escadinhas de São Cristóvão 18 street is the smallest bookstore in Lisbon. Livraria do Simão is smaller than the kiosk, and you can visit it from Monday to Friday from 9.30 to 7.00 and on Saturdays from 9.30 to 3.00. Ginjinha has no equal! The popular place among Lisbon residents is Ginjinha Sem Rival – shot bar located at the Portas de Santo Antão 7 street. If you would like to drink a traditional Portuguese liquor called Ginjinha, check this place out. As the name of the bar – Ginjinha sem Rival – Ginjinha here has no equal! The restaurant is open every day from 10 to midnight. Shopping only in the palace One of the most surprising places in Lisbon is Embaixada. In the former place – Palacete Ribeiro da Cunha, you can do the shopping and visit fancy restaurant Le Jardin. This place is unique because when you go through chambers, you actually visit shops. The range of goods there matches perfectly with interior design, and sometimes it looks like a museum exhibition or even a winter garden. The shops look like classy chambers, and the products perfectly match the interior. I prefer minimalist design, but to be honest I wouldn’t mind living here 😉 A tourist attraction in Embaixada is even an emergency exit. There is an interesting ancient staircase. In search of a duck An alternative option is a trip to a pool, which is located in the Hostel Hub New Lisbon located at Rua de O Século 150. However, it’s not a typical pool. Instead of water it’s filled with balls, and “swimming” in it requires really good condition. In addition, the hostel offers a free drink for the person who finds a rubber duck at the bottom. Lisbon cupcakes After swimming, it’s best to visit Tease – cosy cafe which offers great cupcakes (Address: W, Rua Nova da Piedade N. 15 / Praca Das Flores). Wine in a warehouse Another interesting restaurant you can find near Cais do Sodré station, popular among tourists going to Cascais. The interior, which used to be a warehouse, is decorated with many marine motives. The walls are decorated with life vests and buoys and huge chandelier made from ropes hangs from the ceiling. Apart from the unique atmosphere, this place offers an excellent selection of Portuguese wines. For a cookie to the factory Typically an alternative place for narrow old Alfama streets is LX Factory . It’s a cultural centre created in the former industrial part of the city. You can find here a lot of interesting shops and restaurants. Lx Factory has a typical industrial character which is diversified by variety of murals and sculptures. Interesting is also the decor of some bars that resemble a boxing ring or a workshop. Take a look at the interesting bookstore Ler Devagar, located in the former storage space. Next, visit Landeau Chocolate to taste the best chocolate cake in the city and relax in an interestingly furnished place. Interested in Lisbon? Find out more here:

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Lisbon, trams – a museum which turned out to be a workshop

Gosia — Wed, 29 Apr 2020 18:28:26 +0000

While most European cities rely on modern transport facilities, Lisbon remained faithful to the old trams. What’s more, they have become a real tourist attraction there! Yellow trams are the symbol of Lisbon, just as yellow cabs in New York. The old trams are certainly one of the best tourist attractions in Lisbon, however the decision to use them had nothing to do with marketing. The reason was rather practical. Only these trams can deal with numerous bends and narrow streets in Lisbon. Trams which are called here remodelado (or remodeled) have been adjusted to modern technical requirements by modification of brakes or electrical system, however their appearance has remained the same. Without doubt, we can say that the famous line 28 is iconic. People stand in long queues to have a ride. When tourists eagerly spend long hours to get on a crowded tram, the pickpockets rub their hands at the thought of the daily income. The route 28 is the longest in Lisbon and includes the main tourist attractions. Trams pass nearby: São Jorge Castle, Miradouro Portas do Sol, Miradouro de Santa Luzia, Cathedral Se or the famous Feira da Ladra bazaar. To avoid queues, it’s best to travel after rush hours. You can also start a trip from the Campo Ourique terminal station, instead of Martim Moniz. The schedule of tram 28 can be found on Carris site. Unfortunately, the timetable is only a suggestion, because due to the heavy traffic on the streets of Alfama and cars blocking the way, trams are often late. An alternative option is less crowded line 24 connecting Praça Luís de Camões with Campolide. However, not all trains in Lisbon remember the old times, on the popular line no 15, connecting the city centre with Belém, modern trains called articulado are mainly used. The tram route also includes interesting tourist attractions such as the LX Factory, the 25th April Bridge and popular Belém district. However, in my opinion, it’s a different story, there are no uncomfortable wooden seats or characteristic screech and creaks on the corners 😉 Prices The ticket purchased on the tram costs € 3, but to save time and money it’s best to buy a 24-hour ticket which entitles you to an unlimited number of public transport rides, and also includes: Elevador de Santa Justa or Elevador da Glória. Daily ticket cots costs € 6,40 (data from 2018). An interesting place to learn more about the history of Lisbon trams is the Carris Museum. The Museum is located in the depot of Santo Amaro, where Lisbon trams are still parked. It’s surprising that the museum is rarely visited by tourists, which is undoubtedly its advantage. In the huge area of the depot, there’s also a workshop . Therefore, in order to ensure the safety of tourists, you can get to the museum building only by an old-fashioned tram. Duting my visit, the museum was completely empty so I had the whole carriage for myself. In the museum, like on the tram, there was absolutely no one. The exhibition was interesting, I won’t say… a lot of information about the history of trams and exhibits. On the other hand, during the tour, my attention was caught by an unlocked door for staff. I don’t know what made me look there, after all, what might be interesting in the employee’s area. I opened the door slightly and saw a dark corridor covered with heavy curtains, it looked interesting enough that I decided to take a chance 😉 I moved a thick curtain and saw a huge repair hall with many different trams. Moreover, I was alone as it was around luch break. I had the whole workshop for myself. This part turned out to be even more interesting than the museum itself. By the way, I had never been to such a “place” before that’s why I was even more fascinated by it.

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Tavira, Algarve – simply Portugal!

Gosia — Wed, 22 Jan 2020 20:15:25 +0000

Tavira is the most beautiful town in Algarve region – such opinions can be read on most websites, blogs or forums dedicated to Portugal. Personally, I won’t be original regarding this matter, as I fully agree with this. Tavira is halfway from Faro to Spanish border. It’s only 30 kilometres away from Faro and Spain. Despite a good location, Tavira is visited by far less tourists in comparison to the famous resorts located in western Algarve. This enables the town to preserve its authentic local character. The city has been under the reign of Moors for several centuries, which is reflected in an interesting architecture. The central point is the Praca da Republica with numerous fountains, arcades and restaurants. In souvenir shops you can purchase local cork products. While restaurants serve delicious fish and seafood. Just outside the square is the historic Roman Bridge (Ponte Romana), which is the reconstruction of the old bridge erected by Romans. Characteristic point, seen nearly from every part of the city is the church – Igreja de Santa Maria do Castelo. Next to the church there’re ruins of the old castle, which was built by Moors. The castle offers a beautiful view of the city and the river Gilão. From here you can see interesting buildings, which are characterised by steep roofs. The pyramid shape makes it easier to drain the water during heavy rains. In the courtyard of the castle you can rest in a beautiful garden listening to the performances of local artists. It’s worth looking into Tavira side streets, which are actually empty. Narrow passages and white houses with elaborately decorated balconies and famous azulejos adds to special atmosphere of Tavira. It is also worth taking a look at the staircases, which shows that the Portuguese passion for various details isn’t limited to the facades of the buildings. Some of the buildings are very damaged or even abandoned, but such is Tavira’s charm. They highlight the nature of this town, which is open to tourists but remains authentic. Find out more about marvellous Portugal here:

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Portugal, Lisbon – miraduro with a view of…

Gosia — Thu, 10 Oct 2019 18:46:47 +0000

Lisbon is a unique city where nobody would complain about shortage of tourist attractions. However, the most beautiful ones are available completely free of charge or for a small fee. These’re viewpoints, called miraduro. The perfect location on the hills allows to see the capital of Portugal from many different perspectives. Moreover, miaraduros are also an interesting places to observe people or rest with a glass of wine, after intensive sightseeing. Miradouro das Portas do Sol – at the gates of the sun Riding the famous tram no 28 or visiting Alfama, it’s impossible to miss this most popular viewpoint in Lisbon. The name of this place arouses the imagination. Miradouro das Portas do Sol in translation means “the viewpoint of the sun gates”. This modest name perfectly captures the amazing atmosphere of this place. The terrace offers a fabulous view of the labyrinth of narrow streets in Alfama and the Tag river. On the lower terrace at Café Portas do Sol, you can sip coffee and enjoy the view of the Lisbon. Can you imagine a better afternoon? Miraduro de Santa Luizia – neighbor in the shade Miraduro de Santa Luizia is located just a few steps from Miradouro Das Portas do Sol and seems to be in the shade of it. In my opinion, it’s worth visiting not only because of the wonderful view of Alfama and the Tag river it offers, but above all because of its unique atmosphere. At the Miraduro de Santa Luizia time has stopped. Arcades decorated with flowers are favourite place of lovers and local artists. The white colour of the columns matches perfectly with the azulejo tiles on the walls of the church of St. Santa Luizia. Miradouro da Cerca da Graca – perfect spot in the evening On the border of Alfama and Graca district there’s another viewpoint – Miradouro da Cerca da Graca. In the nearby restaurant you can enjoy vinho verde admiring the view of the centre of Lisbon with the river Tag and the 25 de Abril Bridge in the background. This place is vibrant, especially in the evening when it’s frequently visited by students. Miradouro da Nossa Senhora do Monte – the balcony of Europe The highest viewpoint in Lisbon – Miradouro da Nossa Senhora do Monte is located also in Graca district. Due to the unique view of Lisbon, it’s also called the balcony of Europe. Miradouro da Nossa Senhora do Monte is the perfect option for people who don’t like crowds of tourists. To see the wonderful panorama of the capital of Portugal you have to make a little effort and climb quite a high hill. The description of the buildings presented on the panel made of azulejos tiles facilitates the identification of the characteristic places in Lisbon. Elevador de Santa Justa – lift to the heaven The Elevador De Santa Justa is a popular tourist attraction, which is also an excellent viewpoint. An antique, metal lift resembles famous Effel Tower. It’s not coincidence because it was designed by Gustave Eiffel’s student – Raoul Mesnier de Ponsard. A return ticket for the lift costs €5 and includes admission to the viewing terrace. Admission is also possible with valid card for public transport, then the ticket costs €1,5. However, then you need to pay for the entrance to the viewing terrace, which costs €1,5. Miradouro de Santa Catarina – for a drink before the party The best view of the Tag river and the April 25th Bridge can be seen from the Miradouro de Santa Catarina, and according to the locals the most amazing sunsets as well. You can get there by Elevador da Bica – old funicular. It is a popular meeting place. Locals come here for a drink before a party in famous Barrio Alto district. Miradouro de São Pedro de Alcântara The second perfect point to start a party in Barrio Alto is the Miradouro de São Pedro de Alcântara. Miraduro is actually a garden where you can see an interesting view of the city with the Castle of St. George in the background. The Miradouro de São Pedro de Alcântara is best to get by funicular – Elevador da Gloria. Museum overlooking the bridge A completely different view can be seen from the roof of the modern Maat Museum. Located a little bit further from the centre, offers an interesting view of the April 25th bridge – Lisbon’s counterpart to the Golden Gate bridge in San Francisco.

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Alfama, Lisbon – how to describe something undescribable?

Gosia — Wed, 28 Aug 2019 14:48:32 +0000

Alfama has been on my mind for a long time, however it has been very difficult for me to write a post about this Lisbon’s neighbourhood. It would have been easier to say that it was a matter of lack of time, but there was another reason. In fact, you can’t just write about Alfama. I could endlessly use many adjectives to describe my feelings or auditory, taste and visual impressions during visiting this part of the city. But the best description won’t convey my emotions and what’s left in my memories. Skipping Alfama while being in Lisbon is like not visiting this city at all. You can explore every nook and cranny in Lisbon, but without seeing Alfama, it’s impossible to learn something more about this city. Alfama, as the oldest district in Lisbon, is definitely different from other parts of the city. This place actually takes back in time, as the only Lisbon district which survived the earthquake in 1755. The name Alfama comes from the Arabic language from the word al – hamma, which means hot springs. During the Moors occupation, Alfama was an exclusive neighborhood. It can be said that at that time this place was a kind of spa, as it was thought that waters in Alfama had healing properties. In the 20th century, Alfama was inhabited mainly by fishermen and sailors families, a poorer part of the society. In the 70-80’s it was considered as the most dangerous district in Lisbon. There was even a plan to pull down and rebuild this historic part of the city, fortunately, this didn’t happen. Today, more and more trusts are coming here from year to year, and this place is slowly starting to commercialise, while losing its unique character. Alfama seems to be actually a city within the city, operating on its own terms, away from the noisy centre. Alfama residents seem to form a local community cut off from the rest of Lisbon. Here you can feel relaxed and peaceful atmosphere and the lazy rhythm of the days, marked by daily domestic activities. The best way to explore this place is to get lost in a maze of narrow streets. The characteristic pastel buildings, laundry hanging on the balconies, the cats lying lazily on sidewalks or the amazing amount of decorative details, create a unique atmosphere of this neighborhood. You can also see here the daily life of the residents, taste homemade liquor Ginjinha, sold by older ladies, who in this way try to earn some more money to their small pension. Although Alfama is being occupied by the poorest part of society, at every step you can meet here smiling and helpful people. Portugal also owes Alfama – fado, traditional music. It’s inherent in the so-called saudade – feeling of longing and nostalgia. Saudade is a word that only exists in Portuguese and is an inseparable element of Portuguese people as a nation of sailors and explorers. For this reason fado music is very emotional and melancholic as well. Many songs are dedicated to Alfama, and there’re many fado concerts in the district. Fado is also presented in street art. On Escandinhas de São Cristóvã street you can see a mural of Fado Vadio showing popular fado performers. Furthermore in Alfama, you can see many interesting murals and famous azulejos – decorative, ceramic tiles. It’s worth coming here both day and evening when it’s interestingly lit. On Tuesday and Saturday from 6 am to 5 pm, a flea market called Feira da Ladra is organized. In translation Feira da Ladra means – thieves’ bazaar. This is the perfect place to buy something unique at a very attractive price. Alfama is a unique place. It seems to be separated from the bustling part of Lisbon, which gives you a feeling of diving into the local reality. Unfortunately, due to the development of mass tourism, there are less and less such places. I suspect that soon on Alfama streets we will also encounter stalls with “Chinese” souvenirs, food trucks and other commercial chain stores. However, in my memory will be the sounds of fado, warm smiles of old ladies selling delicious, homemade cherry liqeur, pastel colors and perfect photo chiaroscuro I have never seen in any other city.

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Algarve – the best beaches in Portugal

Gosia — Tue, 13 Aug 2019 15:26:13 +0000

The ocean and beaches are an integral element of Portuguese life. The ocean is an inherent part of the history of Portugal and the era of great geographical discoveries, fado music or the exquisite cuisine of the country. Portuguese attachment to the ocean is reflected even in everyday sayings. The Portuguese equivalent of ” it’s not my cup of tea” is: ” não é a minha praia”- what means it’s not my beach. By the way, it is hard to be surprised by this, after all, the length of Portugal’s coastline amouts to over 800 kilometers. However, some part of it, reaching 160 kilometers, is unique. It’s Algarve region – also known as the Garden of Portugal. Its coastline stretches from Cape St. Vincent, and ends on the border with Spain. It’s full of high cliffs, bays, caves and rock islands. The Algarve coast has many beautiful beaches and it’s almost impossible to visit them during visiting Portugal, so here is my list 🙂 SAGRES I started the trip with the Fortress in Sagres, where you can enjoy a beautiful view of the cliffs and the lighthouse on the Cabo de Sao Vicente / Cape St. Vincent. St. Vincent Peninsula is the southwestern furthest point in Europe. Admission to the fortress costs 3 € – data from 2018. It’s said that here Prince Henry Navigator founded a school of navigation that opened the horizons for the era of the great discoveries. PONTA DE PIEDADE Ponta de Piedade, is one of the most interesting beaches on the Algarve coast. High cliffs, reaching up to 20 meters, caves, grottoes and interesting coves make this place one of a kind. PRAIA DE CAMILO A beautiful beach with characteristic steps that create an interesting perspective. Personally, I have to admit, I didn’t even want to go down having such a view in front of me. CARVOEIRO A little further away is a beautifully located town – Carvoeiro. The colorful houses on the high cliff overlooking the ocean are reminiscent of the Italian Cinque Terre. PRAIA VALE COVO Praia Vale Covo is located in a small bay, surrounded by high cliffs. There’s a huge grotto right next to it. It’s visted by far less tourists, which is a big advantage. PRAIA DE BENAGIL A beautiful stretch of beach surrounded by high cliffs. During the season, this beach is teeming with tourists. Because right next to it is the famous Cave of Benagil, which can be seen in many photos promoting the Algarve coast. You can get to the grotto by boat from the beach. PRAIA DE MARINHA Amazing high cliffs with interesting shapes, rocky islands and crystal clear water can be seen at Praia de Marinha. In my humble opinion, this is the one of the most beautiful beaches in Algarve. NOSSA SENHORA DA ROCHA An interesting place is the Fort of Nossa Senhora da Rocha – located on the cliff with a beautiful view of the nearby beaches. There’s a chapel called the same as the fort. Some tips: The southern part of Portugal is best to explore by car. However, it should be remembered that some of the roads are paid. Moreover, road tolls can be charged in two ways. The first is the standard payment in the booth at the exit and the second using the device – Via Verde. Unfortunately, on some highways only the automatic system Via Verde is implemented. Therefore, while renting a car is worth checking if it’s equipped with such a device. Many rentals charge a deposit of a minimum of 20 € for Via Verde device, 15€ is intended for road charges. Of course, you can recharge your account with a larger amount, but it may happen that if you don’t use it, it will not be returned. Ze strony poboru opłat w Portugali: http://www.portugaltolls.com/en/web/portal-de-portagens/home Example of road tolls (data from 2018 )– Lisbon to Porto Highway A1 costs 21 €– Lisbon Do Lighthouse A2i A22 22 €Travel along the Algarve Coast-10 €More information is available here. Personally, I must admit that during my stay I didn’t use highways. Along the Algarve coast you can easily drive toll free roads. It’s not as fast as highways but the roads are maintained in good condition and you can see much more on the way.

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Portugal – fabulous Sintra

Gosia — Sun, 20 Jan 2019 14:21:14 +0000

Less than 30 kilometres from Lisbon, far behind the seven mountains, and seven woods, there’s a fairytale realm – Sintra. Colorful palaces, mysterious gardens, underground mazes and high fortifications, are just a part of the reasons why Sintra deserves to be called Disneyland for adults! Sintra is one of the oldest cities in Portugal that magically takes visitors back to past times. The Moors’ Castle The first point of my trip was the Moors’ Castle, located high on the one of the Sintra hills. It was a cool April morning when I got off from the bus line 434, just in front of the entrance to the complex. To my surprise, there were no tourists on the spot, so I didn’t have any problem to buy a ticket and go straight to explore this place. Curved and quite steep path led me to the top of the fortress. Partially dense forest limited the access of sunlight and the thick morning fog, rising over the ground, made an amazing mysterious atmosphere of this place. I won’t hide that I didn’t feel quite comfortable traversing this path alone, while on the other hand I must admit that it was also an interesting experience 😉 When I reached the highest point of the fortress called The King’s Tower, I saw the old, fortified walls, located on hills, which reminded me the Great Wall of China. In the distance, I could see the Atlantic Coast, while on the other side the most beautiful view of the Pena Palace – the main attraction in Sintra. Pena Palace After the peaceful Moors’ Castle, it was time to face hordes of tourists sieging (above mentioned) Pena Palace. The palace is located on a hill with panoramic views of Sintra. The road to the castle leads through the beautiful park – Parque das Merendas, abundant with numerous unique plant species. The palace itself looks like straight from the fairytale. Its architecture is an interesting combination of European and Islamic themes and above all, various colours. Every part of the palace has a different colour: red, yellow, purple, tu name but a few. Inside you can see rich decorated chambers and old monastery with the red clock tower, while from the tarrace you can admire amazing views of Sintra. The entrance to the park and the palace costs 11.50 €. The best option is to buy tickets via the Internet, otherwise you must be prepared to wait in a very long queue. Quinta da Regaleira Quinta da Regaleira was the place that immediately intrigued me during the browsing attractions in Sintra. The moment I saw pictures of the garden surrounding the mansion, looking exactly like from the Alice in Wonderland , I knew that was the place I had to visit. The main attraction of the garden is the Ininitiation Well. What’s interesting, it wasn’t built as a source of water for a nearby residence. According to the legend it was the place where Masonic rituals were organized. During these rituals the participants were going down the spiral staircase to the bottom of the well. Even nowadays characteristic star can be seen on its floor. The architecture of the Initiation Well is inspired by Dante’s Divine Comedy. A few floors of winding stairs, covered in moss lead through the interior of the well. They symbolise the particular levels of heaven, purgatory and hell. What was happening inside we can only guess. But it’s not over! The garden is a maze of the underground corridors, interspersed by small creeks. Inconspicuous entrances between rocks, or secret corridors behind the waterfall look like the place was purposedly designed to hide some mystery. The system of underground crossing and stairs probably symbolises the journey between light and darkness, or life and death. To get to Quinta da Regaleira, it’s best to get off at the stop:National Palace and from there take a short walk. In Sintra, there are many other interesting buildings like the National Palace, or the Convento dos Capuchos. What to eat? While a visit to Lisbon district – Belém cannot be “ticked off” without trying iconic cupcakes – pasteis de Belem, yes in this case, you cannot leave Sintra without trying queijadas and travesseiros! Queijadas is a kind of round, cheese cupcakes that taste more like marzipan than cheese. Supposedly a local variety of these cupcakes called: queijadas da sapa is baked according to the recipe, passed from generation to generation, known only by one family in Sintra. Travesseiros is an oblong cake stuffed with almond and egg cream. The best are warm with a cup of coffee. The most famous place where you can try them is the Piriquita cafe, located near the National Palace. How to get there: Sintra is an excellent option for a day trip from Lisbon. It is only 30 km from the capital of Portugal. Trains towards Sintra leave from the Estação do Rossio station, every 10-20 minutes. One way ticket costs 3,8 €. The Pena Palace and the Moors’ castle are pretty far from the train station. Unless you have time for a long march uphill, the best option is to use the bus line 434. Route of this bus includes following stops – National Palace, Moors’ Castle and Pena Palace. One way ticket costs € 5 while, day ticket – € 12 and also includes a ride to Estoril (bus no 418) or Cascais (bus 403). Tickets can be bought from the driver. The stop is right next to the train station. More information you can find on the page of carrier Scotturb.

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Girl on a Trail – meet Lisboners!

Gosia — Thu, 19 Apr 2018 19:30:34 +0000

After returning from Portugal, without hesitation I knew what would be the subject of the first post about this place. This time I won’t focus on the wonderful Lisbon’s architecture, beautiful viewpoints, yellow trams or sentimental rhythms of the Fado heared during the walk in Alfama. Of course, all these elements form the unique climate of the capital of Portugal, but mainly the people of this city will remain in my memory. In fact, they create this city and its specific atmosphere, without them Lisbon certainly wouldn’t be such a cheerful place. What are the people of Portugal like? It might seem that Portuguese, like Italians or the Spanish, have a typical southern temper, but to my surprise on the streets, I haven’t seen any chaotic gestures or loud conversations. At first glance, the Portuguese are more distant. They don’t make first contact and seem more secretive than other southern nations. Something unusual for this latitude is even Fado music, very emotional, personal and sentimental. It seems to me that Fado for the Portuguese is more than just a kind of national music, it’s a way of seeing the world and life. The word Fado can be translated as fate or destiny. Emotionally charged texts tell personal stories and lead to reflection on our own life. However, Fado is only a part of a wider belief called Saudade. In fact, saudade doesn’t have a direct translation in other languages, and that’s why it’s so typical for the Portuguese. This word is derived from the Latin word „solum”, which in translation means alone. Saudade is inextricably linked to the history of Portugal as a country of sailors – explorers and colonists, moreover it has a national and personal dimension. On the one hand, it’s the longing for the former Portuguese power, and on the other for the loved ones and the country itself. Saudade manifests itself in every sphere of life of the Portuguese, starting with private life and ending on art or music. It can be described as a symbol of Portuguese national identity esential to understood them. Despite sentimental, melancholic nature, the Portuguese are very friendly and open nation. As a matter of fact, the language barrier has prevented me from meeting closer the people and get knowledge about their stories, but on the basis of observation of behavior, single words and gestures, I will try to present my image of Lisboners. Walking along the streets of Lisbon, I felt like the time stopped here. Lisbon is certainly not a typical European capital. Of course, as in most large historic cities, the number of tourists on the streets of Lisbon is huge, as is the number of cars and the general noise on the streets, but the similarities end here. The life of Lisboners has its own rhythm. The most visible expression of this is ubiquitous laundry seen on balconies. Everywhere you can see the Portuguese, carefully hanging fresh laundry with a cigarette in a mouth. At times, it felt like hanging sheets or clothes were similar to leaving bicycles in Amsterdam. Personally I have never seen anyone removing them 😉 In my opinion, Lisbon’s unique character is largely due to the old people. In fact, they’re also noticed by Camilla Watson – a photographer who transformed some streets in Lisbon (Rua to Capelão or Beco das Farinhas) in outdoor galleries with the photos of the old Lisboners. The pastel buildings are decorated with black and white photos of Lisbon seniors. It makes walking down the streets of Lisbon something more than a standard stroll. Thanks to these photos, you can feel the atmosphere of real Lisbon, watching the city from the perspective of its inhabitants. However, the biggest surprise for the tourists in Lisbon may be that they’re also the subject of observation. I have noticed a lot of older people observing city’s life going beneath their windows. Their reaction was suprising, when I wanted to take them photos, none of them refused. One older man seeing my stumble when I was walking focused on the frame, nod without words to take a picture of him. He was smiling from ear to ear. The particular type of residents of Lisbon to whom I have special sentiment, are older ladies selling their homemade liquor called ginja in the narrow stalls located in Alfama. I must be honest with you, I have never felt so much kindness and cordiality during previous journeys. I was very sorry that I don’t know Portuguese to listen to their story, but often gestures can mean more than words. The Portuguese also seem to be very attached to their place, to little corner shops, taverns and bars where they spend free time. The popular meeting place is boulevard. Here both tourists and locals meet. You can spot here people waiting for their other half, some come here just to think or rest, play or simply take pictures with the 25th April Bridge and the Cristo Rei monument in the background. A very interesting place for observation is so-called Thieves’ market, organized every Tuesday and Saturday right next to the Pantheon. For little money you can buy here all kinds of stylish second – hand things, clothes or traditional tiles called azulejos, and see some part of the real Lisboners’ life. ” order_by=”sortorder” order_direction=”ASC” returns=”included” maximum_entity_count=”500″]

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