Under Marta's informative leadership, we towards the Castelo Sao Jorge. First we went through a square (the Praca da Figueira) that looked like it would be a great place for lunch -- there were small wooden food kiosks selling cheese, desserts, meats, and wine. There was a big tent with picnic tables. Turns out it was the site of former market. The market had come down, but been replaced by a different type of market. Definitely worth a visit if you are near there during lunchtime.
Under Marta's expert, chatty leadership, we made our way up numerous steep streets and stairways. She timed our breaks to talk about something nearly perfectly. We came to mural that had been ironically impacted by graffiti. She told us about the different people on the mural, including the woman credited as the founder of Fado.
Part of a mural about Fado
Across the sidewalk from the mural. I don't
think the beautiful tiles will help this
sheet dry any faster in the rain.
The stylized founder of Fado,
Maria Severa Onofriana
Marta also pointed out the different house styles in the neighborhood. Then we made it almost to the top, to an elevator with another wonderful view. . .that was slightly dampened by the low cloudy weather.
At the top, Marta took us to Pastelaria San Antonio, where we enjoyed our first pastel de nata of the trip -- but certainly not our last! It was a tasty stop. We didn't go up to the actual Castel de Sao Jorge, as there is not much to see there, according to all my pre-trip research, and to Marta.
We started our way back down the jumble of streets that is the famed Alfama neighborhood, stopping for a great view of the neighborhood and the cruise ships that are just returning to Lisbon.
Remember, I'm only posting fewer than
half of the tiles I have photos of here.
Pretty amazing stuff.
A view of the Alfama
And the cruise ships.
I guessed wrong. . .thanks to Marta I learned
this is the Sao Vincente de Fora!
As we made our way down the steep, jumbled streets of the Alfama, the rain started coming down harder and harder. We stopped briefly under a pedestrian overpass that included a brilliantly illustrated series of drawings showing, in cartoon fashion, the history of Lisbon. Unfortunately, moronic graffiti was sprayed over significant portions, ruining an interesting work of public art just to make an idiot happy.
The first panel of the interesting illustrated
history of Lisbon. I refused take pictures
of the destruction by graffiti.
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