Lisbon, a trip into the city
Caitríona: While Saul was in Ireland, Morgan, Olwen and I ventured by bus and metro into the centre of Lisbon the first day and did some initial exploring. First impressions were of a city of mixed fortunes – wide, grand streets, historical wealth apparent. But only one street behind this lay narrow streets with run down buildings and infrastructure.
It is called the city of seven hills for good reason and it’s a beautiful place to wander around, always a new vista awaiting you up the next hill.
First port of call was the main train station, Lisboa Santa Apolónia:
A big mixture of trains in this station – graffiti covered local trains, intercities and modern high speed trains, too. A dream! Note the beautiful coloured buildings of Lisboa built up on the hill along side, too.
And where else is a girl going to practice her gymnastics?
Lisbon is a city of many faces, with layers of history and differing fortunes all within hand’s reach. Here’s a grand, fancy square…
But yet, only one street back, the fortunes of these buildings and occupants were markedly different.
Here’s a shopfront from one of these back streets, decorated with buttons! Loved this.
If you look closely here, you’ll see the ruins of a cathedral on the hill above the main buildings (more on that later).
The National Theatre D. Maria II in Rossio, which is the name commonly given to King Pedro IV Square
Estação do Rossio, which opened in 1891, is typical of architectural style of that era
And to bring the cultural tone down several notches, we took an investigative trip to McDonald’s. We weren’t all that impressed to begin with as the queues were large and the choice was not wide … however, when we spotted complementary ice creams with our meals, the form improved!
At the base of the column of Pedro IV in Rossio Square. This column and statue were erected in 1870 and the statue is of King Pedro IV, King of Portugal who was also the first Emperor of Brazil, as Pedro I.
At the south fountain in Rossio Square
Can you guess what this shop sells?
Answer: tinned sardines! It looks more like Hamleys! And it was packed. Here are some pics from inside the shop:
Olwen found her birth year! 
Yes, that is a ferris wheel of sardines… 
The throne of the sardine tin of 2020 😂
I’d prefer a pastel de nata!
This is a traditional Portuguese custard tart said to have originated in Belém, outside Lisbon; now found all across Portugal (and elsewhere) and commonly served with coffee. Divine 😇
Caitríona: One of the things I love about Portugal is the celebration and acknowledgment of the ordinary person and their contribution to the life, infrastructure and culture of the area. One example is this in Lisbon, statues of men laying the characteristic pavements of Portugal. It’s a job we see happening here still, repairs being done, paths relaid, new paths being designed…it is a big commitment to have such small blocks and this unique style. We noticed the pavements as soon as we crossed the border from Spain and stopped in Castro Marim – and, so far, these stone paths have been a feature of every part of Portugal we have been in. It’s lovely to see the labour of its builders being recognised.
Another example from the train station: a huge overhead tile mural featuring people working on the old trains