Sunday – Easter – March 27, 2016: Lisbon, Happy Easter 2016!

The sun was shining – what a welcome sight after yesterday’s rain.  Due to losing an hour, we did sleep-in this morning.  But then we hit the town!  We took a hop-on-hop off bus downtown to the Palace Square and the Triumphal Arch. 

Palace Square and The Triumphal Arch

After taking photos and walking around the square we took a tuk-tuk ride up the hilly streets of the Alfama area of the city to Castle de Sao Jorge.  Walking along the ramparts you see the beautiful city of Lisbon down below.  From there we walked to several lovely cathedrals we could see from the Castle towers, however none of them were open-don’t know if they are ever open.

Tuk Tuk ride to the Castle

Castle de Jorge

Surrounding Cathedrals from the Castle

Peacock at the Castle

The Alfama area is known for its narrow, narrow streets and alleyways – some are picture perfect, with laundry hanging outside their windows. We even saw two ladies on second floor chatting with each other out of their windows.  We simply meandered the narrow streets from one Cathedral to the next and finally found three open Cathedrals – two were having mass, and the other one an organ concert.

Street Scenes in the Alfama Area

Ladies having a Neighborly Conversation

Having a relaxing Drink at a local Restaurant

Along the way we stopped several times for coffee, sweets, lunch and Ginja-a cherry liquor made only in Portugal. 

Ginja - Cherry Liqueur

We enjoyed the tile facades on many building, and the scenes painted on tiles.  Tiles are an important addition to both exterior and interior architecture in Portugal. I find the designs very interesting – kind of like quilt blocks.  Seeing each block/tile close-up you have a different feel than if you see then from a distance.

Tile on the wall surrounding a door

Painter along the street

Tile design on the side of a building

Street Car

Hanging Wash

St Patriarcal Cathedral

St Antonio Cathedral

We returned to the hotel exhausted.  A rest was needed before we went around the corner for a delicious supper.

Fountain and Monument on downtown square

Tomorrow we are renting a car and heading out of town to the Atlantic coast.