The [B][B][C]: More Than Your Average Bathroom Tiles

Cobblestones, decorative tiles (azulejos), scenic viewpoints (miradouros), salty foods, and sunshine - Lisbon. Our recent trip to Portugal's old and rustic capital city was quite picturesque, given the plethora of hilltop castles and palaces, seemingly endless canyons of red rooftops and small alleyways, antique trolleys and trams, and tiles literally everywhere - streets, buildings, bathrooms, and metro stations, all adorned with tiles. Lisbon - think hilly, waterfront San Francisco meets protective, old-world Middle Eastern Architecture for a casual lunch date over local beer and french fries, later meeting up with graffiti-artist Rebellious Youth and sultry, somber Bluesy Singer for a bottle of house wine and dry cheese.

Our three-day stay in Lisbon involved a LOT of walking (a bit of a task after Brandina bruised both of her knees on the first night after slipping on the smooth, slippery tiled streets), snapping literally hundreds of photographs (which have now been edited down to 169 pics), and indulging in regional specialties, including whole roasted chickens, pork & clams, custard tarts, cheap house wine, and roasted chestnuts from numerous street vendors. We did, of course, have a few of our safe favorites, such as pizza and kebabs (which, by the way, we discovered we have eaten in every new city thus far...looks like a kebab tradition has begun). We took a day trip out to nearby Sintra, a small hillside town known for its extravagant palaces, once summer homes for the royal family, made famous by the poetry of British Lord Byron, who described Sintra as "a glorious Eden." To immerse ourselves in Portuguese architecture and culture, we took rickety tram #28 to Alfama, the old city of Lisbon, where we roamed the streets, visited the miradouros, climbed around at Castelo de Sao Jorge, and spent an evening listening to live Fado music. Fado, or "fate," has a bluesy feel to it, with a slow and somber singer accompanied by a couple of stringed instruments. Our final day involved a short-trip to the suburb of Belem, boasting a glorious waterfront, unobstructed views of the 25 de Abril bridge (which looks remarkably similar to the Golden Gate bridge), and several monuments dedicated to the rich history of Lisbon as a port city.

Below are some photos from the trip (and if you want to see the full 169, send us an email, and we can send you a link to our online album!)

SINTRA:

Palacio da Pena, Sintra (wildly painted, combining Gothic, Renaissance, Manueline, and Moorish architecture, reminiscent of a Disneyland castle or the Excalibur hotel in Vegas, boasting a gorgeous view of the Atlantic coastline):

LISBON TRANSPORTATION:

Elevador da Gloria

Elevador de Santa Justa (built to transport
people from the lower neighborhood
to the higher neighborhood,
similar to Elevador da Gloria)

City tram with Castelo de Sao Jorge
on the hilltop

THE MIRADOUROS IN ALFAMA
View from Miradouro de Santa Luzia:

Wall tiling at Santa Luzia, depicting
Lisbon's Waterfront, prior to the
Great Earthquake of 1755:

View from miradouro at Largo das Portas do Sol:

View from Miradouro da Graca,
with Castelo de Sao Jorge

Views from Castelo de Sao Jorge,
with 25 de Abril Bridge behind the cityscape:

Bryan, King of Castelo de Sao Jorge

Tile map of the city skyline at
Castelo de Sao Jorge
(a little shout out to Northern
California in the center!)

Richness of color in the city
streets, winding alleys,
and local restaurants:

BELEM:
Padrao dos Descobrimentos, a monument
dedicated to Henry the Navigator
(note the immense size of this
monument, with Bryan seated nearby);
25 de Abril bridge over the Tagus River