Why Lisbon..

Lisbon underground

2011-09-10T16:57:00.001+01:00

While organising my other blog, I noticed this unpublished post long time ago. I then remembered at the time to think that, as these videos were in Portuguese, I would probably not make sense to put them here. But actually, it does! Lisbon doesn't need the words. Just watch these underground wonders from Lisbon.These videos are from a documentary series called "Lisbon Underground"(translation) by History channel, so you may get them. Maybe an online petition will work for that purpose.. They talk about some known (or not..) Lisbon monuments and what lies beneath them. It's just astonishing really!

Roman Theatre [Teatro Romano]

Santana Wind Mills [Moinhos de Santana]

Patriacal Reservoir [Reservatório da Patriacal]

Foz Palace [Palácio Foz] (this is an old abbey constructed just to serve as a restaurant in 1917)

Archeological Centre of Correiros Street [Núcleo Arqueológico da Rua dos Correeiros] (it's really worth this one)

Corpus Christi Convent [Convento Corpus Christi] (an old church built by the queen in homage to the king who survived to an attempt of murder)

Free Waters Aqueduct [Aqueduto das Águas Livres] (try to visit the four museums that altogether form the Water Museum, really worth it!!)

Golden Star Borough [Bairro Estrela d'Ouro] (a sort of Lisbon Hollywood of the past)

Roman Galleries in Prata Street [Galerias Romanas da Rua da Prata] (only opened two days a year)

Lisbon Sé [Sé de Lisboa (Igreja de Santa Maria Maior)]

Where I dance before with a friend..

Fernandine Wall [Muralha Fernandina]

the playlist in youtube

Castelo de São Jorge

2010-05-08T18:53:00.015+01:00

Finally I took the time to enter the Castle a take some shots. Yet, there is still one part of it missing, a watch tower where I passed some afternoons studying. You can have one of the best views of Lisbon and it is one of the quietest.. I'll show it and explain why on a forthcoming post (see end of the post, update on Nov3rd2010). Meanwhile, I leave here the link to the Castle's webpage.

D. Afonso Henriques, the first King of Portugal.

The view of Comércio Square..

The other river band. You can see a bit of the Cathedral (aka Sé) top.

I love this one. It was framed as well.

The view of Botanical garden in Science Museum.

There are peacocks all over!!

Nossa Sra do Monte lookout

Together with Estrela Garden lookout..

Archeological Area inside the Castle. Recently open to the public, this open air museum some how shows the history of Lisbon. It is amazing how many eras fit in such a small space. You can't avoid thinking "what more is there if one keeps digging..?"

The remains of a palace

Iron age.. deep underground!

Saying goodbye..

My favourite place in the Castle..

Escadinhas de São Crispim

2010-05-08T18:44:00.004+01:00

This is one of the nice ways to get closer to São Jorge Castle..

At the end you to Costa do Castelo.

At the base, take time to enjoy Largo do Correio Mor. This is one nice gate there..

A view of Calçada Conde de Penafiel through the trees from Largo do Correio Mor.

Torel Garden

2010-05-08T18:27:00.006+01:00

Hi again. In São Pedro de Alcântara Lookout post, I showed you a whole lot of lookouts to visit. I guess I'll start with Torel. It has recently been recovered and is nice and beautiful again, garnished with the awesome Lisbon views!

I framed this one.. (on the background one is able to see Triumph Arch)

Shall we dance..?

Or have a drink..?

The view of São Pedro de Alcântara Lookout.

You can see the Santa Justa elevator.

Into the Mist

2010-02-16T05:54:00.001Z

Miradouro de São Pedro de Alcântara (Bairro Alto)

2010-02-16T05:10:00.011Z

At night..

One temporary graffiti exhibit. This one I particularly liked..

São Jorge Castle..

Other Miradouros seen from this one:

Nossa Senhora do Monte

A far away view of Penha de França

Nossa Senhora da Graça

Jardim do Tourel (soon to be, if not already, reopened in its full! Really beautiful the second part!)

All you can see from there..

Braamcamp Palace

2010-02-16T04:55:00.007Z

Recently opened to the Experimenta Design event happening throughout the city, this palace was one of my favourite places in town. I was told that after this event, it would be closed for restoration in order to be transformed into an hotel, so be tuned!!

It is located in Pátio do Tijolo between Príncipe Real and Bairro Alto.

Lisbon Tiles

2010-02-16T04:50:00.003Z

Travessa do Rosário (by Unknown)

Rua da Mãe de Água / Calçada da Patriacal ("Sétima Colina" by Luis Camacho for Lisboa-94 European Culture Capital)

[to be continuously edited..]

More from Tapada da Ajuda

2010-02-16T04:32:00.002Z

Santana Mills Garden (Caramão da Ajuda Park)

2009-10-12T17:59:00.006+01:00

And, once again, one more "Out Jazz" concert. This, in particular, was great. The garden itself has a slope that makes it a natural amphitheater. Nice garden to pay a visit! Even if without a concert.

And a small video for you to have an idea of "Out Jazz". This specific day, the stage was left to the sounds of André Carvalho Quintet.

Estrela Garden

2009-10-12T17:50:00.006+01:00

Following last post, here is one of the nicest gardens in town.

a strange tree..

The "Out Jazz" summer concerts which fill with (mostly) Jazz the gardens in Lisbon. They have been a constant these last few years and (important to refer) free. This year's have finished already. Keep it in mind for the those in Summer 2010.

Tram28

2009-10-12T17:34:00.006+01:00

Inside views

Almirante Reis Avenue

São Jorge Castle from Martim Moniz

Entering in Estrela D'Ouro neighbourhood. I have to do a post on this as it has, among many things, a cinematographic history. It is really impressive inside!

Going down on Voz do Operário Street

This small yellow cars seem great to visit Lisbon with. I still have to try them out. Meanwhile, here's the link: GoCar.

Calçada de São Vicente continuing to Escolas Gerais Street: the narrowest part of the trip.

The other hill through Vitor Cordon Street.

In Luis de Camões Square.

A glimpse of Bica

Approaching the end at Prazeres through Saraiva de Carvalho street, where you can stick your head out and feel the wind.

And some highlights of the trip. Don't expect much quality, if so, you should come right away to Lisbon instead! Every year, Lisbon Municipality and Carris -- a transportation company -- organize "Fado no Eléctrico". At a certain time of the day in a specific tram, you'll be able to have a nice trip through Lisbon while hearing live Fado, with guitars and all. That's why I put a background music from Madredeus to give an idea. Hope you like it.

By the river..

2009-09-29T11:10:00.003+01:00

[in "À Margem" esplanade: link ]

3rd Digital Photography Marathon in Alfama: The Senses

2009-07-13T20:50:00.001+01:00

I had heard about this marathon before and thanks to a friend this year I managed to enroll on time. The organization always gives the participants access to places normally closed to the public. No wonder I was so eager to be there that day. It always happens around June/July. Keep the link in case you're here in Lisbon next time around: http://www.app-alfama.org/ . It's in Portuguese though.. But try to contact them. They will most definitely speak English.

So, the marathon works this way: it starts at 10am and it goes all day through 10/11pm; you will have 6 places to stop (start desk included) where they give you places worth visiting — really worth I must say!! — and two themes to photograph about (12 in total). In this post I'll show you my 12 chosen photographs (some better than others of course) and those that I would have changed for if I had more time to go through all those I took. They will be followed by others that, although didn't fit in the themes, are worth showing (in my view at least).

This year's, the main theme was "The Senses".

I have to ask the anonymous reader/viewer — if there's any.. — to give me some advices just because, as you've noticed already, I'm no pro, right? so.. just drop a comment letting me know what's your opinion so far.

"Alfama not only has the smell of Manjericos"

I think it was this one.. I wanted to refer to the river.
[View from the entrance of São Jorge Castel]

But I guess I would put this one instead as one can see better the river and a just-washed towel (plus it has more light..).
[View from Rua Norberto de Araújo]

Another one that fitted in this theme — I didn't use it as everyone seemed to have that idea — was..
[Santa Luzia Miradouro]

"Double sense" (in Portuguese "sense" translates to "sentido" which also stands for "direction")

This was actually fun as I was getting out of a cafe and saw a tram passing by. Right then, this theme came to my mind because if another one was coming in the opposite direction, that would be perfect. So I ran after the tram to the other side of the corner and.. there was the other one coming. Pure luck..?
[Largo Portas do Sol / Largo de Santa Luzia]

[another fun part about this was that the guy hanging on the right side of the tram, seeing me running, thought I wanted to take a lift as well so he started screaming "COME ON! YOU CAN DO IT!" I just said "no! don't worry!" but the guy kept insisting "DON'T GIVE UP! COME ON!!!". I guess if he had screamed "Run Forest!!", or I would fell on the ground laughing really laud or I would be possessed by his energy and just go with it, jumping to the tram and giving an hi5 to the guy for the huge moral support.]

"Rough paths"

The one submitted was slightly different — the right foot was a tinny bit to the right — but a second check gives the impression that this is more natural. If one wants to know how did I got these feet like this, well.. click here.
[Largo de São Miguel]

"Rock voices" ("pedrado"(rocked) means "high" in Portuguese.)

"Blind windows"

This is one of the buildings in Lisbon that makes me more frustrated seeing it like this..
[Rua do Cais de Santarém]

"Flavours street"

I didn't have much to chose on this one so..
[Rua de São João da Praça]

"Soft contrasts"

I really like this one. Not the photo, the stencil itself!

"The sense of things"

"Wanna date?" (black noticeable letters) "First, know you" (above in faint letters)

Another one that could had been, although the previous was the best.. (again the "sense"->"sentido"/"direction" issue)
[Balcony inside the Roman Theater Museum]

"Bittersweet"

no comments..
[close to Travessa dos Machados (upper part) / Casa dos Bicos (lower)]

"Perfumed walls"

:)
[Rua do Chão da Feira]

"Shadows that pass"

[São Jorge Castle]

"My street calls for me"

Just because I always wanted to live in a street/square/house like this. So, yes.. this (my) street is calling for me.
[Beco dos Paus seen from Escadas do Arco da Dona Rosa]

And the other photos worth showing..

The inner cafe in Artes Decorativas (Decorative Arts) Museum

Looking down from Santa Luzia Miradouro

A huge window to the river from the Balcony inside the Roman Theatre Museum

Rua de Augusto Rosa

A nice grocery store still with old style furniture including an old café machine [Casa Alves at Rua de São João da Praça]

The entrance to Travessa de São João da Praça. This is for me one of the most beautiful streets in town.

At the end you reach the back part of Chafariz (fountain) D'el Rey. It was built in the XIII century and improved from time to time since then. Currently, the inside is closed but not for us thanks to this Marathon.

The upper building seen on the first picture belongs now to a Spanish landlord who recovered the palace nicely. Thank you! [now seen from Travessa de São João da Praça]

View from Rua Norberto de Araújo

Rua da Galé

Rua do Castelo Picão

House in Beco de São Miguel

View of Cruzes da Sé from Rua de São João da Praça

Rua de São Miguel

Link to Largo de São Miguel from Rua de São Pedro
[I really like this photo]

Beco do Carneiro. The two buildings seen on each side of the picture were close together until some years ago (80s or something). "What?!" yes! In the famous 1755 earthquake, these buildings fell and stood hanging each other. People kept living there, covering the visible cracks — probably with cement — till it was fixed in the end of last century.

Beco das Cruzes

View from a private patio. We were invited in by a group of people in the street after being talking with them for about 2 hours. Portuguese style really! They wanted to offer the sardines, melon and watermelon. Really nice and fun people, I couldn't stop laughing..

Rua de Santo Estevão

View through an opening between two buildings from Beco do Vigário

Rua dos Corvos

Escadas da Dona Rosa

Cats

Back of Igreja de Santo Estevão. Link to the Largo de Santo Estevão.

Left overs of Lisbon festivities

Rua Guilherme Braga

Rua das Escolas Gerais

Tiles of an abandoned restaurant in Rua do Salvador

Largo Portas do Sol

Rua de Santa Cruz do Castelo

One of the many gates from the São Jorge Castle [Rua do Espírito Santo / Rua das Flores de Santa Cruz]

Rua do Capelão and beyond

2009-07-12T13:16:00.000+01:00

"Rua do Capelão" interpreted by Cuca Roseta

Rua do Capelão, in Mouraria, is considered the birth place of Fado.

Preparing the streets to the Lisbon festivities in June 12th, commonly known as "Saints".

There, you can find the house of what is — based in the information that reached us — the first singer of these fine Portuguese tunes: Maria Severa Onofriana. Despite dying young at age 26 with tuberculosis, this beautiful and gifted gypsy left a legacy for ever to remember, being the song "Rua do Capelão" known as well by "Novo Fado da Severa" (The new Severa's Fado). By the way, the initial images from the video in the beginning of this post are from a movie about Severa, by José Leitão de Barros, and it was the first sound movie done in Portugal.

The front of Severa's house.

Right by its side there is also the house of Fernando Maurício, another famous Fado singer known to have an astonishing voice.

And beyond..

View of Nossa Senhora da Graça Convent — one of the best point of views in Lisbon — from Rua do Marquês de Ponte de Lima.

Escadinhas da Saúde

Rua das Fontaínhas a São Lourenço

Rua de São Lourenço

View from Rua de São Lourenço

Perpendicular street close to Vila do Castelo with a nice view at the beginning

Upper views from Escadinhas da Achada. On the first, one is able to see the Santa Justa lift and the Convento do Carmo ruins.

in Rua Costa do Castelo

"O Terraço" (The Terrace) bar in Rua Costa do Castelo over what was the Chão do Loureiro market.

p.s.: click here for some other good Fado videos.

Lapa and Santos

2009-05-11T17:16:00.000+01:00

Travessa do Pasteleiro

Washing place at Rua das Francesinhas

Rua das Inglesinhas

Calçada do Castelo Picão (view from Rua da Bela Vista)

Rua das Trinas

Rua dos Remédios (view from Rua da Lapa)

Building in the corner of Rua de São Félix with Rua da Lapa

Rua de São Domingos à Lapa

Building on the same street

View from Rua de Buenos Aires

Where Rua de São Caetano and Rua do Arco do Chafariz das Terras meet

Rua de São Caetano (an "embassy" street)

A passage underneath part of the Aqueduto das Águas Livres (Rua do Pau de Bandeira)

Building on Rua Ribeiro Sanches

End of Rua Pau de Bandeira at Rua do Prior

Beginning of Rua Garcia da Horta

Rua de São Domingos à Lapa

Rua das Janelas Verdes

Rua de Santos o Velho

A pretty far view of Miradouro do Adamastor (Rua de Santa Catarina) from Rua de Santos o Velho/Calçada do Marquês de Abrantes

Rua da Esperança where one can find Puppets Museum

Escadinhas around the Castle

2009-04-12T21:42:00.000+01:00

I need a tripod..

Escadinhas da Achada

Urban fishing..

Escadinhas de São Cristovão

Travessa da Madalena

(yours trully)

Escadinhas da Rua das Farinhas

(upper view)

Largo da Rosa

Beco do Castelo

random ones..

2009-04-11T11:20:00.000+01:00

View from the restaurant at UTL (Monsanto). Check the Ajuda Palace (Palácio da Ajuda) on the right, the 25th April Bridge (Ponte 25 de Abril) on the left and Lisbon Astronomical Observatory (OAL at ISA) on the far left (really small though..).
[OAL - Observatório Astronómico de Lisboa]

Watching the sunset from the upper dome of the OAL.

Wandering in Lisbon: Rua Fernandes Tomás.

Lisbon stencils

2009-04-11T11:05:00.006+01:00

a post continuously in construction..

The face of the famous artist Zeca Afonso: In each corner a friend.

Killer TV

RecoverArt

Do we live together?

Bob..

[not stencils but still awesome]

Che (this one is actually a big one)

Big eyes

[back to stencils]

Blues Brothers

Obama

Bruce

Yellow suits you so well..

Fossil (I really like this one)

Get the Most!

Clown

Twins

The Kiss

City Life

Beetle

Little Girl

Das ist Eramus

Samurai

Buda

John Maynard Keynes tears

Bubble Girl

Flying boat (not stencil but still art)

Give it some colour!

Coração de Jesus / S. José

2009-03-19T09:29:00.000Z

Arriving really early to my sister-in-law's birthday dinner, I decided to go around for a walk. It was, as you will see, much worth!

I know that so far, most of the pictures were taken at night but it was the only time at which I managed to go for a walk. I will try to correct that in the future. I promise!

But, still, Lisbon night light is pretty awesome!

[Rua do Passadiço]

[Travessa do Loureiro]

[Travessa das Parreiras]

[Travessa de Sta Marta]

[Travessa das Parreiras — upper view]

[View from Elevador do Lavra, with Firefighter National Service (Serviço Nacional de Bombeiros (SNB) – Centro Distrital de Operações de Socorro de Lisboa) building tower]

[Elevador do Lavra's entrance — view from SNB]

[Calçada do Lavra, with the Trams down low — view from SNB]

[Calçada do Lavra]

[Calçada do Lavra]

[SNB tower from Calçada do Lavra, between the two trams]

[Calçada do Lavra, between the two trams]

[Calçada do Lavra, underneath the right tram]

[Calçada do Lavra, with the two trams]

[Unknow (for now) church in Largo da Anunciada / Rua de S. José]

[Rua do Cardal de São José]

[Rua da Esperança do Cardal]

[Rua do Passadiço — if I had some millions.. (the palace didn't fit in the entire camera so I just put the entrance gate]

[Rua do Passadiço]

[Rua do Cardal de São José]

Tapada da Ajuda (at the Observatory)

2009-03-17T18:05:00.000Z

This is where I currently work. Astonishing view that I have the pleasure to see every day. Lucky, I know..

Around the Castle..

2009-03-13T13:03:00.000Z

[Loc.: Rua dos Cegos]

[Loc.: Pátio de Dom Fradique]

[Loc.: Beco do Funil]

[Loc.: Calçada Menino de Deus]

[Loc.: Igreja do Menino de Deus]

[Loc.: Beco dos Fróis]

[Loc.: Beco dos Lóios]

[Loc.: View from Miradouro das Portas do Sol, with Igreja de Santo Estevão]

[Loc.: View from Miradouro das Portas do Sol, with Convento da Nossa Senhora da Graça on the left and Panteão Nacional on the right]

[Loc.: View from Miradouro das Portas do Sol, with Convento da Nossa Senhora da Graça on the left and Panteão Nacional on the right]

[Loc.: Miradouro de Sta Luzia]

[Loc.: Miradouro de Sta Luzia]

[Loc.: Igreja Santa Maria Maior, aka, Sé Patriacal de Lisboa; Rua Augusto Rosa]

Seriously! Why?

2009-03-08T15:28:00.000Z

It seems that one only sees truly his own world when looking what's outside of it. I don't feel like I fit on that situation, I had this Lisbon.. "thing".. before I left. What makes me sad about it is that I keep listening to these people talking about Lisbon not knowing anything about it, but when they return from, e.g., an inter-rail.. "I love this town!".

It's human to continuously complain about what we have just.. well.. (sometimes) just because. Sure nothing is perfect, it would be kind of boring, in my opinion. But if one could stop for a moment to carefully look with righteous eyes and shout proudly to the world "This is what I have! This is where I live! This is my world.." the experience exchange would be so worth it that this same moment would make you forget everything else and probably last a lifetime.

This is my way to reach every one connected to this world. This is my way to say "let me show you why.."

by Jerry Fenn - Righteous Eyes

In "Why Lisbon?" I will try to show you the power of this city to make every comeback day the best of an entire trip. Each lost street that I haven't stepped on, although I'm already 24. Every corner that I haven't still turned, so many still left. My goal is not to say that this city is better than all the rest -- although I do feel that -- but to say that if you pay us a visit you will most definitely NOT be disappointed.

Just let me show you why..

Welcome to my world..

[Loc.: Tapada da Ajuda]