Tag: Lisbon

Life in Colour

A bonus Yellow

Gloria (Lisbon) and Woman in Yellow

The Elevador de Santa Glória is a tram that departs from Praca dos Restauradores and in a few minutes it takes you up a very steep alley. It has been a service since 1885 and has been powered by electricity since 1915. The journey is only 200 meters but it is always crowded with tourists and locals who want to spare themselves the trouble of climbing on foot. Worth taking a short ride on this funicular up to a beautiful look-out point the Miradouro (viewpoint) de São Pedro de Alcantara, the best known and most visited viewpoint of Bairro Alto from where one has a panoramic view of downtown Lisbon and across to the castle.

home thoughts from abroad

Home thoughts from abroad is a new series on Travel Words featuring a single photographs that remind me of a country visited and showing something that uniquely identifies it as being ‘abroad’.

“Here in Lisbon it is a warm 20°C on a sunny day in late May. I am dressed in sandals, jeans and a light linen top. Lisboans on the other hand are still wearing boots, opaque tights, cardigans and leather jackets. Some are even in puffer jackets with fur collars! I am sweating just looking at them.”

It reminded me of a conversation I had with my daughter in March many years when I was on holiday in Johannesburg. The temperature was around 19°C and again it was a lovely bright and sunny day. I was outside in T-shirt and jeans. My daughter, up from Durban was shivering in jeans and a jumper. “Ma” she asked plaintively, “Aren’t you freezing?” I smiled and shook my head. In England it had been a mere 8°C when I left. These were summer temperatures for me. She on the other hand had just spent the winter living in Durban where temperatures rarely fall below 20°C with a 90% humidity.

Everything is relative.

June Squares | Roofs

It’s June and another 30 day challenge from Becky.  ‘The Life of B’ This month she is looking for a roof or roofs or even rooves. Follow the link for the rules.

A scene I am sure Becky will have seen for herself – this photo was taken from the viewing platform at the top of the Santa Justa Lift (Portuguese: Elevador de Santa Justa) in Lisbon. With a view over that amazing wave pattern in Rossio Square. Cropped and zoomed in to show the magnificent terracotta tiles.

June Square | 14th June

Thursday Special

Arabesque Ribeiro da Cunha Palace @ No 26 Rua dom Pedro V

Arabesque Palace @ No 26 copy
dating from 1877, now housing a university department. This once beautiful building, now somewhat dilapidated, is close to the Parque Príncipe (Prince) Real, near Bairro Alto which is a wonderful park though a little tired at the time of my visit in 2012, as indeed much of Lisbon was.

Paula’s (Lost in Translation) challenge this week is Traces of the Past