Lisbon a City of Heart

A city of heart? If you want to be transformed and feel the heart of Lisbon, listen to Chuva no Mar performed by Carminho – the voice of Lisbon. Fado (the name for the local music) flows in her veins the way the Targus River flows at Lisbon’s feet.

I am sure you traveled and visited many cities. Most of the cities are nice and special. But from time to time you are in a city that grabs you, touches you. For us Lisbon was one of those places. Lisbon has a rich history. With lots of re-births. On All Saint’s Day in 1755, an earthquake and fire almost totally destroyed the city and left between 10,000 & 100,000 people dead. Lisbon was rebuilt and now stands again in the old glory.

There are many stories of heart in Lisbon. Here’s one. Cindy and I took Uber a couple of times. One of our drivers was a young man from Africa. His name was Kanye (stands for Freedom). We started to talk and one story he told us was so touching it is still in my head and makes me happy and sad at the same time. He said that when he was in his home country, Guinea, he saw pictures of people eating in restaurants and movies and marveled at people serving them meals. He never imagined he could ever do this. Now, living and working in Lisbon and driving this car, for the first time ever, he can go into a restaurant, order a meal and people bring it to him. He is so thrilled to be working, meeting nice people and able to earn some money. It is fantastic. He also wants some day to visit New York, but doesn’t think he wants to live there. He goes on to explain that people in Lisbon are so friendly and relaxed. They have a heart.

What makes Lisbon so fascinating?

We wanted to find out so we took a tour with “We hate tourism tours”. I liked the slogan and we weren’t disappointed. We were only 6 people on the back of an old WWII jeep-like car. It was a great way to see the city from the hills up top to down below where the locals live. The hills in Lisbon are amazing.

Walking in Lisbon is not only fun, but a challenging workout too! And if you get tired, you can always jump on a tram. A ride on #28 is a way to feel like being in an old movie. The wooden trams are nostalgic. In the warmth of the sun you smell the scent of the weathered wood and you enjoy the narrow, curvy cobble stone roads leading up and down the hills.
Food is always a big part of any trip and this is especially true of Lisbon. Through their food, you learn a lot about a country’s people and culture. Here I will mention only 3 items:
Coffee – there are many coffeehouses in Lisbon where you can sip a creamy bica – good strong ristretto with the spicy, compelling aroma that hundreds of thousands of locals drink every day.

Pastéis (or natas) is a sweet. Once on your tongue it is irresistible. It is said that only 5 people know the recipe. Only 20,000 are made per day. Together with the coffee, it’s one of the greatest things you can do in Lisbon.
Ginjinha – Ginjinha is a Portuguese liqueur made by ninja berries (sour cherry. They are soaked in alcohol and sugar together. Ginjinha is served in a shot form with a piece of the fruit in the bottom of the cup. It is a favorite liqueur of many Portuguese and ME. One bottle is hidden somewhere at home :). It tastes so good and makes your day even sweeter.

Here are a few highlights I would recommend:
Alfama with its steep streets and stairways. At night you will hear Fado music all over.
Baixa and Avenida with its busy central square of Rossio. You will find a lot of meeting points with cafés, theatre and restaurants.
Bairro Alto and Estrelais a picturesque working class quarter dating from the 16th century that has traditionally been the city’s bohemian haunt of artists and writers.
Belém with its monuments and churches mirroring the spirit of the time.
Terrace BA: from the hotel 6th floor you can see over the roofs down to the Targus
Mercado Da Ribeira: is home to several restaurants serving authentic food.
Quinta Real De Caxias Gardens. It is a quiet uncrowded & romantic place.
São Jorge Castle: It is a spectacular place to overlook the hills of Lisbon
Pastéis De Belem. These crispy pastry are Lisbon’s national treasure.
Quiosques: they are all over the city. They are a perfect place to eat a snack or beverage.
Coffee: Coffee was introduced in Europe in the 17th century from Africa mainly in Venice, Paris and Lisbon. Today you can enjoy the finest coffee.

If you stay a few days take the train to Sintra. This town was the summer retreat for the kings of Portugal. Their palaces were extraordinary. Sintra is now a UNESCO World Heritage cultural landscape.

Lisbon a city you want to come back and revisit.

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