Lisbon * Dec 2012* by ...vale vale...

 

What could I say about Lisbon? First of all I would like to share with you my feeling, taking as an assumption that Lisbon doesn't have to be seen and described as each other European capital.
It is something different, not better, not worse than any other capitals, but different from it, for sure.

Perfect then!!!
So let's see what I have done and visited in roughly 48h!

Lisbon it is a quite small city (I am talking about the tourist area, I do not have any idea about the residential area, of course!!!) and a very cheap one.

One of the first impressions I had was to be somewhere else like in Istanbul, indeed: a lot of vendors on the streets, selling flowers, chestnuts, etc.

                         

Let's start our 48h marathon!!! Are you ready!? 

READY, STEADY, GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO...

DAY 1

• Praça da Figueira
• Praça Dom Pedro IV (Rossio) [our 48h belly button] - Magnificent X-mas decoration

•  Convento do Carmo + Elevador de Santa Justa

• Museo do Design e da Moda
• Praça do Comérçio

• Strolling around - Baixa - Alfama

• Iglesia de S Antonio + Sè

• On the way to the castle...Rua do Limoeiro + Miradouro de Santa Luzia

• Close by the St Jorge Castle

•  Castle: SKIPPED DUE TO AN ON GOING STRIKE
• Strolling all around we end up to the week end flea market @ Campo de Santa Clara "with locals gathering to sell tat and treasures in the shadow of  the gracefully domed Panteao Nacional", Lonley Planet says.

Walking in order to have something for lunch we realize what the temperature is in Lisbon!!! [in Italy it snowed and we had 2h delay]...not bad at all!

After lunch (we are in the middle of the afternoon) we do not know anymore what to do...Museo dos Azulejos, for the day after, Belem for the next day...so...we need to waste time...how to do it?
Well let's wait for the rest room of one of the best Pasteleria in town to be free.
Walk around Barrio Alto and Chiado, enter some shops just to have an idea of fashion/local people habits, etc. have a break/rest at the place in Praça da Figueira where we've had breakfast in the morning!
[Unfortunately I do not know the name, and I cannot identify its number on google maps]

DAY 2 - Sunday Free Admission until 2 p.m.

After another amazing and delicious breakfast, we head to Santa Apolonia metro station, in order to catch the bus, direction Museo dos Azulejos!

• Museo dos Azulejos - I will give you a hint if it

                      

• Belém - Mosteiro dos Jeronimos - Torre de Belém - Padrão dos Descobrimentos - Pasteis de Belém

4 p.m. back to the hostel
5 p.m. back to the airport


Tips:

1. Book the flight ticket well in advance, otherwise the price will be too high.
2. Bring a hood - windy city (at least in winter)
3. I spoke Spanish and it was extremely easier for me to get understood rather than English. I was confy in speking Spanish...and people replied in Portuguese or Spanish.
4. Have breakfast in local Pastelerias, rather than at the hotel/hostel; you'll have great memories.
5. Eat what/where locals do.
6. Buy the public transport cards and select the 24h tickets. They have a 24h validity starting from the time you validate it. [5€/day]
7. On Sundays: free admission until 2 p.m. to most sites.
8. Bring your hair dryer: we didn't have any heating in the hostel....
9. Slippery pavements - PAY ATTENTION!!!

Tripadvisor reviews:

1. Pouso dos Anjos: Cheap, but we could have chosen something else
2. Marisqueira dos Anjos: Not to be missed if you stay @ Dos Anjos
3. Museo dos Azulejos:worth a visit
4. Belem: Don't miss it! 
5. Tram 28: :D Nice experince
6. Casa Pasteis De Belem: Absolutely Gourgeous

Total: round 180€ [flight included]

I hope you appreciated it!
V.