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JenLara
JenLara
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4 out of 5
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11-15 of 16
Editor Pick

Feira da Ladra

  • January 13, 2007
  • Rated 4 of 5 by Jim Rosenberg from Wausau, Wisconsin
Feira da Ladra

Even though I don’t consider myself a “shopper” by nature, I can’t resist street markets and it’s easy to spend hours searching through the odd assortments of items for sale. My choice in Lisbon was the Feira da Ladra, or “Thieves Market,” which is spread out along hilly streets in the Alfama district. It would be a lovely place to walk through whether the market was there or not. Anchored by an ancient cathedral with narrow, winding streets lined with shoulder-to-shoulder buildings, it’s classic backstreet Europe and none too polished, save the sometimes tiled facades that are common in Lisbon.

Trolleys ply the steep hills beyond the market and people walk past the countless stalls of various wares. Feira da Ladra is mostly a flea market, but between the knick-knacks and oddball garage sale items you’ll find art, lace, tiles, and various nearly useful items. The vendors are an interesting cast of characters, too. My only trophies for a couple of hours of browsing were several espresso cups with saucers that I really liked, but had absolutely no legitimate personal use for. (If you ever order a single espresso shot in a Wausau, Wisconin coffee shop and notice a Portuguese design on the cup it is served in, then maybe you are sharing in my experience.)

Another item that I was compelled to bring home for my souvenir collection was a ceramic rooster. They are found everywhere and the legend of the Barcelos cockerel dates back hundreds of years. As the story goes, a pilgrim was on his way to Santiago de Compostela. He stopped in Barcelos, where he was wrongly accused of theft and sentenced to hang. After appealing to the Virgin Mary and St. James, he told the court that if he was innocent, then the roasted rooster that the judge was about to eat would rise up and crow. When it did, the pilgrim was spared. Since then, the brightly-painted roosters have been sold throughout Portugal as a symbol of good luck.

From journal Lisbon, Portugal: History, Charm & Euro-Stretching

Editor Pick

2 days in Lisbon - 2nd day

  • March 31, 2006
  • Rated 5 of 5 by beautysan from Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
2 days in Lisbon - 2nd day

I woke up early the next morning to catch the earliest tram 28 at Campo Ourique–Martim Moniz to Alfama area. The tram ride was very enjoyable as not many tourists nor locals were out and about that early in the morning. Tram 28 is famous for zig-zaging through the oldest part of Lisbon and climb steadily up the steep narrow streets in Alfama. This tram is also very handy for reaching the attractions in Alfama such as Castle of St. George, the cathedral etc.

The castle of St. George is quite a good place to visit, if you are not visiting Sintra. But any trip to Lisbon is not complete if there's no excursion to Sintra, which is only a 1-hour train ride away. Once arrived at the Sintra train station, head to the bus stand just outside of the tourist information to take bus 434(fare €3.85). Bus 434 is very convenient, making a loop to all the major sights in Sintra. And trust me, you wouldn't want to walk up the steep slope all the way up to Palacio Pena, which is right at the top of the hill.

Sintra is a magical old Moorish city which is truly a must-see. My first stop was Palacio Nacional, the landmark with two tall chimneys that greeted visitors as bus 434 climbed uphill. The decorative tiles in this palace is the oldest and most extensive collection on the Iberian Peninsular. Besides Palacio Nacional, don't forget to take some time to wonder round the narrow and labyrinthine streets at medieval Sintra town.

Next I went to the Moorish castle known as Castelos dos Mouros in Portugese. This castle was built in the 8th century by the Moors, and its walls wind itself round the rock ridges like the Great Wall of China. As the Moorish castle is kind of overshadowed by its rival nearby Palacio Pena, the castle was fairly quiet when I visited. I almost had the whole castle to myself, which was really memorable, especially when I climbed up to the top of the tower to see the spectacular view of Sintra and its surrounding in total solitude.

After climbing up and down the walls and towers of the Moorish castle, it's time for the big one - Palacio Pena. On the highest hilltop stood this fairy tale castle that resembles a wedding cake, with striking wall colours like red and yellow. Worth mentioning was the impressive drawbridge, towers, battlements and daintily-furnished royal chambers. If only I had more time in Portugal, I would have spend at least 1 night in Sintra to take in slowly the very romantic medieval city.

From journal Whirlwind Tour of Portugal

Editor Pick

2 days in Lisbon - 1st day

  • March 31, 2006
  • Rated 3 of 5 by beautysan from Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
2 days in Lisbon - 1st day

I only had very limited time for Lisbon in my short whirlwind tour of Portugal. Therefore I can only afford to cover the very major sights. I took an early train to Lisbon from Porto, arriving just before noon. The 3-hour, 45-minute train journey has not much scenery to offer, so bring a book to read. After the boring train ride, I was fully ready for some excitement. I immediately hopped on to a tram to Belem. The most popular sights in Lisbon are mostly in Belem. So if you have limited time in Lisbon, make sure you spend at least half a day in Belem.

Mosteiro Dos Jeronimos, the must-see in Belem, stands majestically overlooking the river Tejo. It was built as a memorial for Prince Henry the navigator and Vasco da Gama's great seafaring discoveries. The impressive main church contains da Gama's body and the even more impressive cloister has very detailed Manueline workmanship. By the river are the famous landmark of Lisbon - Monument of Discovery and the Torre de Belem. The monument of Discovery is especially photogenic during sunset and at night, where its reflection can be seen on the pond nearby. About 10-minute walk down the road stood the Torre de Belem, a UNESCO World Heritage site. I took a very crowded tram ride back to Baixa and walked around restauradores area to look for a good restaurant that serves peri-peri chicken. However, I discovered the Elevador da Gloria instead.

It was actually an ancient tram up the steep hill to the viewpoint, where we could have a spectacular view of Lisbon. After dinner, I walked around the shopping streets, soaking in the Chrismas spirit in the air. Elevador de Santa Justa was my next destination. This elevator served no purpose except for bringing visitors up to a height of around six floors to have a birds-eye view of the city. Expect a long queue for the elevator. To me, this is quite a "been-there, done-that" site.

From journal Whirlwind Tour of Portugal

Lisboa, Portugal

  • February 16, 2006
  • Rated 3 of 5 by airpricing from London, United Kingdom
Lisboa, Portugal

Lisbon is not a common place to visit in Europe, which makes the city a calm capital. There are not many tourists from other countries in Europe. People are warm, the city is warm, and the food is generous. Why not?

From journal Lisbon

Lisbon

  • December 22, 2005
  • Rated 4 of 5 by miemiego from Cotati, California
Lisbon itself is a history book: the buildings, the design of the roads, the narrow alleyways. You see pictures, but it never does it justice. The people love their country and hate their neighbors in Spain. Many spoke English and were very friendly and helpful. The castles were huge and wonderful to see. The views of the water and the Golden Gate Bridge twin can be admired. The Port Institute is a don't-miss! What a great place to experience fantastic port!

From journal Portugal (The Best-Kept Secret)

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