Ann and Revel had already been there but Revel kindly steered me up and down the hills. Down through Bairro Alto and up the other side to an area of narrow lanes and sidewalk restaurants.
June is a time of celebration in Portugal and there were signs all over of a big party the previous night. Today was a public holiday - Portugal day and later in the morning there was quite a big military parade through the city.
I think this is a giant piñata ...
In case you need one ...
I did the castle on my own (with a thousand other tourists). The view was worth the slog up the hill.
I really enjoy the spaces of the moorish castles, they understood how to build for the climate they lived in - spacious, unfussy, trees and cool.
Inside the castle are huge courtyards - I'm partial to a good courtyard.
And up on the walls - the magnificant views...
Peacocks, quite fitting in these spaces.
Meeting up with Revel afterward we had a look round the other side of the hill.
Then headed down to Alfama, the oldest part of Lisbon which was originally outside of the city walls and home to the poorest residents. There is a tramline but it was spilling over with tourists so the only way to explore was on foot.
We stopped for lunch at a pop up restaurant, in a gym! I have to say, one of the strangest locations to have lunch and the meal itself, one of the strangest I've eaten. Quite tasty but like biltong (jerky, for the non South Africans) and potato chips.
.
It was the Larde - no idea what it was though.
Then just meandering back through the city, checking out the sights.
Wall art from different ages.
Aren't these steps gorgeous?
The central plaza, after the military parade. Praça do Comércio.
Heading for the Metro we stopped to watch these fantastic dancers.
I was very happy to climb onto the Metro at Biaxa-Chiado - another underground station with a completely unique look.
Adeus Lisbon, you're beautiful.
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