Lisbon, Portugal

Hi Readers,

 Well here we are in beautiful Lisbon, Portugal.

By the time we got here yesterday we only really had time to check in as it was getting late, but today we really got out and about and have a lot of love already for this fantastic city.

Today was spent wandering down to the historic centre and it was amazing watching the buildings change from the modern ones where we are staying, to the old and winding streets that are so narrow it defies logic.

We walked down to the foreshore and I ticked off one thing I wanted to do and that was to dip my hand in the Atlantic Ocean. A small thing, but memorable just the same.

We then got on board a small tram that took us around the city centre and up into the hills above the city where so many historical buildings and streets are.

What was amazing about the tram was the actual steepness if some of the hills. For those from Bendigo, we are talking about trams going up One Tree Hill. Secondly, the streets were so narrow. At one stage I could put my hand out the window and touch a building as we were going past.

All the while there were cars and trucks banking up behind us with no way at all of passing.

Such an amazing trip.

The afternoon was spent doing a tour on one of those open top buses, and this time we chose to explore the greater area of Lisbon, getting a perspective on the new areas as well as the old. 

Something that just came to me while writing tonight was an experience we had a fe days ago in Pisa. 

In most places we go there are always people on the streets trying to sell all sorts of things from selfie sticks, trinkets, souvenirs etc. when the wet weather arrived, they were all selling umbrellas, and their approach can be very aggressive to say the least. At one train station we saw police moving them on as they were hassling passengers and tourists so much.

So you can imagine my surprise when Jen and I are walking through the street in pouring rain with our umbrellas clearly above our heads.

A bloke was coming towards us, and I just thought that there was no way he would hassle us. Wrong!!

He was in y face asking if I wanted an umbrella! Only when I pointed to mine did he give up, but he wasn't happy. These people would try and sell ice to the Eskimos, but I shouldn't really complain because they are clearly trying to earn a living in pretty ratty conditions.

The other thing that struck me today was that we noticed more homeless and beggars on the streets, and their condition seemed a lot worse than anywhere else we have been so far.

To see one bloke curled up at the base of a building near an air conditioning outlet that was blowing out warm air really struck me, as he was doing all that he could to stay warm. No blankets or pillows or anything, just sleeping hard on the footpath.

Jen and I are often saying to each other how lucky and fortunate we are to be doing what we are doing when we see how tough others are doing it.

The colours and style of the houses continues to amaze us.

Chestnuts being roasted on the street beside a Tuk Tuk rank. Tuk Tuks are everywhere.

The tram we took around the city and up into the hills.

The Square.

Check out the range and variety of Tuk Tuks. They don't come cheap however, up to €35 an hour!!

A mural in a building, a common sight.

A street market we are planning on exploring tomorrow.

A standard side street, narrow and steep.

Check out the steepness of the hill we are climbing in the tram, and this was not one of the biggest ones!! Often we would have a long line of cars banked up behind us.

These are the sort of streets the trams go down, ( but not this one as it clearly doesn't have tram tracks!!)

This is an actual house, hard to believe that people can live in something so narrow.

Looking out towards the bridge that traverses the entrance to the bay where Lisbon is situated.

After a busy morning, the breadsticks went down well.

And the pizza went down even better!!

Some street entertainment.A bloke blowing bubbles had kids having a ball, but no one was putting money in his tray!!

We heard sirens on our bus tour. This police car squeezed through between the bus and oncoming traffic with only centimetres to spare.

One of my favourite memories so far. An old man contentedly reading the paper in the street.

A building given over to professional graffiti artists.

More graffiti art.

And some more.

And yet some more.

More great colours on the buildings.

Today's obligatory selfie on the tram!

Dipping my hand in the Atlantic Ocean.

And getting caught doing it!

And how could I not forget to include today's photo with my special sock that was given to me for Christmas. 

I don't know why my font has changed Readers, but as I have been having lots of hassles lately with my blog I'm loathe to try and correct it as I've lost many posts already.

So, tomorrow?

You'll just have to log in again. We could be anywhere, doing anything as far as I know!!

Until my next post...

Cheers!!