Sunday, June 24, 2018

A Portuguese Affair - Lovely Lisbon!

So it was the month of April and by that time we were tired of the Swedish winters and thereby wanted to travel to some place which had plenty of Sunshine and Lisbon you really swept us right off our feet.


The Portuguese architecture really stood out to me. The combination of affordability, a scenic location, ancient blue and white azulejo tiles continue to dazzle alongside the colourful streets, cobblestone streets, medieval alleys, outstanding views, welcoming vibe and some of the sunniest skies in Europe.





We reached Lisbon late at night and then just took a taxi to the Hotel. We were staying at Lisbon Marriott Hotel which is like one of the best hotels I have stayed in Europe in past 6 years. Its not that far from the airport and only a quick taxi ride into town. The rooms are great, modern and fresh with excellent views of the city. They have a great bar, very friendly staff, great hospitality and also has some shops on site if you forget any travel essentials. It also has a lovely pool and a large selection for breakfast buffet, prepared very beautifully and served with love. (Again the best I have ever had in Europe).




We were in Lisbon for 5 days and thereby wanted to to take it really slow and enjoy everything.
The first day we spent exploring the classic tourist sights of central Lisbon at Baixa which is the heart of Lisbon which was completely rebuilt after the devastating 1755 earthquake. Simply strolling around the Baixa (downtown) is a good way to tick off sights – starting at Praca do Comercio & Cais das Colunas, admire the grand central square, stop for waterfront drinks then stroll along the busy Rua Augusta, along to the little sour cherry liqueur bars and the town houses of Rossio square.






Other popular tourist sights of Baixa includes the Elevator of Saint Justa, an industrial age marvel and work of art, Praça Rossio the heart of Lisbon with it’s open air restaurants and cafes.





The second day we visited Belem which is a pretty district of parks and monuments that follows the banks of the River Tagus. One of the finest attractions of Belem is Torre de Belem which was built in the 16th century and played an important role for the protection of the capital. You need to take tram E15 to reach Belem or take bus 27,28 or 29.


Mosterio dos Jeronimos is one of a must visit. It was built on the occasion of Vasco da Gama safe return from his journey from India. Its massive and true architecture not to be missed. I am pretty sure you will be dazzled by the great work done by the craftsmen.



Padrao dos Descobrimentos is the spot where most of the Portuguese discoveries started. It was made and dedicated to all the adventurers and explores of the early centuries.


What I loved and enjoyed the most was Alfama district the oldest in Lisbon.. It has a perfect blend - delightful maze of cobblestone streets, medieval times, lost of history and architecture. You can enjoy the great views of Alfama district from the Castelo de S. Jorge. The view from the castel is all worth the huffing puffing. 










After a lot of sightseeing and walking for 3 days I thought I should pretty much relax and do some local shopping and buy souvenirs. Vasco Da Gama shopping centre  is a huge one with plenty of options to shop and eat.  You can easily spend 4-5 hours there. Close to the mall is a science museum
(Pavilhão do conhecimento) and Oceanario de Lisboa. The whole area is really nice to stroll around.






We spent our evening at Navegardoors which is a very nice cosy place with live music to enjoy. A must when visiting Lisbon. 



Lisbon you really won our hearts!!! #untilwemeetagain