Lisbon again Day 2

We decided to be brave and climb the hill behind our hotel up to the Castle of São Jorge. To get there on foot requires walking through the famous Alfama district of Lisbon. It took us about 20 minutes of steady uphill walking through the narrow twisty streets. Fortunately we did this fairly early in the morning and avoided a lot of the tourists on the way up. The way back was a different story.

Alfama is one of the oldest and most picturesque neighborhoods in Lisbon, Portugal. This historic district is characterized by narrow cobblestone streets, winding alleyways, colorful buildings, and sweeping views of the city and the Tagus River.

Alfama is also known for its vibrant music scene, particularly Fado music. Fado is a traditional Portuguese music genre that typically features soulful vocals and acoustic guitar accompaniment. Many intimate Fado restaurants and bars can be found in Alfama, offering visitors a chance to experience this unique and emotional musical tradition up close.

Castle of São Jorge

The Castle of São Jorge in Lisbon has a long and diverse history, with various rulers and occupants throughout the centuries. It was originally built by the Moors in the mid-11th century and later became an important stronghold for the Portuguese monarchy.

Over the years, it has been used for military purposes, as a royal residence, and now as a tourist attraction.

It played a crucial role in the medieval history of Portugal. The castle served as a strategic fortress during the Reconquista period, when Christian forces sought to retake the Iberian Peninsula from Muslim rule.

It was worth the climb. The panoramic views from the top were amazing.

We can see our sea food restaurant of last night in the square in front of the yellow building

Photos of the castle and grounds.

By the time we left the castle at 11:30, the tourists (besides ourselves) had really started to arrive and tuktuks were everywhere. We took a different route down than we walked up so we could walk by the cathedral ( which we didn’t go into). Along the way, we found the archeological ruins of a Roman theater.

How can you yell that you’ve found a tourist site? By the number of tuktuks parked out front. These things clog the streets of the tourist areas.

The Lisbon cathedral, complete with tuktuks. The Lisbon Cathedral, also known as the Patriarchal Cathedral of St. Mary Major, is famous for being the oldest church in the city of Lisbon, Portugal. It is a prominent example of Romanesque architecture and has withstood various earthquakes, fires, and invasions throughout its history. The cathedral also houses a treasury with items dating back to the 17th and 18th centuries.

On the way back down through the streets of the Alfama, I took photos of the tiles walls. Could there be a quilt inspiration in the making?

We headed over to the street fair in the Plaza near our hotel to find local food for lunch. We walked through it last night and took photos. It was not here a week ago. Reminds me of the Christmas markets in New York City.

This is how you buy Sangria. No namby pamby little jugs.

We relaxed after lunch. I have to present in an international webinar literally an hour after we get home Tuesday / Wednesday and again later Wednesday morning. My team had a walk-through zoom meeting this afternoon. If our flight is more than an hour late, someone else will have to fill in for me for the first one.

Dinner tonight was at a local taverna with typical Portuguese food. I took one look at the menu and knew I couldn’t do it. I ordered olives, a cheese plate, and red wine.