Discovering Lisbon

Lisbon, capital of Portugal was once one of the worlds greatest powers and the city was totally destroyed with a horrific earthquake in 1755. It reminds me a bit of San Francisco most likely because of the rattling trolleys, narrow hilly cobblestone streets, the view of the Tagus River that it looks more like an ocean as we daily see international cruise ships stopping at port, a famous suspension bridge and lots of fog. The city has 300 days of sun and even when the temperatures are low, it always feel 10 degrees warmer when you are on the sunny side. In many ways the city got stuck in time as many things seems to be like they used to be in Colombia when I was growing up. It gives me the feeling of a third world country in many ways. Sadly, the city is not kept up. Buildings are not maintained and look decrepit; most people walk their dogs on the streets and do not pick up; and even though there are trash cans on the streets, people ignore them....just imagine! Lisbon could be a beautiful and very inviting city, so many historical sites, building with beautiful architecture with facades of tile and tiny balconies.

      

                

                                               

Here are a few of my impressions:

- Prices overall are way below what we pay in the US., i.e. a cafe latte costs €1.10 compared to $3.75 at Starbucks; a Greek yoghurt medium size only cost €1.49 vs. $4.00; a box of muesli €1.79 vs $4.00 and so on.....everything is considerably less expensive. Prices at the restaurants are also lower.

- At the super market, plastic bags to carry groceries are for sale, not free, €0.02 each

- There are bakeries on every block, people take brakes for coffee and pastries and a long lunch. There is no rush to pay either.

- People are super nice, everyone goes out their way to help you. One unforgettable experience...we wanted to buy a cheap phone to call within Europe and to the U.S. in any emergency. We entered a shop and asked where to go. Britt, the owner a lady from Estonia, offered an extra phone she owns for us to use for free while we are here. We didn't want to accept it and she insisted saying she knew she can trust us.  Unreal!!!

Here is a picture of me with Britt at her shop.

                         

- At the restaurants, waiters try to teach you a few words in Portuguese and try to speak English or Spanish to me. 

- Small businesses keep the lights off to save energy, electricity must be very expensive. At the buildings lights are on a sensor, so obviously off when nobody is there.

- It seems to me everyone owns a clothes washer, but nobody owns a dryer, as a result you see clothes hanging from the windows everywhere even in the nice neighborhoods. I think it's all related to the cost of the electricity.

- Sad to see a lot of homeless people.

- Gas stations are a space on the sidewalk where the pumps are installed, usually only one. It's not self serve, someone pumps the gas for you.

- Like in all Europe and South America, people walk everywhere. We have seen people of all ages including many octogenarians walking with or without canes on the hilly streets carrying groceries to their homes. 

- Graffiti is everywhere, some are total murals, but none are attractive to my eyes.