Lisbon

The New York Times has a travel column called "36 Hours in XX." That is the exact description for my experience in Lisbon. Though having almost five days in the city, I rarely have time for its cafe culture or the soulful Fado music. Riding Tram 28 through the Alfama area, however, is the highlight of my stay. So is the visit to Museu Nacional do Azulejo, the tile museum, which I will introduce in a separate article (Azulejos: once upon a tile).

Riding the tram was such a great, leisurely way to familiarize yourself with the city, especially in the alleys of Alfama. For this article, I decide to use both real photos and postcards to show you the best of Lisbon. Can you tell which ones are postcards? :)

Colorful balconies.

Various windows with colorful tiles.

And doors.

Alfama is a Moorish district. The 1755 earthquake and tsunami razed most of Lisbon, but this Medieval district was left intact. It is a sharp reminder of the four centuries Lisbon spent under Moorish rule until captured by King Afonso I in 1147, with narrow, winding streets, frequent flights of stairs, and tall, white Arabian buildings.

The habitants mostly enjoy the Old Lisboa are probably the cats.

And beautiful women on the street

Lisbon is such a colorful city. If you have an afternoon, try the labyrinth of narrow cobblestone streets that wind their way up a steep hill overlooking the Rio Tejo. It feels like stepping back in time.

Photographed by Jennie Bai.

Copyright ©Jennie Bai. All Rights Reserved.