Portugal
-
Literary Lisbon – book shopping with a map
“Better to go barefoot than without books” ― Icelandic proverb You’ve probably heard of Shakespeare and Company in Paris or the stunning Livraria Lello in Porto, but have you been to any of the bookstores in Lisbon? According to the World Cities Culture Forum, Lisbon has 35.97 bookshops per 100 000 people, which makes it the most bookish city in the world. It’s home to the oldest, the smallest, and one of the most beautiful bookstores in the world. And no, these aren’t all the same place. Let’s explore some of Lisbon’s literary gems! There are many more bookstores in Lisbon. This post features only places that I have already visited. Lisbon Book Fare –…
-
Thieves’ Market in Lisbon and the Woman in Pink Scarf
Gloomy Saturday, June 2024 – day in Alfama (Lisbon, Portugal) We took the Azul metro line (blue line) towards Santa Apolónia. It’s only five stations from Marquês de Pombal. The Woman in the Pink Scarf sat across from me. She wrapped her head in a scarf decorated with golden and blue sardines swimming in pink waters. The vibrant flowers on her blouse complemented the pastel pink shade of her loose trousers. She answered a call with a smile, her golden watch glinting on her wrist. That morning, we were heading to the flea market at Mercado de Santa Clara, often called the Thieves’ Market (Lisbon’s oldest flea market, open every…
-
A postcard from Porto
This is my little “postcard” from Porto, which I want to send to you. It contains the best memories from two afternoons that I spent in this city. Last year I had a chance to go to Portugal. It was my very first time there. So, as you can imagine, I had so many expectations. I checked plenty of guides and descriptions from blogers. Everyone was so much in love with this city. All those photos showing colourful houses by the river and beautiful sunsets set the bar quite high. Here I show just snapshots of what impressed or inspired me the most. These are the things I want to remember…
