Lisbon is beautiful

Today, my plans got completely changed. My friend Ana had a last minute meeting - damn pig flue! - and my lunch with her never happened. So I ended up going further downtown and taking some beautiful pictures.
And because the weather has been crazily nice - very little rain and clouds so far... - the light was, yet again, superb.

Here's São Pedro de Alcântara, a very nice spot to see Lisbon and its castle.

The See and the river behind it.

Right next to this belvedere, one can stroll down the streets of Bairro Alto. One of the party areas of Lisbon.

I must be honest and say that it was a bit too dirty and full of graffiti on the walls... But, then again, it only comes alive at night!

I think it's amazing that Lisbon still keeps that village and traditional spirit, even in the hippest of places...

After Bairro Alto, I ended up in Chiado, in the heart of Lisbon. Here's Praça Luís de Camões. With the Christmas lights already up.

The river...


A church.


And another church, right across the street.


Inside of it. Amazing!



I went on towards the river, to central Downtown. A place full of old shops. The kind I love.



And amazing buildings. Another passion of mine.

I hopped on a tram and went up to the See of Lisbon. I hadn't been in it for years! I don't even remember the last time I visited it.

Once in the See itself, we can visit the cloister. I remember going there once, but I didn't remember any of it, so I decided to visit the it again.

Again, I need to be honest here and say that the cloister is in need of repair. Desperately. It's a beautiful place... And I happen to know that there is some kind of problem between some governmental institution and the Church over this... Well, guys, get over it and make this beautiful place even more pleasant!

Some old tombs...



I want one of those. Made of stone and complete with a crown and all.

I felt all holy and stuff, so I took the tram to the other hill, so I could take the subway. I saw these three ladies embarking in a very Portuguese ritual: going for a cup of coffee, probably an espresso, at the most a latte. At the cafe right there.

And some more old shops.





That was it.