Passion Explored Lisbon ApartmentsEvery now and again I have this sudden impulse to travel on my own, so I booked an apartment in Lisbon, with the idea of not only flying solo, but to get a true experience of what it would be like to live in Portugal. Life s little pleasures The apartment I had booked for my stay in Lisbon was situated in the middle of the city, in the medieval Moorish area of Alfama. This was perfect because I was close enough to all the tourist attractions, but also had a view that allowed me a glimpse into the life of the average Lisbon local. The apartment had everything I needed and what I liked most was the azulejos ceramic tiling, which plays a big part in Lisbon designing. On my first stroll through the streets of Lisbon I felt that this was quite a romantic little city, with its cobblestone streets and mosaic sidewalks. Lisbon is a port city that is surrounded by rolling hills. The people seemed friendly and very welcoming, but Lisbon is most definitely a diverse culture. A bit of history The first on my list of things to do was the Jeronimos Monastery. The intricate detail of the architecture never ceases to amaze me. The monastery was built in commencement of Vasco Da Gama and the success of his voyage to India. Da Gama and the poet Luis de Cam es tombs are at the entrance followed by some other well known figures of Portuguese history who are entombed here. What I liked most was the different carvings of sea monsters, coral and other sea creatures that most definitely show the admiration of discovery of this era. I continued on my way through the city to the Berardo Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art. Although the museum s collection includes the work of Picasso, Warhol, Duchamp, Bacon, Pollock and Jeff Koons, I was there for two reasons: Salvador Dali s and their collection of Advertising Art. Long since have I been an ardent admirer of Dali work, but seeing the original by far exceeds any expectations. As for the Advertising Art, this was truly something unlike anything I ve ever seen before. It was a thousand pieces of art that were created by some of British s most famous artists during the 1900 s. If you are a follower of advertising trends and designs, then this will surely be of interest to you. After spending a good few hours at the museum, I decided it was time to go home. Local flavour I always say that if you want to get to know how the locals of any city are; go to one of the local pubs. No matter what country you are in, there is sure to be a pub, and with it, some regular customers. Down the road was Bar Cerca Moura that has been voted one of the ten best nightspots in Lisbon. It had a nice welcoming ambience and while enjoying some local entertainment, I opted for one of the local wines too. The D o wine was quite light, aromatic and refined with a hint of citrus. The waitress suggested that I had some of the local cheeses of the region with it. For me, eating cheese is not something tricky, since I do not enjoy all cheeses, but since I was in another country, I thought I d give it ago and ordered a cheese platter. I was not disappointed. Most of the cheeses were good, but the Queijo da Serra was by far superior in my opinion. It s has a smooth consistency, almost like Brie, but with a more delicate flavour. During my stay in Lisbon I explored some of the local shops, doing shopping at the grocer just two blocks away from my apartment. I visited the Calouste Gulbenkian museum, the Belem Tower, the Tile Museum and the major landmark of Lisbon, Saint George s Castle. At night I would go to a different pub or restaurant, enjoyed the company of a few friendly locals, all the while experiencing the life of Lisbon in my own apartment. Article Directory: http://www.articledashboard.com
Author Bio: WayToStay online apartment bookings offers short-stay self catering Lisbon Apartments, Amsterdam and Paris as the smarter alternative to hotels for leisure and business travellers. |