Se Cathedral, Miradouro do Sol, Castilo Sao Jorge, Miradouro San Pedro.

Bright and early start to what looked like being a busy day.

We walk from our accomodation down to the Praca Comercio on the riverfront. There is a tourism office there where we can buy our Lisbon cards and that takes care of most of our museum and monument entries and all of our transport costs for the next three days. While the cost (40 euro) was a little less than what we would be spending, the convenience was the decider.

With our shiny new Lisbon cards in hand we take the train to Baixo and hoof it to Lisbon's Se Cathedral. Hey, we gotta at least take a look don't we? And a big Norman architecture cathedral it is too. But I don't recall any historical connections to the Normans in my (albeit limited) knowledge of Portuguese history. Nevertheless, there it stands and protected on all sides by a phalanx of tuk-tuk drivers apparently

Keep climbing guys. This city is just made of hills. Skateboarders have a great time here half the time. The next reststop is the Miradouro do Sol, a lookout point over Lisbon's river side areas with the ever present coffee shop and bar to relax in while you do so. This one also featured a lovely water fountain and pond and a large hand painted Azulje mural of the harbour.

Keep climbing guys. Don't we need oxygen or something? The Castillo Sao Jorge is the castle complex at the top of the hill. Ticketed entry gives you 360 degree views over the whole of Lisbon and it is breathtaking. We spent quite a bit of time up there looking around and taking in the views. Lots of shady spots to sit in the gardens, cafes and venders, some random peacock families wandering about, all in all a lovely spot. Prices were actually quite reasonable for such a showcase setting.

Down we climb but had to stop to listen to a couple of buskers playing trad jazz (Sweet Georgia Brown) from a first floor balcony window. They had a great sound and setting and got their takings by means of a bucket lowered from the railing on a string.

Take the train a station or two further (isn't this Lisbon card great?) and it emptied us out right in front of the funicular "Gloria". Like most, she looked like she was only held together by the graffiti on her sides as she creaked and wheezed her way up the steep slope to the Miradouro San Pedro. This is on the other hill of Lisbon and affords great views of the Castle as well as Lisbon in general. I liked this place 'cause it had a cafe and bar with canvas deck chairs to relax in. So nice with a pitcher of Sangria.

Coming back home took us through the Praca Rossio and the Praca Figuera where tripadvisor told us of a unique little shop well worth visiting. It is called A Ginjinha and is about 10 feet square. It is also the only place in the world you can buy the original Ginjinha, a liqueur made from sour cherries. Sounds dreadful but believe me the stuff is to die for. What? Of course we bought some. We waited in the queue outside like everybody else.

 A typical Lisbon tram.

A good bit smaller than the Melbourne variety but then they wouldn't make it round the corners.

 Our local funicular "Bica" is the latest addition to Lisbon's funicular fleet.

Inaugurated in 1892, I think it's only held together by all the graffiti on it now.

The Placa Comercio is a large expanse of people, hawkers, buskers, restaurants and bars.

  It's a central hub for bus routes, trains, trams, taxis.
 And of all things, tuk-tuks.

The Arco Rua Augusta is an impressive structure centrally dominating the Placa.

 I don't know how you would make a toilet "sexy", but they think they have.

Though certainly curious, I just didn't waned to go and saved myself a euro.

Lisbon's Se Cathedral.
Those two squared off towers scream out a Norman influence to its architecture, but how?

The inside was frankly rather austere as catholic Cathedrals go.

Nothing particularly remarkable struck me.

Outside the Cathedral was Tuk-Tuk central, seriously.

All these drivers are hustling for a fare and frankly the walk around the Cathedral is pretty steep.

But walk we did up to the Miradouro (means lookout) do Sol.

A snazzy ceramic mural and some great views over Lisbon.

 There is a fountain and water feature there too, greatly appreciated by the local seagulls.

 But we climbed higher to the Castillo Sao Jorge at the very top for the all round look at Lisbon.

You can just make out the Praca Comercio near the river in the background.

Inside the Castillo Sao Jorge. There are gardens and lawns and parapets to climb on.

There are also plenty of coffee shops and ice cream vendors and not charging outrageous prices.

  

Wandering around and calling loudly were some peacocks and peahens. 

And they had some young'uns with them too. Are they called chick- peas?

These guys were amazing. They played trad jazz from a first floor window and collected offerings from passers by in a bucket lowered from the railing. Their dog was occasionally in on the act too.

 Here's something for my art group to try.

Paintings with materials limited to just coffee and red wine.

Up for the challenge?

The results can be quite remarkable, no?

From the Castle you can see the Miradouro de San Pedro on the other hill.
From the Miradouro de San Pedro,you can see back to the Castle.
(There are two main hills in Lisbon but walking there you'd think there were dozens).

We took the funicular "Gloria" grumbling and groaning down to the Placa de Rossio.
Large plaza with grand buildings, stately statues and fountains.

This place is the only one in the world where you get their fermented sour cherry liquor called Ginjinha. The shop is tiny, only about 8 metres square and the line is out the door and down the street 24/7. Of course we tried some. Then we bought a whole lot more. It's a great drop.

The sign above the door spans the entire width of the shop.
Didn't I say it was small, but oh so precious.