Lisbon in Black and White

 

Don’t be misled by the title.  Lisbon, the capital of Portugal, is a beautiful city, with very friendly people and a vast and lengthy history.  It’s an ancient city at the mouth of the Tagus River, the longest river on the Iberian Peninsula.  The city dates back to the long ago when the Celts and Phoenicians roamed throughout Europe and plowed through waves on the Mediterranean Sea in sturdy wooden ships, plying trade in the far reaches of the known world. 

 

Muslims took over the entire Iberian Peninsula in 711, or thereabouts, being pushed out of Lisbon by Christians in 1147 and out of the entire peninsula in 1492.

 

But, who, outside of high school history teachers and quivering students, remembers so many numbers?  Let’s make it simple.  Used to be Muslims in Lisbon and others resting in the shadows of ancient history, but now they’re gone.  Well, most of them. Still lots of diversity. Most speak English, as well as Portuguese.  All seem very happy.

 

Crime rate is very low!  Well, there are surely some pickpockets.

 

Some say Liston is the second oldest city in Europe.  Where did I find this out?  Not Wikipedia.  Our guide told me, as he took us (via tuk-tuk) through the narrow streets and proud boulevards, past the waterfront, cathedrals, castles, old monasteries, and neighborhoods dating back to the reconstruction, after the mighty, city destroying earthquake of 1755.

 

What is a tuk-tuk?  A kind of truck-car dressed up like motor scooter attached to the front of a golf cart.  I’ll send you a picture in the next blog. 

 

The guide also informed me Christopher Columbus was really Portuguese, not Italian, Cuba was discovered and named by Portuguese explorers, and the Portuguese were the ones who taught the Japanese to use chairs.  I have both Italian and Japanese friends.  I’ll keep the conversations congenial and not mention what the guide told me.  Chairs are not that big a deal.

 

Our guide was very well educated, speaking every romance language except Romanian, as well as perfect English, and some German.  Felipe was also quite conversant about literature, including the works of Mark Twain and an array of authors from around the globe.

 

But, let’s skip past more idle chatter and answer the question:  Why Lisbon in Black & White?

 

Simple.  Black and White photography lends drama.  But, have no worries. My next blog article will introduce you to the colorful side of this wonderful city, including the fabulous food and drink.

Lisbon is a city of cobbled streets and wonderful tiles

 

 

It's also a city of hills.

The national dish is salted cod (bacalao) in all its forms. The salted fish are soaked in water for a day or two before being prepared.  I have seldom had fish this delicious. Extraordinary!

And the Jamon Ibirico is every bit as delicious in Portugal as it is in Spain!

Yes, Lisbon is a wonderful city that no one can truly grasp in a day or a week, or a lifetime.  There is no end to the history and pleasures, and no finer and more hospitable people!  Don't think twice about making a visit to Lisbon!