Zoe goes to Portugal: Walking around Lapa

Thursday, 13th June, 2013.

 

Today was Mummy’s big day presenting at the conference, so Zoe and Gran stayed at Lapa No 82.

 

Zoe had some tummy time on Gran’s big bed.

 

Zoe likes her new orange toy from Emirates, and of course Turtle is a special favourite.

 

When Mummy came home from the conference, she was very happy with how her presentation had gone.  She was also very happy that it was over, so they all went out for a walk to celebrate.

From the front of Lapa No 82, you could look down the hill and see the Tagus River.  It always looks bright blue.

 

This is what you could see looking up the hill.

 

Many of the buildings are faced with these beautiful painted ceramic tiles.  Maintaining these buildings can be a very expensive and time- consuming business, as there are not many people who can repair these tiles if they are damaged.

 

Some very ornate tiles here.

 

The buildings are all joined together, and over a hundred years old.

 

Both the streets and the footpaths are made of cobble stones, and some of the streets have tram lines.  You wouldn’t think two trams could pass each other on these narrow streets, but they do.

 

There are very few signs outside the buildings – certainly not big ones – so until you are right outside, you don’t know whether a building is a house, a shop, a hotel, a church or an embassy.  They are all mixed up, side by side.

 

Some buildings are beautifully restored, while others, like the one at the bottom of this street, are in need of some TLC.

 

There are very few trees on the street, although there are probably some in interior courtyards.  The bird song Zoe could hear came from these canaries in a window.

 

Mummy and Zoe admire some buildings painted in different pastel colours.

 

Asleep in the sunshine.

 

Zoe liked all the pretty colours.

 

Zoe’s pramming outfit.  What cute toes!

 

A little cobbled square.

 

Not up there with the pram!

 

This must be Europe, there are geraniums.

 

“Well, it’s not every day you see a turret” (Mummy).

 

Back up the hill, past the Lusitanian Embassy, home again to Lapa No 82.  Zoe had a nice ride and Mummy and Gran had some exercise, up and down the hills.