Lisbon is the unofficial capital, having never been confirmed in any official document. Alfonso III in 1255 moved the court to what had become Portugals largest and most important city. To compensate for this lack of official status, apart from being the capital of Portugal the city is also the capital of the District of Lisbon.
Lisbons relation to Portugal revolves around its geographical position, sitting at the mouth of Tagus, the largest river in the Iberian Peninsula. Historically an important port for trade between the Mediterranean Sea and northern Europe.
the Torre de BelĂŠm, one of Lisbons best known landmarks is actually a customs office, jail, lighthouse and also a telegraph post. Originally starting out as a defensive tower, guarding the entrance to the River Tagus and located off-shore totally surrounded by water due to shifts in the riverbank.
Lisbon predates Rome landing itself as the second oldest European capital after Athens. Having believed to be established in 12,000BC by the Phoenicians. and who used the excellent transport possibilities offered by the River Tagus.
LISBON: like a lot of Lisbon the trams are very old but surprisingly still in working order, they become very convenient when tackling Lisbons tiring ups and downs.
routes were in New York. Harlem and New Orleans. The rails were installed above ground on top of the street surface but caused many problems and accidents for pedestrians.
Although their origins can be traced to industrial horse-drawn trams in the UK, the first passenger streetcars were built and introduced in the U.S. in the 19th Century. They were pulled by horses and some of the first
They were then replaced by grooved rails which exist to this day. These rails are called “carris” in Portuguese. and this is the name given to Lisbon’s public transport company that operates the trams today. First
Raul Mesnier de Ponsard served an apprenticeship to Gustav Eiffel and has incorporated the qualities that go into the Eiffel tower to the Santa Justa elevator. Originally created to facilitate travel between the Baixa section up to Carmo Square. However you can climb a pair of stairs to catch a panoramic view of Lisbon, catching Rossio Square, the castle and the river. you’re never short of a scenic shot however this elevator provides unparalleled experiences. Lisbon enjoys a Mediterranean climate. Among all cities in Europe, it has the warmest winters, 15C-8C day or night, December to February.
operational route being inaugurated on 17th November 1873 In Lisbon, the streets are pretty much all black and white. People say the reason for this centers around the patron Saint of Lisbon; Saint Vincent. It’s said that the black represents the attire worn by Saint Vi n c e n t about 1580
LONDON: The first electric trams appeared on London’s streets in 1901 following on from horse-drawn trams which were introduced in 1861. Horse tram lines soon opened all over London, typically using two horses to pull a 60-person car. They proved popular as they were
cheaper, smoother, roomier and safer than the competing Omnibus or Hackney carriages. Replacement by electric vehicles commenced in 1901; the last horse-drawn trams were withdrawn in 1915. After the slow start, electric trams rapidly became very popular; by 1903, there were 300 electric tramcars in London, which carried 800,000 passengers. By 1914, the London
tram operators formed the largest tram network in Europe but the onset of WW1 saw a halt to the expansion of trams and thousands of staff left to join the army. London has seven major stations providing long distance and local services. Eurostar trains run from St Pancras to the Chunnel Tunnel and to mainland Europe. Railways came about by the Victorian
Trams exist today in Britain are all nearly forgotten about, extending only to seaside towns such as Blackpool. However for a city such as London with a population of 8.6 million, the biggest its been for 76 years according to a BBC report, naturlly there have had to have been some advancements in travel to accomodate the masses. The buzz of rush hour has never hit the cobbled streets of Lisbon with a population of 550,000, you’re never in need of finding a seat on your commute. Like the buses, black cabs are also being modernised and many are now painted other colours with advertising. Howeber a bike will be able to get you A-B.
In my time at Lisbon I, for all the rich culture I was surrounded by I could not help but notice there was a strong impoverished presence. For me the outdated tram network embodied this sense as well as this the graffiti referencing communism and the old cobbled streets. Thinking of home and London there is a degree of poverty but I do not see as many homeless scattered as I did in my Lisbon experience. Coming from fortune i have never had to whitness a culture so complicit with the homeless and beggars.
jestic mosaic lined plazas will make you go shutter crazy. Lisbon is the city of seven hills, and this means that there are lots of steep streets to climb – so wear comfy shoes! A few things about the way I travel: sightseeing doesn’t interest me all that much, unless it’s the kind you do at markets.
What’s of prime importance for me that I have my meals for the entire trip planned out. For this I spend hours researching the places to eat at. In addition to my own research, I turned to Salt of Portugal for some excellent, excellent recommendations, as well as Arjun’s Lisbonian Being more in tune with the classmate. news about london and britain as a whole I believe the While the Bairro Alto neighimpoverished conditions borhood is where all the achave come about through in- tion is, we wanted to stay a equality of super-rich forcing bit further away (near Rossio the middle class down. Lon- Metro). don has become a haven for money making tycoons. The Bairro Alto neighborhood is known to come alive post Looking at both of these spec- 11PM and even when the trums, I see poverty as a un- bars shut down, people conversal issue that tears apart tinue their party on the streets great cities cultural splendour because, in Lisbon, it’s legal and significance in the world. to drink on the street! ThereSo, on to Lisbon. Lisbon is fore, not great to get a good such a pretty city. The moor- night’s sleep if you end up ish architecture, the gorgeous staying at an apartment uphand painted wall tiles, the stairs from a bar. we’d have brick red roofs and the ma- to climb to every night after a