Monday, October 29, 2012

Tram no 28



The famous tram line runs in Lisbon (Lisboa) ,  around Alfama district, which is the oldest part of the city . That was a real  pleasure to take a ride on an old tram wagon . The tram 28 climbs up steep , narrow streets around the castle hill . There are many tram lines in Portuguese capital but this one is the most popular amongst visitors . I would say , the wagons are mainly occupied by tourists . The ride on 28 tram is a must do attraction in Lisbon .





 Wagons are old - fashioned , made of wood and keep running only to attract tourists , I think . Mainly painted yellow . The travel on it is like a travel through the past - the old part of Lisbon travelled on the tram from the distant time .








Alfama itself  is worth exploring too , beautifully located on the hill , descending to the mouth of river Tagus.
The upper part of Alfama surrounds the Castle of Sao Jorge , renovated old medieval castle , with nice views on the city . You can visit the Lisbon Cathedral at the foothill or baroque church of Sao Vicente . In the past Alfama was a core of Muslim settlement in Lisboa , at the times when Iberian Peninsula was under rule of Moors from the North Africa .









Tourists boarding tram 28 at the stop by the old  Lisbon Cathedral















The wagons are crowded , so that's perhaps the reason I didn't see too many locals travelling . That was  a disadvantage maybe , so that the best is to get on somewhere at the beginning of the route and take a seated place by window .

                                                  
Panorama of Alfama , on lef top of the hill seats the Monastery of Sao Vicente de Fora .









The tram was constantly running up and down , taking many turns . And the architecture is very interesting






Another tram 28 which we passed , approaching  Largo das Portas do Sol , the square where once was a gateway to the Moorish city .











Estrela Basilica ( Basilica da Estrela ) from the tram window .
Neoclasiscal church was build in 1790 .















Young tourists roaming the streets

















Alfama as the oldest district of Lisbon , is naturally full of narrow , cobbled streets . So in some places trams had a narrow passage between buildings .





















While travelling on the tram you could also observe everyday life outside . I have taken the picture of this girl when our tram stood at the stop .












Finally , when you have enough , you can get off and get deep into the labirynt of old small streets of Alfama and listen to Fado in one of many bars or restaurants , or like that pair on the photograph above , just have a look down from the terrace .