Lisbon - Alfama

The old Alfama neighborhood, with its maze of twisting alleys and stairwells is a photographers dream.  It is one of the oldest neighborhoods in Lisbon, and gives a look into how people lived here 100's of years ago.

You'll see 400 year old churches.

And people still hanging their clothing out in the alleys to dry.

In some ways, it is another world, but in others, it is your familiar beach community.

There are shared public bathing facilities.  I'm not sure I'm ready to live this way, but it was interesting to see how another part of the world lives.

For lunch we stopped at a small sidewalk restaurant and I had grilled sardines which are a specialty or the area.  I'd never had sardines, but these I have to say were excellent. 












Alfama is also famous for the local folk blues music called "Fado". 

We scouted out a place for an evening of dinner, wine, and Fado.

 We were very pleased when we found Coracao de Alfama.  it was exactly what I'd been hoping for.  It was an authentic atmospheric evening of good food and song.

 We started with a fried sardine and onions appetizer.  It was very lemony and delicious. 











I ordered the beef steak with bacon.  Also delicious.

 Fado is performed using 2 guitars, a  standard guitar and a traditional Portuguese 12 string guitar.

There are usually a few singers over the course of the evening, which helps to give the music a down to earth folksy (everyman) feel.  The singers were all great and the candlelit atmosphere really made the evening special.