Lisbon (Baixa)
Baixa, for all intents and purposes, is Lisbon's "downtown" -- literally (in Portugese "Baixa" means lower) and figuratively (it is one of the busiest areas of the city).
(Click on each image to see the high-resolution version)
From the flat streets of Baixa, one can glimpse the towering Castelo de São Jorge in the east.
Baixa
The major streets in Baixa run north-by-northwest to south-by-southeast and end up in Praça do Comércio by the river, the grandest of all squares in Lisbon.
Praça do Comércio
Praça do Comércio
Praça do Comércio
But to us, the much smaller Praça do Município was more intimate -- we walked across it countless times to go from Chiado to Baixa, and to Alfama and back, etc.
Praça do Município
Several tram lines run by these squares. The following is Tram 25, not the famous Tram 28 (though it does run through the same section as well).
Tram 25
There were many shops that sell the famous Portugese treat, Pastel de Nata, but they are not as good as the ones sold at Pasteis de Belem (see my TripAdvisor review here) in the Belem area, however, Fabrica da Nata is quite good (see my TripAdvisor review here).
Pastel de Nata
Another famous shop is Loja das Conservas that sells another Portugese national product -- canned fish (especially tuna and sardine). The shop is simply but nicely decorated. We browed this store in Lisbon and would buy them later in Porto.
Loja das Conservas
Canned Fish
Canned Fish
Yet another of Portugal's "national product" is the international soccer superstar Cristiano Ronaldo, whose likeness is shown on tiny azulejo tiles (another Portugese specialty) on this souvenir coaster. I must say this is quite a tastefully designed coaster (no, we did not buy it).
Ronaldo Coaster
Speaking of azulejo tiles, one of our surprising find is the restaurant Cafe Beira Gare by the Rossio train station (see my TripAdvisor review here), which has a pretty nice mural made of them. It also sells good food, including a Portugese specialty, bifana sandwiches (pork sandwiches).
Cafe Beira Gare
Cooking Bifana
Finally, a shot of the sign of A Padaria Portuguesa, a bakery and coffee chain in and around Lisbon, whose several locations were the first place we went to in the morning on several days.
A Padaria Portuguesa
