Rossio Square + Baixa | Lisbon

 

Day 2 in Lisbon! Bob had to work this morning so the boys and I headed out on a walk in search of their two favorite things: toys and snacks. Perhaps we were in search of my favorite thing too: brightly colored azulejo tiles. 

Beyond the construction which was an actual barrier across street intersections on Rua da Prata we discovered an entire elegantly laid out pedestrian friendly area, where wide open streets are perfect for strolling and shopping. I got a Super Bock tee shirt. Camden got Milka Chocolate and a Lisbon tram tee. Ryder got a Lollipop. They got a set of toy race cars to share. 

I learned the streets of the Baixa grid are named after old professions. Rua dos Douradores (our street) is after gilders. Rua dos Correiros are saddlers. Then Rua da Fanqueiros is fabric traders. 

We regrouped with Bob at the Airbnb as he finished work and headed out together down Rua dos Sapateiros (cobblers!) under the Arco do Banderia into the hub of Baixa, Rossio Square.  The waves of the ocean represented in the pavement tiles really spoke to me. As did A Ginjinha Espineria a tiny bar counter in Rossio where you order a sweet liqueur made from sour cherries known as Ginja. It is served in a shot glass and you sip it. 

More specifically, Ginjinha is Morello Cherries soaked in a distilled spirit called aquardente. There are multiple locations of tiny bars that serve it, constituting a quintessential Lisbon experience. There might be a line but it moves quickly and everyone mingles outside anyways so it's fun. 

It is actually really cool for me to connect the tiles here in Portugal with the tiles on the promenades fronting Ipanema and Copacabana beaches. Portugal's are the OG with Brazil modeled after them. 

The shopping and the strolling continued. Camden picked out trinkets for his cousin Lilah, his neighborhood best friends Sammy and Adeline, and his Nana! Then, we turned down Rua das Portas de Santo Antao a pedestrian only walkway off Rossio Square. Drinks at a local Cervejaria brought to you by the racecars the boys picked out earlier. A paper tablecloth lending itself as a racetrack brought to you by Camden's creativity / happenstance. Then we stopped briefly at Elevador do Lavra before continuing to Avenida Da Liberidade. 

S U P E R  B O C K love. 

Day 2: Still so into you, Lisbon. The rest of DAY 2 and NIGHT 3 choose your own adventures next!

Best of Andalusia

 {Last call on Mom's trip 2023 - the not forgotten horizontal photos. Thanks for following along!!}

Granada | Spain

"Oh Morocco is cool, yea Sevilla is great, but Granada, well, Granada is something else. Granada is really special, you'll see" ~ rental car agent @ the Renfe Station

She was not wrong. In fact she was completely accurate. Voicing her own strong opinion - her statement stuck with me. It was a welcome conversation as we retuned the rental car despite the fact that we were running late. We needed to grab a taxi and check into Hotel Casa 1800 before making our way to Alhambra. We had a ticketed time an hour prior to closing at 8pm. (You have to book in advance, and this was the only time slot we could get while we were here!)

After spending time in the city streets you feel it. Granada is special, something beyond, 10/10, our favorite on this trip. It's not bragging or in your face, it's sneaky stunning and casually hip. 

After our hurried arrival and rush to Alhambra we slowed it all down. We wandered. We ate good food. We leisurely shopped. We drank. We stayed out late. 

Can we move here? That's the vibe. Granada totally gave us "European city we could live in vibes". 

From the bright, clean streets of Centro with unique and pretty fountains in abundance, to the winding narrow pathways as you climb or descend the Albaicin, there's so much leisurely wandering to be had in Granada.

GRANADAAAA we love you so. 

Eat here: Pimienta Rosa | Atelier Casa de Comidas

Drink here: Mama Samba | Lemon Rock | Bar Chaplin | Calle Elvira area | 

Sad we missed: Bar Axia "heart of the Albayzin" (it was closed! situated on a charming old school plaza, looks like a perfect tapas bar stop.) Las Tomasas - originally had a dinner reservation but called an audible as timing / location didn't work out. 

Views: El Huerto | Plaza de San Nicolas

Dinner was a miss here: La Cuchara de Carmela. I guess we had high expectations and none of us were in love with our meals. 

Stay here: Hotel Casa 1800. A really unique hotel tucked in a cave like setting between the exact neighborhoods you want to be for exploring - Albaicin + Centro. A beautiful continental breakfast spread is included. The rooms felt cozy yet elegant. 

Granada - leisure, late nights + fountains. Group consensus favorite.