The Lisbon Connection

Chapelaria Azevedo Rua is a traditional hat shop (opened in 1886) on Rossio, one of Lisbons’ famous squares, creating tailor-made hats (chapéus) on request.

Portuguese people are fond of hats! Rossio January 2009.

Typical Portuguese hats, bridal hats, Panama- and Cylinder hats. In this well-known hatter’s you can find handmade hats for all occasions and top-hats, bowler hats, high-hats and [...]

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The unmistakeable smell of roasted chestnuts (castanhas assadas) is announcing autumn’ s arrival in Portugal. ‘Quentes e boas’! ‘(Get’ em hot!). This cry goes out on the Lisbon streets.

‘Hot and good, a dozen for € 2“. Much to the chagrin of many, the traditional paper cone made out of the Yellow Papers has been replaced by soulless [...]

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Already in November Lisbon is busy decorating the streets and the trees. Thousands of lovely colourful Christmas lights decorate the city, from Rossio and the Baixa/Chiado downton area to the Avenida Novas and beyond to Belém. It is said that, due to the financial crisis, the banks stopped sponsoring the Christmas decorations.

Mouraria, December 2008, church near [...]

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Already in November Lisbon is busy decorating the streets and the trees with lots of Christmas lights. Walking along the Baixa and Chiado, visitors have plenty of opportunity to find the perfect gift, to suit everyone’s wallet. The windows of the shops are dressed up with Christmas decorations, and some are quite remarkable!  Herewith some examples [...]

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A new, different and unique way to explore Lisbon: these tourist cars look like toys and if you’re driving one they make you laugh, sometimes out loud! People who see you driving start smiling or say ”Whow!”

My friend Rob Plews (r) and I (I’m Julie Kruijs), December 2008. Very surprising is this car can talk, but not [...]

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