Adventures on (or off) the 28.

Lisbon's #28 tram has been called one of the greatest tram rides in the world.  

First of all, Lisbon has some of the greatest public transportation I have seen.  You can easily get by on trains, buses, trams or boats.  One of the best ways to explore the cities is hopping on one of these trams or buses and seeing where you wind up.  Settling into my permanent status, I purchased my Lisbon Viva card and for 28 € a month, I now have unlimited access to the bus, tram, and train.  


On our newly-initiated Thursday Exploration Day, Margaret, Emily, and I decided to explore Alfama and the St. George's Castle, which is located on a hill.  The 28 winds and chugs all the way up this hill, up hills that you don't think it will make and through streets that look too narrow to contain it. 

We meet in Chiado right in time to see the 28 coming by, so we hop right on it.   About halfway through the trip, we realize that we are headed the wrong way.  Since we are not tied to any certain agenda (as is the life in Libson), we just decide to see where it takes us.  We wind up in this really old cemetary on the other side of the city, so we walked around the cemetary for a while. 

 

The cemetery was a sight in and of itself.  Their mausoleums were somewhat different then ours.  The front had a door or window and inside was a little room with the coffins inside.   The view from the cemetery was pretty nice, too. 

  We left the cemetary to once again try to make our way back to Alfama.  Right in time for another train, we hopped on and started riding, enjoying the ride on a tram you could imagine strolling through the streets many, many years before.   All of a sudden the tram stops and the driver tells us it's the end.  We are definitely not up a hill.  Oh well, we decide to walk up it.  We're young and fit, and we can use the exercise to fit into these tiny bikini bottoms the Portuguese wear.

We managed to make it up the hill and almost to the castle before I had to trek down.   Guess I'll have to continue my adventures on the 28 another day!  Adventure Thursdays are a must!