springtime in Lisbon

I never thought Lisbon would be such a place of aesthetic delight - you think of Portugal and everyone raves about the Algarve or Porto.  Before my arrival I asssumed it would be a typical grey, corporate capital city.  However, as I wandered around I was taken aback at the explosion of colours, from the vibrant to the muted; the deep crimson of the strawberries sold on street stalls, the terracotta roofs, the faded yellowing walls.  Every building, from the majestic to the ramshackle were charming in that quaint Mediterranean way. I felt such a city needs few words, as the photos do all the talking:

Buying strawberries and cherries from a street vendor.

Terracotta roofs as seen from the Elevador Santa Justa (a strange, Victorian era urban lift).

Enjoying a coffee and a 'pastel de nata' - egg custard tarts Portuguese style!

The imposing Rossio Railway Station

A crumbling shop front that would look rather sorry for itself in Britain evokes a sense of nostalgia here.

Note the mosaic street - a little detail that makes this place so enchanting.

The River Tagus