Hidden Gems In Lisbon Portugal Waiting To Be Discovered At SteemFest2

SteemFest is just around the corner and I'm so excited! It's going to be so much fun meeting people in real life that I've met on Steemit!

Today I was looking at the SteemFest website and the line-up of speakers are top notch.

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Thank you @roelandp and the SteemFest team for putting this great event together. I appreciate all the thought and work that goes into hosting an event like this.

Thank you again @quinneaker for gifting me a ticket to SteemFest2 this year. Your generosity is heartfelt and appreciated.

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Interesting Facts About Lisbon

I've been to many parts of Spain but this will be my first time in Portugal, a city with a long history and full of surprises. Any time I travel somewhere new I like to research the history of the place and get to know it's culture before arriving. Of course, you can't really know a place until you get there and the focus will be on meeting and greeting fellow Steemins on this trip, but Portugal is full of surprises.

For example, did you know that crows have been the symbol of the city since 1173? Crows escorted the body of Saint Vincent, who was dug up and moved to his final resting place in Lisbon.

Even though it's not in the Guinness book of world records, there are records in 1811 that show Lisbon was the first city in the world to import Guinness from the United Kingdom. Cheers! Guess we'll have to kick back a Guinness while visiting.

The Saramago Foundation is popularly known as Casa dos Bicos. Bicos is anything that’s pointed, like the stones on this house’s façade, but it’s also slang for oral sex. Think of it as BJ house; you won’t be the only one. credit

Portugal has the smallest bookshop in the world called Livraria do Simão and measures only 3.8 squared metres — nevertheless, it’s able to hold 4,000 books! It’s so small that when a customer walks in, the shop owner usually has to walk out.

During WWII, the richest European refugees created a small community around the Casino town of Estoril, just outside Lisbon. They spent days at the beach, nights dancing away, high-class dining in between. And when they gambled, the stakes were much higher than you’d think. The best spies of all the western nations were hard at work in these circles. Most famously, Ian Fleming, writer of the James Bond novels, was here on duty for the British Naval Intelligence. credit

In a city where nobody keeps a secret, these guys do. They know the secret recipe to the Pastel de Belém and they’re not telling. The recipe has never been written down and they’re required to memorise it. However, with great power comes great responsibility, and the guardians of this recipe take special precautions: they never travel in the same plane, take the same car, or order the same dish at any restaurant. credit

The drug policy of Portugal was put in place in 2001, and was legally effective from July 2001. The new law maintained the status of illegality for using or possessing any drug for personal use without authorization. However, the offense was changed from a criminal one, with prison a possible punishment, to an administrative one if the amount possessed was no more than a ten-day supply of that substance. credit

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Where I live in Mexico they celebrate the Day of the Dead which I'll be missing this year due to attending SteemFest but Portugal celebrates it too on November 1st but they call it All Saints Day. *(Some people call it the Day of the Dead there too.)

On All Saints Day, many people spend the day honoring the dead by cleaning graves and placing flowers. Many bake sweet cakes with cinnamon or serve chestnuts and wine outdoors. In some areas, children sing while going door-to-door, much like people caroling at Christmas. Children go out in the morning, knocking on doors and asking for either “cookie” or “bread of God.” This is similar to Halloween in other countries where children ask for treats. In the past, the children of Portugal were given cakes, nuts, walnuts, almonds, bread, scones, chestnuts or dried fruit packaged in cloth bags. The bags were embroidered or made of patchwork. Today, children get sweets, chocolates or coins. In addition, families may light candles in memory of those who have died. Some church services read names of the dead prior to lighting candles as well. Offerings are made in honor of the dead in some congregations as well. credit

Did you know that Lisbon is about four centuries older than Rome? It's the second oldest European capital after Athens, many historians believing that it was settled by the Phoenicians around 1200 B.C., and who used the excellent transport possibilities offered by the River Tagus. One of the theories for the origin of the name Lisbon is that it came from the term “Allis Ubbo” or “safe harbour” in Phoenician. credit

The Santa Engrácia church is in the Guinness Book of Records has having the longest construction time of all churches: it started in the 17th century and only in 1966 was the last dome completed.

Secret Hidden Gems Of Lisbon

The Feira da Ladra translates as Thieves Market is the largest flea market in Lisbon and is described as a “hidden gem full of hidden gems”. There you'll find antiques and unusual items, clothing, and treasures.

Fado, which is Portuguese for "destiny or fate" is a music genre that can be traced to the 1820s in Lisbon, Portugal, but probably has much earlier origins. Although the origins are difficult to trace, today fado is commonly regarded as simply a form of song which can be about anything, but must follow a certain traditional structure. In popular belief, fado is a form of music characterized by mournful tunes and lyrics, often about the sea or the life of the poor, and infused with a sentiment of resignation, fatefulness and melancholia.

Most places these days overcharge tourists for a combo package dinner or mandatory drink minimum to hear Fado music which no self-respecting local would pay for, but there are a few places you can still hear Fado for free.

Where to listen to fado in Lisbon for free

O Povo: this stylish restaurant has frequent fado shows with young singers and musicians. There is no fee for the show and you can have a full dinner of petiscos for 20 euros tops, wine included.

Tasca do Chico: popular charming tasca with live fado shows on Mondays and Wednesdays. No admission or fees involved, just character and personality here. I don’t recommend it for a full dinner, but great for having a drink and a bit of cheese and chouriço to nibble.

Museu do Fado: during the weekends the Fado Museum hosts a short fado show. The price is included in the ticket fee. credit

Manteigaria is conveniently located in Largo de Camões, right in the edge of Chiado, Bica and Bairro Alto neighborhoods and there you can get the world famous Portuguese pastéis de nata (custard tarts).

Manteigaria is such a popular place with locals that it is standing room only but they come fresh out of the oven and the view is spectacular.

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I can't wait to try some of these. They look so good.

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