9th Jan 2025 – Lisbon – Cruising with Alan

The storm lasted two days and two nights. It was severe but by Thursday morning all was calm. The sound of the wind was replaced by a muffled silence occasionally broken by the deep resonant sound of the ships fog-horn. We were moving very slowly into Lisbon harbour.

Lisbon is a charming, historic city with steep hills and winding narrow streets, navigated by tramcars that date back to the 19th century. Initially horse-drawn, the tram system was electrified in the early 1900s, and the original vehicles from that era remain a popular tourist attraction.

I took a ride on one reputedly built in 1901. Despite its age, it is in remarkably good condition, though I suspect, much like Trigger’s broom, few of its original components remained. Its solid, unyielding ride brought back memories of childhood visits to my aunt and uncle in south London, and how I have wondered from that day to this why the suspension on these vehicles never seems to include springs in any shape or form.

By this time the fog had cleared. It was a beautiful spring-like day and as we bumped through the old streets we were served glasses of port wine and custard tarts by a young lady in traditional Portuguese costume. It was most enjoyable and also quite amusing when the driver kept having to stop the tram and dismount to adjust the points at road junctions so that we followed the correct route.