This is such a lovely city!

Of course, it combines all I like . Steep streets going up and down, churches everywhere, beautiful views from a terrace downwards. A lively city too, with cosy cafés to sit when a little rain is coming - we are in Autumn here- probably very tourist like. But now it is low season so very nice.

I maybe chose my time badly: holy week. It was not only about good Friday, holy Saturday and easter Sunday. It was the whole week. Processions. Special masses. Balconies covered with "church coloured" cloth, purple or dark red. 

We saw the ceremony of the "lava-pés" or washing the feet, see the internet for full youtube reports. We stayed a little but well, that is not my cup of tea ;-) In our street we saw a long procession passing by around 20hr, that was easy, one just has to look out of the window!

But well, I preferred to enjoy the city. I loved the Valle dos Contos, kind of a park-walkway from down at the Pillar church all the way up to the "Rodoviária" or bus terminal . Lots of little places to sit, beautiful rain forest like surrounding and stunning views.

I walked a lot, just enjoying these steep cobblestone streets, lovely houses 18th century Portuguese style with little balconies and lovely facades.

On day I decided to lunch in a quite expensive Italian restaurant, but having a terrace with a beautiful view on an old bridge and little stream surrounded by houses. On top, the restaurant had lovely Bossanova music. 

That particular day I was not lucky, just under my were two artists with guitar and microphone and sound amplifier who did their best but were singing really out of tune! There went my relax lunch and lovely bossanova music! I just could not stay, my ears were buzzing... so I resumed one of my lovely walks!