My second year as a tour guide was winding down… but I had some research to do before heading home to Argentina. Due to a change in the Rick Steves Spain-Portugal tour itinerary, we’d be going to Évora next year… so I wanted to get a feel for the place first. I also took the opportunity to explore more of Lisboa this month.
Spain observations: The Plaza del Socorro in Ronda had yet to install a sculpture dedicated to the Andalucía flag & Blas Infante… but there was no shortage of plastic chairs & tables! Remarkable light to be had in Plaza de América & Plaza de España in Sevilla. Magical.
Lisboa observations: Works on Praça do Rossio —as seen in July 2001— had finished with beautiful results. But potted plants in Praça do Comércio? I’d completely forgotten about that. Great to see in these photos some of the 1998 calçada there… ripped out & replaced in 2009. I also recorded my first visit to the Museu Nacional do Azulejo & the ruins of the Igreja do Carmo.
Évora observations: My first visit to this unforgettable city made quite an impression on me… a journal entry stated that I took 72 photos during my short stay! Of course that’s nothing for the digital age, but for the film era that took several rolls of film.
Everything about the city enchanted me: warm October light, incredible architecture everywhere, a traditional parade by chance, amazing food & very few tourists at the time. I continue to love Évora as much now as I did 25 years ago… even if I don’t return as often as I’d like.
Hope you’ve enjoyed this glance at the past. Read about the genesis of this project, & please leave a comment below if you also remember this particular time & place.