Words are just words, right? We know something about that; we have some great poets and writers in Portugal. Some of them lived in Lisbon.

If I were a poet, I’d write about the wonderful Lisbon light everyone talks about. Or maybe about how the summer sun kisses its hills.

If I were a poet, I’d write about how fantastic it is to look from downtown up to the hills and see the castle, and how the old part of the city blends with the sky. Or how beautiful river looks, seen from the castle, and the cozy orange rooftops in-between. Some say that is one of the most stunning views over a city, but they might be exaggerating.

If I were a poet, I could write some stories that are a thousand years old. Or maybe write  lyrics that a fadista could sing. Do you know what a fadista is? It’s the person who sings the Fado. I know that WordPress is all about jazz, and many say that fado is the portuguese jazz. I would write a fado, the portuguese song which recently became a Unesco Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.

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If I tried hard, I could maybe please the souls of this unbelievably kind, friendly and generous people, and share a meal with them, trying to tell those stories, if only I could stop eating some of the best food of the world.

But what do I know? I’m not a poet. I can’t describe the city, after all; I can only invite you to come to Lisbon and see it and taste it for yourself. 

Let me know when you’ll be here.

*com Zé Fontainhas