national dish and served in almost every restaurant. Canned
sardines are a staple for the Portuguese owing to the food
shortages during the Second World War. Comur cannery has
a funhouse-themed special store with hundreds of sardines
and other fi sh cans lining its walls. Lisbon’s cuisine is also
fl avoured with dishes brought back by explorers from its
former colonies in Africa, Asia, and South America.
But what would a meal be without dessert? Lisbon is
famous for its custard tarts with their creamy fi lling and a
dusting of cinnamon. Sold at every bakery and pastry shop
for only €1, they soon become a late afternoon addiction.
Lisbon is a lively place for those wanting a more liquid
sightseeing experience. With its namesake port (wine
fortifi ed with brandy) in the forefront, Portugal is world-
renowned for its wines. Its famous Vinho Verde or green
wine is actually not green but refers to the lush, green area
of Portugal where it originates. A bottle of good quality wine
is inexpensive and can be bought in any corner mini-mart
or wine merchant. To sample some of these wines, try The
Wines of Portugal tasting room. Located conveniently at the
Comércio Plaza, this roomy venue off ers daily selections of
over four thousand bottles of Portuguese wines.
The traditional liquor is the cherry-fl avoured Ginjinha.
Lisboans line up for their daily shot at elevator-sized
Ginjinha bars. Served with or without cherries, this is the
best €1.50 you will spend all day! If you are lucky, you might
fi nd a kiosk at one of the squares that serves Ginjinha in
chocolate shooter glasses. This combination of chocolate and
cherry remains on your tongue a long time.
Fado is described as Portugal’s blues. It is more
reminiscent of a Greek tragedy sung in opera, with its tales
of lost love. Many fado houses (particularly in Alfama and
Barrio Alto) off er dinner and an intimate performance. As
part of the city’s soundscape, fado is played in restaurants
and stores. Melancholy yes, but perhaps it is fi tting that this
nautical nation off ers music that calls you back like a siren to
visit again and again. ●
After teaching in Edmonton for thirty years, Martin Ciesielski
now enjoys writing in a variety of genres including poetry,
song writing (for example, for The Proletarian Chronicles),
and music (especially classic rock) blogging. Martin hopes
this article on Lisbon will entice readers to visit this jewel of
a city.
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