By Doyne Phillips, Managing Editor for
Southern Writers Magazine
High above the city of Lisbon rest the ancient site of St
George Castle. St George is a beautiful and impressive fortress that stands
watch over the Tagus River and the valley behind. To reach the fortress one
must travel through the narrow streets of Lisbon’s Alfama neighborhood that
lies between the castle and the water. You must work your way to the top to
experience the beautiful view of the city, the river and the Ponte 25th
of April Bridge.
I had the pleasure of enjoying these views during lunch at
the castle. It was indeed breath taking. The river, where all the great
explorers launched to discover the trade routes to the east, looks more like a
bay. The Ponte 25th of April Bridge has such a close resemblance to
the Golden Gate Bridge it is referred to as Lisbon’s Golden Gate. The designs
are indeed similar. And most breathtaking of all is the city itself with its
many houses with red roofs. It is a beautiful and historic sight indeed.
The sights are available on many websites and all photos are
excellent representations of the sites. I took many photos while I was there
but none were planned nor as well done as what I have enjoyed on these sights.
But there is one thing I have that cannot be shared in a photo and that is the
physical experience of traveling there. The true feel of the city must be
experienced firsthand.
We arrived on June 11th which is the day after
Portugal Day. This is the day in which all citizens and Portuguese Immigrants
around the world celebrate their nationality. This is the day of the death of
their nation’s great poet Luis de Camoes. Camoes wrote what is considered the
greatest work of Portuguese History and the great feats of the Portuguese
Empire. The celebration was the day before but the after party effects were in
the streets.
Apparently the Portuguese have cookouts on their National
Holiday like the Americans do on our National Holiday. But unlike the
Americans, that cook burgers and hot dogs, the Portuguese cook sardines on the
grill. Tasty I’m sure but the smell the following day engulfed the neighborhood. Smelly as it
was it was not a deterrent to our travels.
The Alfama neighborhood was a beautiful area. Unlike the
downtown area of Lisbon with its international flavor, it had the feel and
appearance of the traditional old world Lisbon. The people were friendly and
open and ready with a nod or wave. We happened upon a wedding and lingered to
watch the excitement and joy of the family. A beautiful bride and a large
gathering was a joy to see.
Once you reached the top you could feel the summer breeze
and hear the sounds of the city rising up. I could feel it was a moment to
remember and I have done so many times since. As beautiful as the sights are, I
think it took all the senses to establish that moment in my mind.
Having been fortunate to travel and share my experiences I
have noticed that showing pictures of your travels tends to have the same
effect of seeing the old slide show of our neighbor’s summer vacation. Many of
us have suffered through those. I now realize although we see the great photos
and see their excitement we have not experienced being there. It takes the
combination of all the senses to get the full effect.
The same is true for us as writers. We need to write with
all the senses. We must not only paint the picture but we need to allow our
readers to smell the roses, feel the breeze, hear the sounds and enjoy the
celebration. I am not saying we must spend page after page describing in great
detail each and every scene but make the reader aware of their surroundings in
the story. If we do this we can establish a moment in their mind. Hopefully it
will be a moment they will remember time and time again.
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