Alameda

My favourite place in Lisbon was the Alameda. Its a city park built around a monument - not to a revolution (like the rest of Lisbon) or to a war (like the rest of Europe) but to the guy who built the Lisbon water works or pipeline or something. Anyway appropriately (possibly wastefully!) the centrepiece is this bizare fountain/artificial waterful. Which is also spectacular. Unlike other city parks its not full of drug dealers but has kids running around, teenagers hanging out, guys playing football, dogs running around/crapping (mind the Hundschiesse) and its all very normal. Plus theres some great cafes and restaraunts in the roads leading away and up to the Praca Londres.

Part of the reason I loved the Alameda was that it reminded me of Berlin - completely over the top and random yet spectacular and lovable and somewhat homely. Berlin has been on my mind recently - a combination of reminiscing after reading certain sites and the fact Im going to Germany for Christmas. Very excited about that. While I'll mostly be in the east and near Dresden I might even get back to Berlin and wander Kreuzberg again. Im still not sure what it was that I loved so much (though I know im not alone in loving it) but Im pretty sure I can blame Berlin for ending up here. In fact I should probably blame Berlin for a lot of things. And nostalgia too. Its never a good emotion to cultivate.