Tram 28
‘Tram 28 Don’t even ask’ is written on a small kiosk on the Martim Moniz square in the centre of Lisbon where they sell pizzas and cocktails. We see the tram passing the famous cathedral ‘Sé’ on this photo. There are many tourists who are waiting a long time at this point to take this picture, always hoping to make the perfect or best photo I guess.
‘Do you know where tram 28 is?’ This is the most asked question from a tourist who arrives in Lisbon. Tram 28, ones a normal tram, connecting the different districts of Lisbon for the locals, but it became famous when it was marked as one of the best kept secrets of Lisbon, a thing what every tourist has to do to know the real Lisbon.
‘Do you know where tram 28 is?’ This is the most asked question from a tourist who arrives in Lisbon. Tram 28, ones a normal tram, connecting the different districts of Lisbon for the locals, but it became famous when it was marked as one of the best kept secrets of Lisbon, a thing what every tourist has to do to know the real Lisbon.
And indeed it used to be like that. I remember the time when there were not so many tourists in Lisbon and it was still wonderful to go in this Tram, driving through all the different areas and feeling the energy of the locals. You could sit and watch the people stand up from their seats when old people came in the tram or for people with children etc. You were watching out of the windows enjoying the beautiful city but this all changed when it was marked as one of the secrets of Lisbon in the tourist guides. What books can do!
Nowadays it it’s like a fair attraction in the winter and otherwise it becomes even an attraction park star rated movement. Humans can be funny. In the summer, when it can be 35 degrees, they are waiting an hour in the sun for this secret of Lisbon. When the tram is coming, there seems to be an invisible shoehorn and the people are standing like sardines in a can, for more than an hour, to drive through the different areas of the city without seeing much. It must be a good exercise losing weight with lots of sweating and without moving yourself. The funny thing is that lots of them come out of the tram at the endpoint saying, it was such a wonderful ride, and after it they will visit the indeed fairy tale like cemetery Prazeres in the district Campo Ourique. Having some fun there as well I guess.
I heard from a friend who is taking care of Airbnb houses that there was a couple with a boy who was 5 years and fell in love with tram 28. The result was that they had to take every day this tram and when they went home they had to buy a miniature tram 28 for him. Yes tourism is good for Portugal; it’s almost the only thing where they make money with nowadays. The other side is, of course, always there as well. The tourists don’t stand up for the old people; and the locals cannot take this tram in the periods with warm weather.
Oh yeah, I read at some sites on the internet that this tour would take half an hour, wow. That must have been Super tram 28!
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