Coimbra - University City

Coimbra was a pretty quiet and laid back university town with a great vibe. Jez and I walked around the old town a few times and discovered a local restaurant that cooked the perfect grilled sardines and bbq chicken. We loved it so much we went back again the following night. The following day we were advised by the local tourist office that a fado concert would be held in the old town as a part of the cultural festival so we spent our last night soaking up the soulful ballads of fado.

Unfortunately, as I'm a member of Generation Y I was bored after five minutes (it didn't help that the Fado started an hour later than scheduled), so we headed back to our hostel which was caught in some type of hippy timewarp - the workers were too busy sleeping in beanbags, drinking with friends or meditating to serve guests. Thankfully, we left the following day - heading to the big smoke Lisbon.

On the streets of the old town

"Where did that beer go?"

View from hostel window

Sardine special

Traditional dress (these guys came down from the mountians just for the fado!)

Fado in action