On the 10th October 2024 Iona sailed into Lisbon for the first day of our two day visit.
I had taken my phone off aeroplane mode as soon as I had seen Iona was at the mouth of the river. Then two days worth of emails cascaded down along with a text messages about my planned street art tour. One message was an update that the walking tour had had to be cancelled for family reasons by the guide. The other messages offered alternative dates. But unfortunately we would’ve already have left Lisbon by then. After a text interchange later and I asked for a refund as I was not certain how to do this on the GetYourGuide app or even their website.
Later in the morning I received an email from GetYourGuide saying I had made a cancellation request. The guide in Lisbon had neglected to inform them that it was their issue that it caused the cancellation. I emailed a brief update as to why the tour was cancelled. Then later the next email promised to refund sometime in the next two or three days. Sadly this meant that my plans for a three hour walking tour of street heart in Lisbon on the next day was now truly cancelled.
Here’s a link to my dedicated Street Art feed on Instagram.
Getting our ride.
Rather than take the shuttle bus we turned and walked towards the centre. At the end of the pedestrian street and we started looking for a tuk-tuk. We stopped at the first real at tuk-tuk (not an electric copy) and asked the driver if he could take us on a tour of street art. He rang a colleague who he told us was knowledgeable about the art. We all walked down the street to the talk to his friend. The fare was €80 for one hour or €120 for two. The first driver handed is over and we could just thank him for passing this over to his friend.
The start of our tuk-tuk art tour of Lisbon
Our driver promised to take us to his favourites plus to art inside a restaurant.
We raced along the side of the Tagus…
Our first stop was at a fox created by Bordalo II (whose real name is Artur Borcdalo,) The fox is part of a series called “Big Trash Animals”. The artist is highlighting the issues of pollution and overconsumption by creating his art by using discarded materials.
Under the 25th April Bridge – the LX Factory
Under the bridge the tuk-tuk navigated a network of streets until we came to a gate and we entered the LX Factory. This was a new part of Lisbon for us.
Trash Bee another creation by Bordalo II which was part of his series “Big Trash Animals”.
At the end of one of streets inside we turned back through the buildings back towards our tuk-tuk.
A simple map of the factory and its bars, shops and restaurants.
Then we re-joined the tuk-tuk and set off again…
Past the Belém Tower
We turned away from the city and headed towards the tower passing the celebration of Vasco de Garma. Then we were at another sculpture by Bordalo II which was part of his series “Big Trash Animals”, this was was Big Raccoon.
Back towards the City
Travelling this fast in a tuk-tuk was to say the least exhilarating…
Art by Vhils
The Chez Honorato restaurant was now open and we went inside to see the wall art created by Vils.
Past statues on the steps.
The next step was a large piece of art by Vils in Largo das Olarias.
“Saudade” painted by artist Mário Belém
We stopped and I walked along a wall covered in art.
This art is a collaboration between Vhils and American artist Shepard Fairey (Obey).
“Peace Guard,” a mural created in 2017 by American artist Shepard Fairey.
“Era Uma Vez” or “Once Upon A Time” by Isa DaSilva
“Tropical Fado in RGB tones” by the artist OzeArv.
Another piece by Vils of one of the unknown heroes that inspire his work
We were now at one of the viewing points overlooking Lisbon.
Tuk-tuk and driver.
Commissioned by Riot Games to be featured in the Valorant video game map named “Pearl by Rua do Vale de Santo António.
Poseidon, painted by the Spanish artistic duo PichiAvo.
We left our driver after over two and a half hours of racing around Lisbon checking out the street art – definitely more than compensated for the cancelled walk. We walked back to the ship stopping for a rest and a drink at one of the hotels on the way.