Santos Populares!

One more year!

Every year in Lisbon we have the "Festas dos Santos Populares" or roughly translated - Popular Saints Festivities, in June.

Older neighbourhoods organize their own street caravan, with dancers, cars and music to compete for the first place, a bit like the Brazilian Carnaval.

The main avenue is closed to hold the parade, and the caravans march down the road one by one, and then the jury votes for the winner.

Afterwards the party continues on each neighbourhood(until 4~6 a.m.), where the streets are closed for traffic and most restaurants, snack-bars, coffee shops, associations, even households become street shops for grilled sardines, steaks, chorizos, beer, sangria, etc. with loud popular music and a good mood.

Some places become so crowded you can hardly walk, and the noise will make phone-calls impractical so keep an eye for your friends! and texting may be helpful, check your phone regularly.

Average Price:

Sangria/Beer(20 cl.) - 1~1.5 Euros

Sardine - 1~2 Euros

Pros:

- Party everywhere

- Good excuse to round up your friends

- Sardines!!!

- Popular Portuguese music(for those who like)

Cons:

- Too much people everywhere

- Where are the toilets??? I need to pee! (specially for you girls)

- Popular Portuguese music(for those who hate)

- Transport - no Buses, no taxis, no parking...

Hope this is helpful to anyone curious, have fun!