“Where the hills rise and the tracks curve, Lisbon carries you gently through time.” – Ed Lehming 2026

OK, so I decided to go back to the start of last year’s Spain/Portugal trip and walk through the photos in a somewhat clean timeline. It will be my way of sharing photos and memories and creating a bit of a travel journal for myself—something I had not really considered before. So, here we go.

The first photo I chose, taken the day after arriving in Lisbon, is the iconic tram photo. It’s not as simple as it seems to get a photo like this because, by mid-morning, the streets are filled with people. Nobody is in any real hurry, but it’s hard to get an image without someone walking through the frame or standing awkwardly. I waited several minutes to capture the tram driving up the curving hill, hoping that nobody would arrive to interfere with the shot, and yet, unnoticed to me, there is still a woman coming down the hill behind the tram.

I liked this location, with its curved road rising between the buildings and a bit less foot traffic, though immediately to my right is a busy shopping district. I remember the moment well and constantly thank my wife for her patience as I stand around waiting for the right moment.

In the end, the shot turned out nicely and has become another fond memory of our stay in Lisbon, starting me on a broader journey through this lovely city.

iPhone 14 Pro Max
Main Camera — 48 mm
1/2070 sec, ƒ/1.78 ISO 64