Are you taking part in the WordPress Weekly Photo Challenge? This week’s theme is Curiosity.
My favorite area of Lisbon is not the trendy modern development by the waterfront which houses designer shops and stylish restaurants, but the Alfama quarter with its outstanding views and medieval alleyways.
On our last trip to Lisbon we wandered the steep narrow streets of Alfama for hours; soaking in the atmosphere. I attempted to capture its ambience and charm, but photographs can never quite “capture” the soul of Alfama. It was while we were gaily “snapping” away that we spotted this little house with a leg attached to the front wall and a head displayed in the window. Our curiosity aroused we stopped in our tracks to take stock of our surroundings.
What did these items represent?
Were they symbolic?
Was it a hosiery shop?
What about a hairdresser?
Could it be a bordello?
The mind boggles!
Maybe it’s a hoax and we are on camera ourselves as the occupants gauge people’s bemused reaction!
I am curious, what do you think they symbolise if anything?
Why not take part in the “Weekly Photo Voting” and cast your vote for your favourite photo http://ryanfernandes.wordpress.com/category/weekly-photo-voting/
Piglet in Portugal 
Why not take part in the “Weekly Photo Voting” and cast your vote for your favourite photo http://ryanfernandes.wordpress.com/category/weekly-photo-voting/
LikeLike
great!
greetings by
http://flickrcomments.wordpress.com/2011/02/12/weekly-photo-challenge-curiosity/
LikeLike
Your pictures of Lisbon are just beautiful! So lucky to live in such a historical city! And you have to see “A Christmas Story”! The best Christmas movie ever.
LikeLike
Hi got2havefaith
No, I don’t really live in Lisbon I am a country girl. When I lay my head down at night I want peace….when I want noise I go look for it 🙂 I love to visit Lisbon and wander the streets it’s such a contrast to where we live.
LikeLike
Pip,
Have I told you how much I love your pics. Not sure what’s the true meaning behind that unique window display. But I do know it leaves a lasting impression. I like it! 🙂
LikeLike
Hi Soapbird, I want to go back to Lisbon shortly and see what other “treasures” I can find! 😉
LikeLike
Hey PIP,
The answer to your question is:
They don’t have any building codes! 🙂
Charlie
LikeLike
…they make them up as they go along… 🙂
LikeLike
Hi Piglet
Yes Alfama district in Lisbon is a fascinating place and well worth a visit. It comes to life in late afternoon/early evening when locals emerge . Cellar like taverns and a maze of winding alleys/panoramic views from terraces.
On sort of hol. in Algarve but come every month and coming for 15 years so your blogs are great. Thank you . Yes when it rains it really rains – last nights storm was something else!!
Will send some recipes and stories to your email address.
LikeLike
We are still discovering Lisbon it’s such a contrast to the Algarve. I bet you have noticed some drastic changes here in 15yrs!.
Do you like Fado Did you see Mariza when she was in Lagos?
https://pigletinportugal.wordpress.com/2010/08/24/467/
I look forward to receiving your email!
LikeLike
Hi Knight,
You have to look on the funny side of life especially when you live in Portugal; I try and express this through my blog 8)
If you have a funny story to tell and would like to share it as a post on my blog please send to me by email pigletinportugal (at) gmail (.com)
Sorry it’s written in code 🙂 please just take out the spaces and brackets
Have you been to the Alfama district Lisbon? What are your impressions?
The weather is certainly scary as I write this. The West Coast is on Red
Alert http://www.meteo.pt/pt/ and the winds are gusting to the point where I wonder if we will have a roof left.!!The lightning is interesting to say the least, and the rain is torrential. Have you noticed it doesn’t just rain in Portugal it comes out of the sky by the bucket load!
It’s a shame the weather is so awful for you especially if you are on holiday 😦
All the best
Piglet 🙂
LikeLike
What an unusual and fun photo. It made me chuckle and it is what makes your site fun.
I am glad to have found your site. In Lagos at the moment and the weather is awful so I needed something to cheer me up.
LikeLike
Great photo for “curiosity.” It does raise a lot of questions. Plus is made me smile.
LikeLike
Hi Susan,
The photo challenge is great fun are you going to enter a photo?
LikeLike
Hi Piglet!
Love the flower vase. Do you know if I can get one like that here? Or preferably two? 😉
– Papa Joe
LikeLike
Hi Papa Joe,
I think after this post there maybe a roaring trade on ebay for anyone with an “Entrepreneurial” spirit!
LikeLike
The leg makes me think of the movie, “A Christmas Story” when the father orders a leg lamp. The leg looks just like that but the topper is a lamp shade. It’s all the rage and he places it in his front window with such pride. 🙂
Thanks for sharing this unique photo.
LikeLike
Hi Faithdream,
I have not seen that film…but placing a leg lamp in the window in some countries may send out the wrong message LOL 🙂
LikeLike
Oh my goodness, that is a riot! I love the hanging leg plus you just reminded me of some photos I took in Stockholm… I;ll go look at them to see if I can find something for this week’s photo challenge. 🙂
Excellent!
Eliz
LikeLike
Hi Eliz,
Please add your link to the comments when you post!
LikeLike
I love the photos, the wacky art (or whatever) outside and inside the window. I’m not inclined to speculate about symbolism or meaning here. What a service–just to put a smile on people’s faces. Thanks for this.
LikeLike
Hi Ellen,
I am terrible in that living in a foreign country I always want to know “Why?” in case it’s a cultural thing 🙂
LikeLike
A perfect choice of photo. It has got us all curious as to what the items might mean (if anything) and it gave us all a good laugh in the process!
The head in the window got me when I realized it was there!
LikeLike
Hi Barb19,
The head in the window was the icing on the cake!
Just checked out your “curiosity photo” and it’s great!
http://passionateaboutpets.wordpress.com/2011/02/12/weekly-photo-challenge-curiosity/
LikeLike
Funny you should mention that Roy…I sold the other leg on ebay for Valentines day. It’s my house 8)
LikeLike
Nice vase. Where can I get one?
LikeLike
Maybe the person makes manikins and had nowhere to store the spare parts? Great picture. Marie
LikeLike
Ponderous!
LikeLike
Great photo Pip. Really put a smile on my face – thank you. I’d love to know where the remainder of the ‘body parts’ ended up! 🙂
LikeLike
“Fred West” springs to mind! Just joking 🙂 !!
LikeLike
I absolutely love that picture, I love that someone was that creative, it really does make you wonder 🙂
LikeLike
Hi RNP – I think WordPress should select a few photo entries each week and ask all the budding writers to use their imagination and write a story based on one of the photos
LikeLike
Great picture! I wonder where the rest of the mannequin is? Thanks for the laugh!
LikeLike
Hmmm never thought about the other body parts 🙂
LikeLike
I don´t want to to know the why and the meaning of this, is such a, well is so odd. But, love the older quarter of Lisbon photo, the place is very, of course, like old cities in Brazil.
LikeLike
Odd is a good description!
LikeLike
I think it’s for fun. I see a lot of pieces of mannequins in the bohemian neighborhoods here – I think it’s to be artsy and fun. But who knows! 🙂
LikeLike
Yeah, I think it’s for fun – but when I first saw it wondered if it was a bordello 🙂 and checked around me just in case. LOL
LikeLike
I love that photo Pip. I don’t care what it is, but it’s the sort of thing I’d do, it appeals to my sense of humour. Thanks for sharing.
LikeLike
I think if I lived in an area with tourists outside my house all the time taking photos, I would probably play a similar trick 🙂
LikeLike
Great choice for this weeks photo challenge. I am curious!
LikeLike
I wonder what they did with the other leg?
LikeLike
I suspect they’re there to tickle the funny bone chakras of observant passers-by.
If so, Mission Accomplished. 😀
Thanks, PiP
LikeLike
The moment I saw the photo theme for this week I immediately knew this had to be the one I put forward 🙂
LikeLike
I’m still laughing! And an excellent choice it was. 🙂
LikeLike
Gosh, that’s such a curious & comical display. I enjoyed your thoughts about it, and like you, I wonder what the original meaning or intent behind it is. It’s most amusing and so funny to see. Thanks so much for sharing this photo it gave me a fun giggle this morning. lol 🙂
LikeLike
Hi EC
Not a clue what they were trying to convey but it did make us “curious” and laugh 🙂
Perhaps they should be awarded the WordPress bloggers leg of the year award!
Yeah right – dont pull the other leg it’s got bells on
Boom Boom!
LikeLike
PiP, are you trying to make me get coffee all over me!! hehehehehe 😀
LikeLike
Hi Pip, that photo is priceless. I almost got coffee all over me when I saw the head in the window. 🙂
LikeLike
We were laughing at the leg and suddenly jumped with guilt when we thought someone was watching us. LOL 🙂 This made us laugh more 🙂
LikeLike
Do you think Dahmer lives there?
LikeLike
Not unless he was a transvestite 🙂
LikeLike