# Navigating Lisbon's historic tram routes

**Language:** Portuguese  
**CEFR Level:** B1  

> Master Portuguese travel vocabulary by listening to Maria and Diogo's conversation about navigating Lisbon's historic tram routes. It may feel challenging at first, but by the end of this course you will be able to fully understand and participate.

**Setting:** The story is set along the steep, winding tracks of Lisbon's historic tram network, starting near the bustling Martim Moniz square. Maria, visiting from Braga for a healthcare conference, and Diogo, down from Porto to help a friend open a new eatery, cross paths on a crowded Tram 28 and decide to navigate the capital's complex routes together.

## Lessons

### 1. Confirming a public transport destination

Maria asks Diogo if their tram goes to the Castle, and they strike up a conversation about the morning crowd and where she is from.

### 2. Suggesting a shift to informal address

Upon discovering they are both from northern Portugal, Diogo suggests that he and Maria drop formal titles and address each other informally.

### 3. Warning someone about safety risks

Diogo warns Maria about the presence of pickpockets on the tram and advises her to wear her backpack on her front.

### 4. Explaining the purpose of a trip

Maria thanks Diogo for the warning and asks him why he is in Lisbon, prompting him to explain his job as a cook.

### 5. Complaining about hot weather

Maria and Diogo chat about the local food scene before complaining about the intense summer heat and the lack of air conditioning inside the historic tram.

### 6. Describing a bumpy ride

Maria complains about sweating in the narrow streets, while Diogo advises her to hold on tight due to the tram's sudden braking and sharp turns.

### 7. Asking how to reach a destination

Maria asks Diogo how he knows so much about the transit system and asks him for directions on how to get to Belém after lunch.

### 8. Inquiring about travel time

Maria asks Diogo about the duration of her trip and the traffic conditions, before they both share where they are heading next.

### 9. Suggesting alternative travel options

Diogo recommends Tram 24 as a quieter alternative to the crowded Tram 28, and he and Maria discuss how arriving earlier might have helped them avoid the tourist rush.

### 10. Advising someone on transport fares

Diogo shares a tip about getting a seat early in the morning and advises Maria to use a Navegante card to avoid paying expensive onboard fares.

### 11. Asking where to buy transit cards

Maria asks where she can purchase a transit card, and Diogo explains how to buy and top it up at metro station machines to avoid wasting money.

### 12. Comparing the pace of different cities

Maria and Diogo discuss the learning curve of navigating Lisbon's transport system and compare the city's demanding hills to the calmer paces of Braga and Porto.

### 13. Discussing local public transit preferences

Maria and Diogo talk about why locals prefer the metro over trams before Diogo alerts Maria that they have reached her stop near the Castle.

### 14. Expressing gratitude when parting ways

Maria thanks Diogo for his help on the journey, and they exchange warm wishes for their respective plans before saying goodbye.