Santa Iria Coffee Shop in Tomar
I remember that when I arrived in Portugal coming from Angola in 1975, I immediately became a regular patron of Santa Iria Coffee Shop (Café Santa Iria) in Tomar, which is located at Rua Marquês de Pombal. I was 21 years old, and at the time it was the place to be for young people. It was there that I met all my new friends, who were introduced to me by Luiz Filipe Lopes Diz, who I used to muck around with in the 60’s when I lived in Tomar for a couple of years. It was also here that I first saw the lady who I later got married with and who is still my wife. I have great memories of Santa Iria Coffee Shop and of course I went there a few times in 2010 to enjoy the traditional bica (Portuguese expresso coffee).
This is the street Rua Marquês de Pombal in Tomar, Portugal, and on the right is Santa Iria Coffee Shop, one of the oldest and more interesting coffee shops in town
Another view of Café Santa Iria in the City of Tomar with lots of people outside. This was the first coffee shop that I became a regular customer
When I shot this photo of Santa Iria Coffee Shop I was sitting on a bench nearby. Behind me was the Chapel of Santa Iria. That's why this Café is named Santa Iria