When the door opened, a group of rushing people passed by the employee without replying to his “good morning.”
They were on a mission. A “selfie” mission (sticks included). They aimed for the stairs (that allegedly inspired J.K. Rowling for Harry Potter, something the author denies) and the upstairs floor. They saw nothing.
The rest of us were behind, browsing some books (it is a bookstore after all), admiring the stained glass skylight at the top. After this, everything is a blur in my mind. I noticed the peeling red paint on the steps, and I failed to see the carved busts of Portuguese writers on top of the pillars. I took photos, and I fled.
Note: Since July 2015, there is an admission fee of €3.00 per person