Boa noite from Lisbon! It seems impossible that I fly back to the States in just two days and haven’t posted a single update from here. Guess I’ll have to type fast.
I’m going to be honest, Lisbon and I didn’t exactly get off to a great start when I arrived. My Airbnb is in Lisbon’s oldest district called Alfama, which is just down the hill from Castelo de S. Jorge (or St. George’s Castle). Back in the day, Alfama was built with the intention of making it difficult for enemies to invade the castle so the streets were made very narrow and like a maze. Very old and very confusing.
Fast forward to the present day, not even Google Maps could out-enemy my way through this place. That, pared with the fact I was lugging my really heavy suitcase up really steep cobblestone streets (no weight requirements on the train - what could go wrong??) AND there was construction all around the area, made the whole start to my last leg a total aggravating shitshow. I have no chill when it comes to not knowing my way around (and when I screw myself by not exactly packing light).
I finally made it to my Airbnb, sweaty and pissy. My place is in an old building that was totally built for short people (no offense to short people) complete with small doorways and steep, short stairs. So when you’re almost six feet tall…good times! And once again, my suitcase was the bane of my existence as I was forced to lift it from the bottom up to get it up the stairs. I would have loved to see the video/audio footage of that epic effort.
I eventually got settled into my place (which is at best the size of a dorm room) and calmed down for a hot minute. I went back out to pick up some groceries (and wine!) then went to dinner. The Alfama area is actually really cool, despite my initial aggravation. It has tons of quintessential character, charm, and history.
The next day, my main goal was to get my work operations up and going. It was tough getting back in the swing of things after a super fun week off in Porto with the PortuGALS. I will give Portugal a TON of credit for its telecommunication connectivity. I haven’t had a single issue since I arrived with my wifi or my phone data (I purchased a monthly international plan which has been worth every penny!). My internet was way better in the middle of the ocean in the Azores than it is in Dunedin.
Since I’m still working on Eastern time, I had a few hours to kill before getting back to the grind. I found the cutest coffee shop where I saw many digital nomads working at “computer-only” tables. Yes, there are tables where computers aren’t allowed. I made the mistake of sitting at the said table by accident and was asked to move. WTF. So after the passive-aggressive computer scolding, I learned my non-American lesson and this place has actually become one of my favorite places to work.
I also went out on my “lunch” (really, dinner) break to the Tagus River waterfront and onto Arco da Rua Augusta and Praça do Comércio, two of Lisbon’s most iconic landmarks.
The thing about Lisbon is that it’s a big city (but not too big - 750k people) with LOTS to see. We had plenty of time in Porto to just wander around and see the sights on our own, plus it was a much smaller city. My plan was to take a couple of tours upfront, get a lay of the land and then go back on my own if I wanted to. My first jaunt was a quick two-hour historical tour in a TukTuk that I went on in the morning before work. We visited Lisbon Cathedral (or Sé de Lisboa), Ruins from the 1st Century (fun fact: Lisbon is the 2nd oldest city in the world after Athens), the first ever drainage system created by humans, Santa Luzia viewpoint, Senhora do Monte, and lots of cool street art.
And all this happening only three days in. My first weekend would be even more jam-packed but I was relieved that Lisbon was eventually easing up on me (well, except for my legs from climbing all the hills!) and we’re getting along just fine now. :)
Until part two…
Amor e luz (Love and light),
MW