Heather and I are back it! And this time we’re set to explore Lisbon! 🤗
The timing of this trip was a bit different, and we were slotted to arrive around 11am. We had a nice bit of a delay on deplaning, so we got to the hotel around noon or just after. And of course, we had to take a few minutes to refresh and shower, so we didn’t leave the hotel until 1:30. With less time than Amsterdam, we would have to hustle to see all the things. Good thing Heather is a super planner! 🤗😁
One of the first most striking things we saw were the vibrant purple Jacaranda trees! I just love these! I’ve seen the spring blooms while living in LA, but Lisbon was chock full of them on every street, and they were all in their purple glory! Hehe. Love at first sight 😍🤩🤗.
I just love these trees! 😍🤩💜
Our first order of business was to enjoy a relaxing and informative hop on hop off bus. We rationalized it would be a nice change of pace to enjoy some of the views and orient ourselves while relaxing and not adding insane miles to our daily total, as we did in Amsterdam. 😅🤣
We ultimately decided the hop on hop off wasn’t worth the money. We paid about 22 euro each, and we only rode it twice. So it was just over $10/ride when the uber/bolts we took were around $3-$4/each, hehe. But, we expected to listen to a little history and get the lay of the land. Well, we neglected to bring headphones, and we didn’t notice any available on the bus, so we weren’t really sure what we were near, besides my limited memory of the city layout, hehe. Lesson learned here! Haha. Never take the lazy route 😅🤣.
We finally decide to get off at the top of a big hill, where the National Palace is. We figured we could walk downhill towards the Monastery and then the Belem Tower. We stroll around the Palace, which has a couple of different museums, and neither of us is super interested in being indoors, but we do go into one to use their bathroom. We’re learning, Dana! Haha 😄
Turns out, the National Palace is beautiful! Our interest is peaked in a tour, but we choose to enjoy what architecture we can see on the way to the bathroom and to continue our city tour outside.
With that, we were off on our downhill walk towards the Monastery. We didn’t make it far before Heather realizes the sandals, she’s wearing are not well suited for the hilly terrain that is Lisbon. 😅 She did her due diligence and tested them at home, but not to the lengths that would become the norm in this Portuguese city. So, we find a pharmacy just a block or two ahead, and we go in looking for some band-aids.
Loved this hidden view! 🤩
The pharmacy employee was extremely helpful and assisted Heather in picking out the perfect pack that wouldn’t cost her an arm and a leg. Heather ended up with a small box of Compeed bandaids….my absolute favorite! They’re designed to heal blisters and cushion them during the process. They are waterproof and will stay on for days while they work their healing magic. They’ve become a staple for me when I know I’ll be doing some serious hiking or running. 😁🥰
We were given a small exam room to mend the injured patient, and with the new blister Band-Aids securely attached, we were off once more on our tour around Lisbon. 🤗
We happily and lazily stroll down the quaint streets in search of the imposing monastery. We pass by a botanical garden, one of many we’d stumble upon. As we round the corner, we get our first glimpses of the monastery. We hurry across the street and make it to the front where we are delighted by its majesty. We both agreed it would be amazing to check out the interior, but 1) we wanted to stay outside in the perfect 75-degree weather, and 2) the line was insanely long. So, perhaps next time we’ll venture to do the inside activities. 😊
So much detail! 🤗
We walk through a little park towards the main road, where, just in front of it, stands a large monument: The Discovery Monument, which celebrates the age of discovery in Portugal, when ships would leave a nearby port to explore the West Indies and the East. It was quite impressive and worth a visit. 🙂
The Discovery Monument and the 25 de Abril bridge. 🤩
We also got incredible views of a bridge very similar to the Golden Gate Bridge. We followed a path along the water towards the Belem Tower, an iconic and picturesque fortification dating to the 16th century. The sun was starting to hang lower in the sky, and the golden light was beginning to hit this beautiful tower as we walked the perimeter :). We did a small photoshoot and decided it was time for food.
Belem Tower! 🤩😍
We look for the hop on hop off pickup spot, and we see a bus that looks like it could be ours pulling up. Let’s gooooo! We scurry over, and when we confirm it’s the bus we want, we turn it up a notch and break out into a run, only to be nearly thwarted by a metal railing….but nothing will stop us from getting our nourishment, so we both gingerly but expertly launch over the railings and flag down the bus driver as she closes the door and is about to drive away. We made it! A bit ruffled, but we made it! Haha 🤪
We decided to get off the bus near the popular Time Out Market, but due to the route of the bus, we had to go past the market and get out at a lovely Cathedral. It’s so fun to see the spontaneous little things you come across while traveling. Even with a set plan, it doesn’t always go perfectly, and I’d say more often than not, there are interruptions or distractions, hehe. Anyways, we call for an Uber since Heather is nursing her blistered toes, and we just want to get there and put food in our bellies ASAP.
Surprise stop on our city tour 😍.
First up on our food tour/tapas snack at the market was the infamous pastel de nata; a delicious egg custard that is difficult to pass up. Next up was a traditional sour cherry liquor served in a chocolate shot glass! Tasty, but also a fun way to do a shot, hehe. 🤗 Heather tried a regular chocolate and a white chocolate shot glass. Get it! Haha. I’m a purist and don’t consider white chocolate chocolate, so I went with the OG stuff 🤪. We sat for a minute, enjoying some short-lived but much needed downtime. We soon stumbled upon a stall selling bacalao; a fried Salty Cod pastry. When I say salty….I mean Salty, lol. Not my favorite, but it’s worth trying 😊. Next up: Croquettes! Fried balls of delicious goodness, hehe. I got a traditional one with meat, and one with goat cheese and caramelized onions. Both were soooo amazing, I wanted more! Hehe. But we were filling up, and we still wanted to have a sit-down dinner later. So onwards we went! 🙂
Check out this beauty trying the pastel de nata! 😍😁
We make our way back to what I call the central area, where all the restaurants and pedestrian streets are. I take Heather past the “pink street” because it’s just too cute not to see. 🤗 The road is painted pink, and there are tons of umbrellas up above, and the street is lined with little bars and cafes.
How cute! 😁🤗
We continue towards Commerce Square, another iconic site in Lisbon. Set right along the water, it is a huge square lined with beautiful colonial buildings. They must’ve been setting up for an event or graduation of some sort, as they were setting up big lighting rigs and a stage, so some of the charm was obstructed, but it was beautiful anyways.:)
I just love the old architecture! 😁
We cross the busy street that separates Commerce Square from the water and slip and slide our way down the wet and slimy stone blocks that make up a little pier. We were rewarded with a beautiful view of the 25 de Abril bridge and a nearly setting sun.
What a view! 😍🤩
I’m always trying to get my feet in the water, so I decide I must head over to the small beach area, kick off my sandals, and enjoy the feeling of the cool lapping waves around my ankles. It was so refreshing! And I always get such a calming sensation when near or in the water. I feel grounded and at peace, and 100% in the moment. Ahhhh :). I spent a few minutes here in my glory and decided to hunt for some sea glass, a favorite beach activity of mine :). I was very successful and found all different colors! Hooray! 😁
I love this life! 🤗🥰
As we were leaving the beach area, we saw some crazy sand sculptures, so that was quite a fun surprise, hehe. Next we were headed to the Elevador de Santa Justa, an old elevator built in the 1800s to bring people up to the higher level of streets (45m), without needing to walk the whole way. It’s a beautiful sight and is extremely intricately designed. We take our pictures and take it in before heading to Rossio Square. The square is large and wide open with a beautiful design in the small tiles adorning the center.
Sooo cool! 🤗
At this point, we’re starting to slow down significantly, hehe, and begin to look for a place to eat. But, that’s when I see on the map that the infamous tram 28 is just a bit further. I convinced Heather to go. Hehe. 😅 On our way over there, Heather’s feet nearly get run over by a huge double-deckerer bus, taking a corner very tightly, lol. Thank God it was a near miss! 😅🤣
We arrive at the tram stop in hopes of catching number 28, just to see it. As we are walking around the corner, it begins to pull away! Noooo! Haha. But hey! That’s when we notice outdoor escalators! 🤣🤔 Wow! How cool is that?! I thought the only place that had those was in Medellin, Colombia! Maybe they were the first to implement that in a city? But here before us was a long stretch of up escalators, headed towards the castle. So, naturally, we have to take a joy ride, haha. It was so fun! We made it to the top, and I was pushing to go to the castle since we were closer now….hehe….I was shot down 😅. We’ll save that for another day…we are getting dangerously close to a hanger situation 🤪.
Going up! Imagine living here and having an escalator bring you to your front door? Hehe 🤩
Back down the stairs we go….they only put in up escalators, none to go down. 🤣 Womp womp. As we step off the last of the endlessly long stairs, we notice a yellow tram at the stop! Could it be?! We walk a bit closer….and…….it IS! It’s THE Tram 28! Haha, awesome! 😄 We snag a few pictures and finally agree that dinner is next….or is it? 🤪
Gotcha! 🤣
We pass a grocery store and decide we must investigate. And boy, oh boy, were we glad we did! We were absolutely stunned to see chilled wine selling for 1 euro! What?!?!?! 🤯 Are we reading the prices wrong? So we talk ourselves down and find the larger wine section, and again, we are seeing most bottles priced under 5 euro! Even a small cardboard adult juice box of wine for 75 cents! Ahhhhh-freaking-mazing! Haha. I had to know for sure, so I pick out the top shelf 5 euro bottle of green wine, a Portugal specialty, and headed to the checkout. It rings up for the price it was listed for…no wayyyy! Haha I’m just simply blown away, and find it hard to believe I could’ve bought a bottle of wine for 1 euro, but am happy to have spent an extra 4 for a “top shelf” wine, lol. Two Buck Chuck, you got another thing coming! 🤪🤣
After our incredulous and amazing find, we actually do start walking towards dinner, lol. After walking what seemed like forever and doing a few laps to read and re-read menus, we eventually pick a place and get a table. We ordered a yummy brie like cheese for an appetizer, and we quickly demolished it, lol. Heather had a nice order of garlic prawns, and I had a paella. Yum! Just what we needed to replenish all the energy spent traipsing around Lisbon. 🥰
And just like that, our second layover adventure is wrapped up! Can’t wait for the next one! 🤗
Cheers to more travels! 😁
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