Week 2 - Lisbon

#meh

Week two of our journey took us to Lisbon, the capital and largest city in Portugal. We arrived via a four-hour bus ride from Lagos, in the south. Originally, we had planned to spend two weeks in Lisbon, but about a month ago we adjusted the plan: one week here, one in Lagos. That turned out to be a smart move—Lisbon just wasn’t for us.

While the city has plenty to offer for some, it didn’t quite match our vibe. Our Airbnb was excellent, and the hosts were incredibly kind and helpful, but even that couldn’t offset the feeling that Lisbon might just be too big, chaotic, and a little rough around the edges for our taste.

There’s no doubt Lisbon is full of history (if you’re curious, here’s a good summary), and it has its bright spots. But to us, it felt crowded, not particularly well-kept, a bit unfriendly at times, and surprisingly hard to get around. We also didn’t pick the best neighborhood (Graca, a work in progress to become hip & trendy), which didn’t help.

The weather was hit-and-miss, with sun and showers trading places all day. It wasn’t terrible (just wait until Porto…), but it didn’t exactly sell us on the city either. In the end, we made the best of it, saw the major sights, and stayed open-minded. But we were excited to move on to Porto—a smaller, more relaxed city that felt more in line with what we’re looking for.

Midway through our second week, we also decided to downsize. We mailed a box of stuff back to the States—a much-needed move that helped Tara drop from three bags to two, and I made some breathing room too. We’re learning what we actually need, and so far, one thing’s clear: every place needs a washing machine.

Lisbon Highlights:

• Tried the famous Bifana sandwich (I liked it—Tara, not a fan)

• Continued our pastel de nata tasting tour—Manteigaria wins in Lisbon

• Sampled Ginjinha, the local cherry liquor

• Took day trips to Cascais and Sintra

• Hit all the major city sights

• Browsed the local markets (always a highlight for us)

• Admired the classic yellow trams—but didn’t actually ride one

What We Learned:

1. Lisbon is very hilly—great for views, rough on your legs

2. Shipping a 10kg box home costs around $160

3. Sending a postcard is simple: the right stamp + a red mailbox = done

4. Walking 7+ miles a day on cobblestones is exhausting

5. Speaking of cobblestones—beautiful, but a nightmare for your feet

6. Sidewalks are often narrow or broken, and if you step into the street, a car, trolley, scooter or bus will likely run you down and not look back.

Onward to Porto (truthfully we have already left Porto but are a bit behind)—smaller, sweeter, and more our style. Stay tuned.