Portugal (1) - Lisbon | Where the Restless Go for a Rest
As I grew up in a Mediterranean climate/culture, I always find myself at home in other Mediterranean countries. Having said that, for some reason, Portugal has never made it to my list of places to see. I have never felt too keen to see Lisbon, which has become very popular recently. I guess the main (subconscious) reason was my doubt on what new discoveries I would make in Portugal which would be different to Spain.
Oh, how little I knew and how wrong I was!
After seeing an Instagram post from a friend on her surf experience in Ericeira, I made up my mind. I was going to Portugal. I will post a separate post on my surf journey in Ericeira. But now it is all about my first stop: Lisbon.
My trip to Portugal started following a very long and (both physically and emotionally) exhausting period at work. After arriving late at night, I spent the first night and the first day in Lisbon, working remotely from various cafes that Lisbon offers.
My Airbnb was at the historic and commercial heart of the city, which is known as Baixa.
This vibrant shopping/bar destination and tourist attraction is walking distance away from the port. I am a happy person as long as the sea/ocean/river is easily accessible and as long as I can get a glance of blue water from the hills or in-between houses. In that sense I was based in a perfect spot.
On the first day, I wandered around to find a breakfast spot. Dismissing all the recommendations my friends offered ahead of my trip, I have asked Google - best breakfast places near me. And the rest of the day followed a similar pattern - Google and I started strolling around the city, checking out places spontaneously.
My Google-recommended breakfast spot (shown as the third picture on the first row and first picture on the second row above), Fábrica Lisboa was beyond my expectations. With a modern cafe menu and old school decorations it reconnects present and the past in one place. Staff was extremely polite and helpful. One thing to bear in mind is that this (seemingly) obscure neighbourhood cafe gets very popular very quickly. As I was looking for a place to work from during the day, it dawned on me very quickly that I was not at the right spot - people were queueing up to get a table and leaving as soon as they finished their food. So I started cafe-hopping around the city centre to find a better place to work from.
My second best find was Pois Café, located in Alfama. Vibrant colours, relaxed atmosphere, great food for every meal occasion… I spent the second half of my day there, had my work calls (with a beer -or two) and had an amazing salad for lunch.
Once all the work was done, I was in a perfect location to get back on the road again and immerse myself with architectural texture, colour, the blend of old and new, great wine and great food.
I spent the entire day getting lost and discovering new and equally amazing parts of the city. I guess, Lisbon is one of the most open cities I have seen. You don’t have to plan anything, the city offers its beauties to you unconditionally.
The other discovery I made was that the city was secretly conquered by birds. Lisbon birds know where the best spots are, deploy themselves among humans with no shame and potentially plot against the rest of the world. I wonder if this would lead to a modern interpretation of Hitchcock’s The Birds one day. But that’s an idea for Netflix.
One week later I made a second visit to Lisbon and spent another day and night there. While I still had no plans and was just following my “get-lost-and-discover” strategy, I was more focused on the street art. Lisbon is just full of amazing artwork, hidden messages, jokes, beautiful drawings. If you are a fan of street art, you certainly won’t be disappointed here.
If you are going to Lisbon for the first time, here is a brief description of some key area:
Bairro Alto/Chiado: This area is know for its nightlife and shops. Bairro Alto has plethora of restaurants and bars, which makes it perfect for people to take their drinks outside and enjoy warm summer nights!
Belem: This is a major neighbourhood with plenty of monuments dedicated to the Discoveries period. Definitely one of the most beautiful areas in Lisbon – Mosteiro dos Jeronimos and Padrao dos Descobrimentos are must-see places!
Baixa and the Castle: This is where the major hotels, major brands shops and theatres are. It’s beautiful to just walk along the street and check the architecture and experience the vibe of the city.
Parque das Nacoes: The neighbourhood is located in the eastern part of the city and was revamped during the 1998 World Expo. It is worthwhile to visit for its nice buildings and gardens.
Alfama: This typical Portuguese neighbourhood has been my absolute favourite. Steep hills, narrow streets, old houses, boutique shops and fado houses at every corner… Oh, lots of street art.
What else to do while in Lisbon?
Go to a fado house
Try Vinho Verde
Go to the top of Elevador de Santa Justa and enjoy the view
Go to the Pasteis de Belem to buy the best pastel de natas in town
Check out LX Factory for cool and exciting art studios, bars and restaurant and live music
