Lisbon, Portugal

          This past week was the week of midterm exams. I don’t like calling it that because it makes it sound more rigorous than it actually was. Let’s just say it was our first week of actual academics (sorry dad). Well to reward us for our strenuous week of exams we were given Thursday and Friday off which meant one thing… vacation! Now on this side of the pond vacation usually means traveling to another country so my mates and I decided to give Lisbon, Portugal a visit. I imagine it’s not exactly in the top 10 list of European cities to visit but I think that’s a good thing; less tourists. It made the experience more authentic I guess.

I woke up at 3:45 AM in order to get to the airport for my early bird flight (yikes!) so I arrived in Lisbon around 10:45 Thursday morning. After living in London for almost two months now Lisbon was a welcome change. I walked outside of the airport and was blinded by the bright sun (a rarity in London) and started sweating in the 60 degree weather. Fantastic!! My mates had a later flight so I had a little time to kill before we were to meet at the hostel at 2:00 pm. I immediately went to a café to grab a cup of coffee and some breakfast. I picked one, walked inside, and before I ordered I had to stop and ask the man behind the counter, “English?”. He shook his head no. Well great, I’ll get my first experience with communicating with someone who doesn’t speak English. I Lucked out because one of the other employees spoke English so I didn’t have to go with plan B (which was pointing at what I wanted and grunting like a caveman). As I learned later, school children begin learning English in the 5^th grade so most people speak fluent English (Yay!). Though in a few cafés I did have to point at the coffee machine and say “café” just to get a cup of coffee (impressive Portuguese don't you think?).

When I finally meet up with my mates at the hostel we were blown away. The hostel was amazing! Comfortable beds, very clean, the staff was so friendly and to top it all off…. They make breakfast! If any of you are ever going to travel to Lisbon don’t even think of staying anywhere else. The Lisboa Central Hostel makes the BEST PANCAKES IN THE WORLD! (I didn’t misspell Lisbon, Lisboa is the native spelling). We began wandering around the old part of the city, trying to see as much as possible. We went to the Lisbon Cathedral, Sao Jorge Castle, and a few other places; here are some pics:

Oh and there are some pictures of statues and monuments that looked cool but I have no clue what they're for. Most of the plaques were only in Portuguese!

This is the main street through the old part of the city, called Liberty Avenue. In some spots there are small cafes in the middle with tables and chairs on the sidewalk. They would be fantastic spot for breakfast on a pretty day, too bad on our one pretty day we didn't do that.

The crew: Myself, Adam Bodner (center), and Dan Scofield (right). Behind us is a garden and if you look between Adam and Dan's heads you can see the Tagus river.

The Marble Arch: no clue why its significant, I couldn't read the Portuguese plaque.

One of the many fantastic views from Sao Jorge Castle.

                                     

Lisbon's famous cathedral

At the castle looking over the city

This could be a post card

After we left the castle we stopped at one of the many restaurants on the hillside to watch the sun set.

After our glorious weather Thursday the weather gods were not as kind the rest of the weekend. Rain, rain and more rain. Not even British rain either which is more of a drizzle or a mist. I’m talking about real rain. But that didn’t stop us! (though it made a valiant effort).

Lisbon's monastery

The monument for Portuguese explorers. We thought about it and aside from Cristiano Ronaldo, the explorers are probably Portugal's best claim to fame.

I don't know the name of this building but it's a guard tower at the mouth of the river.

Since we were so close to the ocean we had to get come sea food and let me tell you the eyes were delicious! (Note to the reader: I didn't actually eat the eyes, though they are full of nutrient so maybe I should have)

As I've already said, the hostel's pancakes were some of the best I've ever had (but not as good as the pancakes my mom makes).

 We went to the Oceanario De Lisboa on Saturday so we could get out of the rain. Turns out its the only aquarium in Western Europe with sea otters (no one seemed to be sure why that's the case).

It's hard to tell but I promise that's us. I'm actually NOT the tall guy, Dan is 6'6".

The Oceanario was in a very pretty part of the new part of the city.

This building is the permanent exhibit of the Oceanario. Its suspended over the water in a man-made inlet. It's kinda like an oil platform. 

We didn't eat here but I definitely chuckled at the name.

We stumbled onto the filming of either a Lexus commercial or a movie scene, not sure which.

The three of us love going to markets in London. Turns out we stumbled upon one in Lisbon!

One of the street cafes had a three piece band Saturday night. We stopped and listened for a moment while they played some Spanish guitar style music.

Adam and Dan were a little less impressed by the music than I was. To each his own I guess.

I how you enjoyed reading about my trip as much as I enjoyed living it! (I doubt that because it was so much fun and there's no way I could translate that to you on this blog) But thanks any way for reading yet another post.

Long Live the King