The Real Lisbon

November 6, 2024 • Lisbon, Portugal

Continuing the Lisbon Story

I kinda lost track of the days, so I won’t be doing a daily log. Just gonna talk about what I remember instead. My last post finished up with some cool exploration of the city with the new group I had formed. I was just beginning to feel a little off at that point, so I made sure to take it easy that night and just try to go to sleep early. The next day I woke up with a sore throat. I thought it might be a little bit of a hangover, so I just shrugged it off and went on the walking tour hosted by the hostel! This walking tour is amazing. Our guide, Ze (short for Jose), took us through the Alfama area telling us about the history of Lisbon while also showing some of the beautiful sights to see.

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History

I learned a bunch including how the city is super old dating back to around 1200 BC. Also, there was a massive earthquake that killed thousands of people back in 1755 which caused quite a lot of issues for the city. I also learned about a traditional liquor made in Lisbon called ginja (formerly ginjinha). This is a cherry liquor traditionally served in a little shot glass made of chocolate. Our walking tour stopped at this little old lady selling ginja and we all tried it. I’d say it kind of tastes like cough syrup, but the chocolate definitely made up for it complimenting the taste perfectly. Here’s a pic of the lady who sold it to us:

ginja

Further along the tour, we started noticing portraits of old women on the walls of the buildings. Ze explained that these are an artistic project started not too long ago that was created to honor the working women of Lisbon. We went on to explain that many of the portraits are of the clothing washers that used to essentially do the laundry for everyone in the city. Very interesting stories and such a great project to see there:

ladies

Pasteis de Nata

We also stopped at a restaurant serving Pasteis de Nata and Coffee! These pastries are like a custard-filled baked desert that is both filling and delicious. We were advised to sprinkle some cinnamon on top and eat it alongside an espresso shot. Just a massive burst of flavor and a must have for anyone going to Lisbon.

eating_pasteis

Evening views

Post walking tour included a little nap followed by a group gathering at the top of the hill in Alfama! My new friends and I ordered some drinks at this beautiful spot called Secret Garden LX. This spot was at the top of the hill in Alfama and had an amazing view to look at:

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Quite something to look at. This was the last time our little group was together. Sad to see everyone leave, but it was time for them to go.

The Gulbenkian

I spent the next day at the Gulbenkian Museum. Some amazing art to be seen there (sorry no pics, you’ll have to see for yourself). It was a much needed relaxation day and it was raining which made it much easier to just chill out and enjoy the art.

Fado

The last night in Lisbon was amazing! I met some new people at Mama’s dinner (mentioned in previous post) and we went to find a Fado house. This is an essential experience when you go to Lisbon. Fado is a type of music that is meant to create a feeling of melancholy in its listeners. Listening to it was one of the most beautiful experiences in my life. I’ll post a video here, but it doesn’t come close to doing it justice.

Lessons Learned

As I look back on my time in Lisbon, I’d like to list some of the lessons I’ve learned.

Going forward

Next stop: Madrid!