Every place I visit, changes me in a small way – forever. Some places have a bigger impact on me than others and definitely Lisbon is one of them. Tropical weather, coastal vibes, remiiniscent of old Goa and the Portuguese quarters of Pondicherry in India, Lisbon feels new and old all at once.
Things we loved most about Lisbon
I loved the salty sea breeze and warm coastal air. And I can never forget the abundance of citrus trees everywhere, all laden with juicy ripe fruit, just begging to be plucked and savoured right then and there, oh how hard it was to resist!
The abundance of fresh seafood! I am a coastal girl at heart and though I grew up in the island city of Mumbai, my heart belongs to the western coast of India in Konkan. Suffice to say, we ate seafood night and day and didn’t tire of it one bit.
Fairytale Castles, Pastel de Nata’s, a Dreamy Coastline, Azulejos, Tram rides and an absolute abundance of citrus trees everywhere!
Affordable food and drink an abundance of cafes and small eateries. You cannot go wrong with the smaller eateries especially the ones that sit close to each other in the tiny lanes that line the beaches. So much like Goa used to be! The catch of the day, a huge pile of freshly cooked rice – what more could you ask for?
Tram rides, Pastel de nata’s and Dreamy Castles – Portugal has all this to offer and more!
This trip too, like all the other places hubby and I have travelled to, together, we did our thing and just boarded a random bus and went right up to the last stop. The driver looked perplexed as he dropped us off at a very remote residential stop, at the end of a quiet street. That it was almost getting dark didn’t help my anxiety but being a tourist and taking this crazy bus ride gave us just that little buzz. As we sat waiting for the next bus back into the main city, a group of local teens stared at us with curiosity, as we looked so obviously out of place. Luckily the same bus driver from before returned from what seemed like a tiny depot no far away and I secretly sighed with relief, escaping an imaginary unsafe situation, possibly but relishing the thrill from doing something utterly silly! I can never forget the looks we got from the locals who boarded the bus from the next stop until we got to the first toursit destination on the route – some totally shocked, many indifferent but some definitely disgusted, wondering am sure that we were just another stupid tourist couple who have lost our way and were fumbling our way back into the city… Cheap Thrills, well, why not, and that too for the price of cheap return bus tickets, heck I would do it all over again!
For more tips check out the official Tourist websites for Lisbon and Portugal.
If it isn’t yet obvious then I just have to come out and say this out aloud … I LOVE travelling. I dream of exploring the food and old crumbling buildings, of meeting locals and speaking a few words in the local language with some. I dream of bustling bazaar’s and alluring spice souks. I wish I could walk along the mosts tunning beaches and enjoy the fresh catch of the day with a fabulous local wine while watching the waves crash on golden sandy beaches. I yearn for the feeling of waking up to glorious sunsets in a pictureque location and of going to bed with the image of a stunning sunset forever imprinted on my mind’s eye.
I have only just started and I have so many more places to discover. But of the few places I have been to, I love sharing my experiences here with all of you. So if you are looking for any inspiration or just want to indulge in some arm chair travel, then dive right in!
- Steigenberger Airport Hotel, Schipol, Amsterdam – a review
- Wine and Cheese tasting in Amsterdam with Reypenaer
- Top 5 fun things to do in Amsterdam
- Springtime at Keukenhof – The Garden of Europe
- Best local wine bar in Venice
- Hotel Al Ponte Mocenigo, Venice – a Review
- How to plan a short break to Prague and Vienna
- Fantastic Finland, Top 10 things to do in Akaslompolo, Lapland
- Stay in a private log cabin in Finnish Lapland at an Eco-friendly backpacker’s hostel called the 7 Fells
- Helsinki Plus Apartment Kallio in Finland – Overnight stay review
- Washington D.C AirBnB Stay
- Exploring the food scene in East Village, New York
- Mohammed Ali Road, Mumbai’s Fabulous street food market, Ramzan (Ramadan) special
- Eco- camping at Panchgani in Maharashtra, Western India
LOOKING FOR TRAVEL INSPIRATION WITHIN THE U.K? HAVE A LOOK AT MY OTHER POSTS:
- England’s largest Vineyard – Denbie’s Wine Estate, Dorking, Surrey
- Exploring Guilford town and River Wey Valley, Surrey Hills, England
- Top 5 places near London for the perfect day out with family
- Weekend Getaway, Southampton, England
- Five Bells Inn, Aylesbury, Weston Turville, England
- A week in North Wales – Holyhead and Treaddur Bay
- A week in North Wales – Southstack Lighthouse and Cemaes Bay
- Boutique Apartment Hotel – The Halycon in Bath Spa, U.K
Meanwhile, why not read some of my other travel adventures including my experience of a local London walking tour?
- Borough Market, London’s iconic market steeped in history
- Portobello Market, Notting Hill, London – an insider’s guide
- Neighbourhood guide to Angel, Islington, London
- An insider’s guide to London Bridge and surrounding area in Central London
- Exploring SOHO on a gastronomic adventure with Scratch, London
* I planned this entire trip on my own and have paid in full everywhere I have stayed at and eaten at, also for all tourist attractions. As always all opinions expressed are as always my own.
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