Portugal

24 august 2021

Faro left me feeling like Portugal just wasn’t for me, the prices were extraordinarily high due to business’s trying to recover the loses of covid lockdown which I totally get, and due to this we left and headed from one of the most beautiful, popular but also most expensive places to date on this trip, off to Lisboa we go. With no plan and no accommodation, (as usual).

I think being Australian and certainly that I am an ex surf life saver I have very high expectations of beaches. I absolutely believe that in my years of travel that Australia has some of the most beautiful beaches in the world. Clean blue, white sand, great waves and hot sun. So no surprise that Faro didn’t impress. Hopefully Lisboa (Lisbon is the English version and I prefer to call cities/ countries by their original name) will.

We stayed in a run down little hotel on the roundabout opposite the famous Fonte Luminosa which is worth the viewing, a remarkable powerful landmark that you won’t regret seeing, plus it is just a 20 minute or so walk into the hub of Lisboa with is cobbled run down alley ways, majestic palaces and the well known yellow trams running past the Rua Augusta Arch.

We saw the Luis Bridge which gives you a view of the grandeur this country has, and shopped at the most stunning sardine shop where you get a can of local sardines ) a local delicacy) with the year of your birth on it.

The first port of call though was to eat a Portuguese tart of course, with a coffee in the main alley leading down to the harbour, I could explain how incredible this tart was I would but words cannot fully say the spender and moment of pure bliss as I bit into this world of sweetness and cream.

After wandering and exploring the streets for the night, meeting locals I decided we might stay another few day, it was proving rather lovely. I jumped on my Couchsurfer app and promptly found a local Italian guy who was happy to let us stay in his cute one bedroom place in the centre of Lisboa, he even too the lounge and we took his bed. We went out for dinner that night and he gave us the rundown as only a local can.

The next day we headed off to Sintra to see Pena Palace which in my view is a mandatory experience, the history, the vibrant colours and the gardens all worth the bus trip ip, but just do yourself a favour and get the tub tuk, its about the same price, you get a running commentary from a local and you support small business.

On the train up to the palace we met a very handsome young gentleman called Joao and he invited us to his beach bar – Azenhasdomar. Its a traditional beach bar on coast near Sintra with amazing vibes, views, cocktails and music it has a vibe I mean wow, if you head that way, make it a definite that you go to this place.

Tell him Cathy sent you.