Lisbon in a Nutshell

After a few stops and relatively good sleep, I finally arrive in Lisbon. Since I still have time until check-in, I decide to walk the nearly 8 km to the hostel through the city. First, I walk a bit along the banks of the Tagus River, then it's up and down through the streets of Lisbon. Some of them are quite rundown and littered. In the end, I'm pretty sweaty from walking and also from the warm, humid weather. 

I initially walk past the hostel because the entrance is so inconspicuous. Inside, it’s not amazing either, but it’s affordable and okay for two nights.

After checking in, I grab something to eat through ToGoodToGo, trying my first Pasteis de Nata for dessert. It's a Portuguese specialty made of puff pastry with a kind of pudding filling. It's tasty, but not as special as I had imagined. 

Back at the hostel, I sit down to write in my journal on the rooftop terrace (= the best part of the hostel). There, I meet Saqi from Pakistan, with whom I have an interesting conversation about climate change and Islam, among other things.

The next morning, I enjoy a leisurely breakfast on the terrace. Then I take the metro and tram to Belem, a neighborhood a bit outside the city center. There, I visit a tower (Torre de Belem) and a monastery, both only from the outside, because I don’t want to wait in line for too long.

Additionally, I get the traditional Pasteis de Belem. They originate from the monastery in Belem and are, if I understood correctly, the precursor to the Pasteis de Nata.

Afterwards, I head to the city center, where I discover a small exhibition about the Tagus River on my way to the restroom. It flows into the sea at Lisbon, and its estuary provides a habitat for many birds. I’m glad to learn a bit about nature in the city. 😍

From Praca do Comercio, one of the main squares in Lisbon, I join a free tour of the city center. Even though I don’t understand everything perfectly, it’s really interesting and I can take away quite a bit about Lisbon’s history. For example, there was a major earthquake in the 18th century that destroyed much of Lisbon. Most of it was rebuilt in about 30 years. However, some things lacked funds, which is why there’s, for example, a church without a roof.

After that, I go to a viewpoint and wander through the narrow streets of Alfama, one of the oldest neighborhoods. I wonder, given the condition of some houses, how many are actually inhabited. In between, there are always small eateries and houses adorned with tiles. It’s a lovely place to stroll, especially since no cars are allowed here.

In the evening, I go for a drink with Saqi at a bar with live music - a nice way to wind down the day. Overall, I really liked Lisbon, and although I was only there for a day and a half, I saw and learned quite a bit about the city, even if only superficially. For now, that’s enough for me; after all the impressions and the hustle and bustle in the city, I’m looking forward to enjoying beautiful landscapes soon. 😊