Lisbon & Sintra, Portugal

Tuesday, October 23 - Thursday, October 25, 2012

Photo credit: Alex Freedman

After a quick intermission in Riva, less than 24 hours from returning from Dublin, on October 22 we went up in the air and flew across Italy and Spain to arrive in Lisbon, Portugal. We chose yet another famous hostel and quickly discerned upon our arrival at the Oasis Backpacker's Hostel, that is would be the most famous hostel yet. As we all filed into the tiny reception room, the guy working the front desk exclaimed, "Finally! We've been waiting for you!"  Apparently the large group of Americans was highly anticipated in what had been an ongoing dull season for the hostel workers. After being introduced to the family of workers, with the chef, bartender, tour guide/nightlife connoisseur, we were welcomed in a celebratory drink. Arriving well after sightseeing hours but far before the downtown clubs heated up, we settled into our beachy bunk room and took some time to lay on the roof accessible from our balcony. The view was incredible, we were able to see the beach, bridge, boats and Cristo Rei statue.

Cristo Rei statue; photo credit: Alex Freedman

Surfin the crowd

Unpressing the pause button, we hit play and headed to the first bar on a mandatory pub crawl with some of the hostel workers. Soon enough, I had befriended the Sangria-pouring bartender and found out he was able to do more than just make Sangria. After asking him where I could find some food since I never had dinner, he replied, "Here! I'll make it for you" and stove-cooked what tasted like bake potato soup and made a salad. This act and the hospitality of the hostel workers were just the preview of just how nice people from Lisbon would treat us in the two days we spent there. Other memorable events of the night included the bartender at the second bar giving Kacey and I our first Absinthe shot, and happy locals lifting Allyson and I into the air at the club for ride on top of the crowd.

The next morning, we got up early, as always, and happily set out on a free walking tour with Luis, our friend who worked at the hostel and joined us in the preceding night's festivities. Walking the streets in daylight, we were able to fully admire the houses covered in colorful tile with ornate designs. I was able to take home a memory of these tiles by noticing a pretty one broken in a dumpster full of bricks. Pinterest project for when I get home: further break the tile and use it to make a piece of furniture. 

At the old palace steps

My favorite part of the tour was surprisingly not one of the two amazing views we saw of the city; instead, I loved standing at the steps from the port leading to the Praça do Comércio, which used to serve as the entryway to the palace. At the central point of this plaza was the Ribeira Palace. This palace was brought to the ground in 1755 by a tsunami and an earthquake that crumbled 85% of the city. The ever-unpredictable and changing weather of Lisbon reminded us of Blacksburg. Fortunately, we were able to outlast the rain whenever we needed to walk somewhere and the rain stayed with us for the important parts of the day.

Wednesday night, the hostel chef made us one of my favorite meals of the trip. The three courses included toast with hummus-amazing sauce that I don't know the name of-olives spread on toast, beef, carrot, potato stew, and chocolate salami with warm melted chocolate spread on top. Later that night, we lived like Lisbon locals again. Following a game of what was supposed to be US versus Portugal flip cup, we went to a club on the beach. The dancing was so much fun and served as one of the most memorable nights of the trip as we listened to familiar music and I battled a local in a dance off.

Thanks to the recommendation of Luis, on Thursday, we went to the town of Sintra outside of Lisbon. Once again, the little trip outside of the big city was a great decision. Ali, Holland, Sam, Cody and I walked all the way up a long, winding, and beautiful road to the Moorish castle and then the we saw the Pena National Palace and Castelo del Muros. The views from the Moorish Castle in the drizzly rain were breathtaking and included a strong rainbow. We followed one UNESCO World Heritage site with another and toured the incredible Pena National Palace and Castelo del Muros. Unable to take pictures, we instead focused on the beauty of the rooms and intricate decorations. As intended, the monastery-turned-castle was truly built for a queen.

Pena National Palace and Castelo del Muros

Moorish Castle