Lisbon’s a Blur: Rain, Pastel Buildings, and Seriously Strong Coffee
okay, so i’m pretty sure i’m running on fumes and the sheer force of will. i landed in lisbon yesterday, and honestly, it’s… a lot. like, a beautiful, chaotic, slightly damp lot. the air smells like salt and something vaguely floral, maybe jasmine? i just checked and it's...there right now, hope you like that kind of thing. the pressure’s sitting at 1007, which is… unsettling, to be honest. feels like being underwater, but not in a good way.
my phone’s battery is already at 17%, which is a personal record. i’m blaming the wifi - it’s aggressively slow. i need to find a decent cafe, stat. i’m thinking something with a proper espresso machine, not this fancy-pants, oat milk nonsense.
i stumbled across this tiny place near the *Alfama district - ‘Café do Oriente’. someone told me that the bica (espresso) is legendary. it was packed, naturally, with a mix of locals and tourists, all glued to their phones and looking vaguely bewildered. i ordered a galão (coffee with milk) - felt like a sensible choice, considering my state.
Speaking of the Alfama, it’s a maze. seriously, a proper, winding, uphill maze. i got completely lost for like, an hour. i ended up in a courtyard filled with laundry hanging from balconies - bright pinks, blues, yellows. it was… charming, in a slightly overwhelming way. i almost tripped over a stray cat. almost.
i’m trying to capture the vibe with my camera, but honestly, it’s hard. everything’s so saturated. the buildings are these incredible pastel shades - pinks, yellows, blues - it’s like someone spilled a giant box of crayons. it’s visually assaulting, but in a good way? i’m not sure.
i overheard some guys at a bar near Praça do Comércio talking about a hidden fado house. they said it’s only open on Tuesdays and Wednesdays, and you have to know someone to get in. “it’s like a secret,” one of them slurred, “a real Lisbon secret.” i’m adding it to my list.
I’m seriously considering just buying a small apartment here. Or at least a really, really good espresso machine. I’m thinking about checking out the Time Out Market Lisboa - Yelp says it’s a must-do. I heard that the seafood is incredible, but also that the prices are astronomical. Worth it for a plate of grilled octopus, maybe?
My accommodation is…rustic. let’s just say it’s “characterful.” it’s a tiny studio apartment in a building that looks like it’s about to collapse. the landlord, a woman named Maria, gave me a key and a warning: “don’t go near the pigeons.” apparently, they’re territorial. if you get bored, Porto is just a short drive away.
I need to find a decent map. and maybe a charger. and definitely more coffee. I’m seriously contemplating just sitting in this plaza and staring at the Tejo River until my battery dies. It’s a valid strategy, right?
Here’s a quick gear list, because apparently, that’s what bloggers do:
Camera (obviously)
Phone (currently dying)
Portable Charger (currently useless)
Notebook (mostly filled with doodles)
Too many layers of clothing (it’s unpredictable)
* A healthy dose of caffeine dependency
Check out TripAdvisor for some more Lisbon recommendations: https://www.tripadvisor.com/Tourism-g189114-Lisbon_City_of_Lisbon_District_of_Lisbon_Alentejo_Beira_Lowlands_Region-Vacations.html
And for a local’s perspective, head over to Reddit: https://www.reddit.com/r/lisbon/
Seriously, though, go explore. Get lost. Drink a lot of coffee. You won’t regret it. (Probably.)
Oh, and don’t trust anyone who says the pigeons are friendly.