Lisbon’s a Blur: Rain, Pastel Buildings, and Seriously Weird Coffee
okay, so, like, i’m pretty sure i’m running on fumes and lukewarm espresso. 3119123 and 1724594040 - don’t ask. it’s a thing. the weather here is…there right now, hope you like that kind of thing. 12.21 feels-like, 10.87, temp_min 11.04, temp_max 13.26, pressure 1007, humidity 53. it’s perpetually drizzly, but in a charming, ‘i’m-about-to-cry-but-also-this-is-beautiful’ kind of way. i swear, the buildings are painted in every shade of pastel imaginable - it’s like someone spilled a giant box of crayons all over the city.
I’m staying in Alfama, which is basically a giant, winding labyrinth of cobblestone streets. it’s a total nightmare for navigation, but honestly, that’s half the fun. i found this tiny little place called ‘O Bairro’ - the coffee there is… intense. like, they put something in it. i’m not entirely sure what, but it tasted vaguely of burnt caramel and regret. someone told me that the owner, a guy named Ricardo, used to be a flamenco dancer, but gave it up after a particularly disastrous performance involving a rogue bull. i heard that… it’s a local legend.
Spent the morning wandering around the Praça do Comércio, which is massive and overlooks the Tagus River. it’s got this huge statue of King José I - he looks perpetually unimpressed, which i appreciate. i was trying to get some shots for my Insta, but the light was awful. seriously, the light in Lisbon is a whole thing. it’s either blindingly bright or completely grey.
I stumbled across this street art scene in Mouraria - it’s wild. huge murals everywhere, covered in political commentary and abstract shapes. it’s not polished, it’s raw, it’s…loud.
Checked out the Time Out Market Lisboa - basically a giant food hall with every type of Portuguese dish you can imagine. i had a pastel de nata (obviously) and some grilled sardines. it was…fine. a little crowded, a little overpriced, but the sardines were actually pretty good. i’m linking to their website here: https://www.timeoutmarket.pt/lisboa/en/.
Speaking of locals, if you get bored, Porto is just a short drive away. i met this guy, Miguel, who runs a tiny record shop near the cathedral. he’s a total vinyl obsessive and spent a good hour explaining the nuances of Portuguese fado music to me. he also gave me a cryptic warning about the ‘shadows of Alfama’ - i’m not entirely sure what that means, but it sounded ominous.
Gear List (because someone always asks):
Camera (duh) - Sony a7iii
Lenses - 24-70mm, 50mm
Drone - DJI Mini 3 Pro (for the aerial shots, obviously)
Portable Charger - Seriously, don’t forget this.
Comfortable Shoes - You’ll be walking a lot.
Rain Jacket - Seriously, it rains.
Pro-Tip: Learn a few basic Portuguese phrases. It goes a long way. Also, don’t trust anyone who offers you a ‘special’ coffee.
And one last thing: check out this TripAdvisor guide for Lisbon: https://www.tripadvisor.com/Attractions-g190925-Activities-Lisbon_Lisbon_District_Portugal.html
Seriously, I need sleep. Or more coffee. Or both. Maybe a taxi. This city is exhausting. But in a good way, i guess?
Oh, and Yelp for restaurants: https://www.yelp.com/map/lisbon-portugal
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