Lost in Lisbon: 3526617 & 1484334948 – A Whirlwind
okay, so lisbon. where do i even begin? i landed yesterday, and honestly, the numbers… 3526617 and 1484334948… they just popped into my head. no idea why. maybe some weird subconscious data dump from my phone? who knows. the temp is a mild 10.08c, feels like 8.4, pretty chill. the air’s got a dampness to it, like someone’s been crying - metaphorical tears, probably. pressure's 1021, humidity’s at 48%. I’m just trying to parse it all.
first impressions? chaotic beauty. the city’s basically a giant, pastel-colored maze. cars whizz by, trams rattle, and the smell of grilling seafood is everywhere. i’m staying in Alfama, which someone told me is ‘authentically Portuguese’ - which, let’s be real, probably means tourist-packed but charming nonetheless. i checked out a few restaurants near my place on Yelp; a place called ‘Cervejaria Ramiro’ keeps popping up, apparently the crab is insane. might have to brave the queue.
the neighbors… they’re something else. old folks sitting on stoops, chatting in rapid-fire Portuguese, kids kicking soccer balls down narrow streets. i heard a fella yelling about the price of sardines - classic. if you get bored, Porto is just a short train ride away. apparently the views from there are killer. i'm planning a day trip, maybe.
gear check:
broken in walking shoes - crucial. seriously.
*a scarf - it’s surprisingly breezy up here.
*a good camera (obviously) - i’m trying to capture the light.
*a portable charger - because my phone dies at the worst possible moments.
i spent the afternoon wandering around, completely lost, which is exactly the point, right? stumbled upon a tiny little fado house - the music was heartbreakingly beautiful. it totally gave me chills. someone told me that the best fado is found in the most obscure places. I’m trying to find those places.
i'm seeing a lot of tile work - azulejos, they’re called. it’s everywhere! and it's stunning*. seriously, you could spend days just admiring the patterns. i’m thinking of taking a tile-painting workshop. they have a bunch on Airbnb Experiences.
i heard that the Tram 28 is the most popular tourist attraction, but it’s also notorious for being packed. someone warned me to avoid it during peak hours unless i enjoy being squished like a sardine. note to self. i've been trying to find less-traveled routes, and honestly, that's where the real magic happens.
dinner tonight was… an adventure. i ended up at a little tasca (tavern) recommended by a local, and the food was incredible - simple, fresh, and bursting with flavor. i had some grilled octopus that nearly made me weep with joy. and the wine… oh, the wine.
seriously, lisbon is a feast for the senses. it’s gritty, it’s beautiful, it’s a little bit broken, and it’s completely captivating. i'm just letting myself get lost in it all. i’ll probably be rambling about it for weeks. check out this guide to Lisbon on Lonely Planet - they have some great tips: https://www.lonelyplanet.com/portugal/lisbon. And if you’re into photography, this blog has some amazing shots of the city: https://thevitalvoyager.com/lisbon-photography-guide/. Happy travels!
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