Not long after my adventures in Spain, it was time for a family holiday to Portugal. We are big fans of the Mediterranean in the summer but this was my first time visiting Spain’s neighbour and I was intrigued to see how the two compared. Our trip included exploring both the country’s capital Lisbon and the stunning coast of the Algarve. With its rich culture and endless sunshine, Portugal certainly lived up to its expectations and made a lasting impression on all of us.
LISBON:
When you think about the most well-known European cities, big names such as Rome or Paris come way before Portugal’s capital. However, arriving in Lisbon, it was hard to understand why the city got so little attention. On a warm summers morning, Lisboa had as much, if not more appeal than the top touristy destinations.
The Place
The city’s character was unique; full of rich, historic buildings and brightly tiled walls, giving an old yet dynamic vibe to the place. You could sense that long ago it had huge wealth and luxury (serving as one of Europe’s major ports) but then became rather neglected. Many old houses had been abandoned and a lack of restoration reduced its sense of affluence.
Modern day Lisbon mixed in to the old. Many walls were covered in striking graffiti while chirpy street artists performed near famous landmarks. The streets were also made more vibrant by bright flowers and hanging decorations; colour dominating the city.
Lisbon is built on a series of hills, so walking through the centre involved climbing steep alleyways and staircases. (even a lift was provided to link two different areas!) The tough inclines meant trams were also used, although they served more as a tourist attraction than an efficient mode of transport. These rusty carriages and the colourful atmosphere made the place feel like a quirky San Francisco; including the city’s own mini Golden Gate Bridge!
In terms of sightseeing, people flocked to the most famous attractions like the Belem Tower and the fairy-tale town of Sintra. However, in hindsight these were pretty overrated. The best way to get an impression of the city was simply to walk around and soak up its flavours; enjoying the beautiful vistas from the higher zones and visiting the smaller museums in the city centre. (E.g: On a second visit I would love to see the Design and Fashion Museum, MUDE)
The Budget
A major advantage of Lisboa being ‘off the beaten track’ was the prices. You are normally guaranteed to get ripped off when visiting a city’s well-known sites, but not in Lisbon. Everything was so cheap!! (For example, a cold drink outside the castle cost €1 compared to the €2.50 I paid outside Barcelona’s Montjuic) Eating out was also a bargain; €4-5 for a starter and €8 for a main course, so good! We stayed in the ‘bairro alto’ which had loads of small, authentic restaurants popular with the locals. The food was great too especially the seafood which normally isn’t affordable. (These prices were a result of Portugal’s poor economic climate, but no complaints from the tourists)
So for those wanting a get-away weekend but are put off by sky high prices, I definitely recommend Lisbon! Chances are the flights won’t cost too much out of season either…
The People
Another plus point about the city was that it wasn’t at all overwhelming. After a day’s walking, we felt like we’d pretty much got our bearings as the centre was small enough to get to know by foot. Lisbon also felt very safe and I would happily visit the place again solo.
This was mainly down to the friendly reception from the local people. The Portuguese are sweet; very approachable and helpful when talking to tourists and we were quickly put at ease. They are, however, very different to the Spanish. Generally their character seemed more introvert and reserved. With soft and gentle mannerisms, they lacked a fiery Latino blood that I saw in Spaniards weeks earlier. In fact, their politeness had a stronger similarity to the British culture than their neighbours; perhaps because of the strong historical connection between the countries. This also meant that English was more widely spoken than in Spain.
The Language
The language however, was a different story. I had become accustomed to communicating easily with the Spanish so Portuguese came as a bit of a shock. It’s amazing how two languages can be so similar yet so different, some words were almost identical yet others polar opposites. I could understand a fair amount of it written down but when it came to speaking, I was like any other clueless tourist. It was incredibly frustrating not even being able to string simple sentences together like ‘can I have….’ I ended up getting away with speaking basic Spanish which seemed just about acceptable, but looks like I have a lot to learn…
So there is my impression of Lisboa. I loved my first taster of urban Portuguese life and truthfully preferred it to other European cities I’ve been to. With warmth, colour and a relaxed vibe, is definitely underrated and 100% worth a visit.
La Buena Vida 