Portugal: Lisbon
Half-Marathon Adventure in Lisbon
My last six weeks have finally begun. Time is flying by! Before the autumn holidays start and I head home, I have one more destination on my bucket list: Lisbon. It's time to check that off.
After just an hour of sleep (we were up late saying goodbye to a colleague), my taxi driver Gilberto arrived at 6 AM to take me to Tavira. When we arrived at the bus stop, it felt like a scene from a horror movie—no one around, no lights, and no bus in sight. Creepy! If there's a place to avoid at night, it's spots like this. Gilberto, who didn't speak a word of German or English, waited with me and used hand signals to ask when I’d be back so he could pick me up. So kind.
The bus finally arrived at 6:45 AM. I spread out on three seats, put on my sleeping mask, and popped in my earbuds. After half an hour, I was abruptly awakened by a loud, recurring cough. It wasn't just a cough—the man behind me started vomiting. Lovely. His vomit ran under my shoes and bag. Disgusted, I grabbed my things and fled to another seat. Not the best start to my trip.
Thankfully, the remaining four hours passed smoothly, and I arrived in Lisbon around noon. However, the bus didn’t stop in the city center as I had expected. All but four people gradually got off the bus. Confused, I asked the remaining passengers where they were headed, thinking there might be another stop. The bus driver, unloading luggage, returned and asked me something in Portuguese. Unable to understand, I just stood there. He lost his temper and yelled at me for two minutes. I had no idea what went wrong. Fortunately, the other passengers explained the situation. Nothing like this had ever happened to me during my seven months of work and travel. Well, that was something new!
When I finally got off at the terminus, I realized I was still far from the city center. A kind Portuguese girl took me to the metro. Half an hour later, I reached the city center and began my search for the hostel. My sense of direction failed me, and I initially went the wrong way. After asking several locals, I finally found the hostel about 20 minutes later. Check-in wasn't until 3 PM. Not the best start, but what can you do? By then, it was already 1 PM, even though I had optimistically planned to arrive by 11:30 AM.
After a quick change and freshening up, I headed to Praca Marquês de Pombal, which offers a stunning view of Lisbon. I then walked along Portugal's most expensive street towards the sea. From the Teatro de Maria II, Arco da Rua Augusta, Paços do Concelho, Museo Antoniano, Castelo de São Jorge, to Igreja da Graça—I felt like I covered almost every street in Lisbon. My pedometer clocked 13.5 km. Not bad!
Lisbon is absolutely beautiful! The bridge reminded me a bit of San Francisco, and the rest of the city is quintessentially Portuguese, with its narrow streets, ornate tiles, and charming architecture. For those unfamiliar with Portugal, or anyone who loves city trips for shopping and history, Lisbon is a perfect destination. Plus, it's budget-friendly. Centrally located hostels are available for as little as €11 a night, and meals range from €5-15. I can definitely see myself returning to Lisbon, but with a bit more room in my suitcase.
10 Things to do near Lisbon
Sightseeing in Lisbon
Praca Marqu de Pombal
Teatro de Maria II
Arco da Rua Augusta
Pacos do Concelho
Museo Antoniano
Castelo de São Jorge
Igreja da Graça
#Keepingup
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