Lisbon, Portugal

Hello from Lisbon, Portugal!

Ah, Lisbon! Hands down. It is the most beautiful city––bursting with color and rich with history. The people. The food. The vibe. Everything is incredible.

Portugal can only be described with one word: Magical.

I had no idea what to expect when I chose Portugal as the first country in my European quest…and it was the best decision I ever made. Before I get into the magic of Lisbon, let’s talk about the Euro. This is my first time ever leaving the states (after 26 years of USA Dollar) and upon arrival at the airport, I was greeted with my first unexpected culture shock. The Euro. My reaction at the airport currency exchange says it all, “Wow. Is this…monopoly money?” Don’t get me wrong, it’s way prettier than the dollar…but…if you’re like me and you’ve never seen one, the first thought will most definitely be, “Pass GO. Collect $200.”

Now, let’s talk magical Lisbon. Here’s a quick summary of my experience this far:

No matter where you look in Lisbon, your eyes will be catching every color of the rainbow. Every single building is splashed a different pastel color and lined with intricate tiles. The entire city is a patterned quilt, dripping with fantastical art and architecture.

Fish is the king of Portuguese cuisine, and rightfully so, as the entire country is situated on the edge of the Atlantic Ocean. Sardines are the star of the show, along with Octopus, Cod, Sea Bass and ceviche to die for. I’m still exploring the infinite options of Portuguese cuisine, so more on that later.

The city is buzzing with an eclectic mix of travelers, locals and transplants from all around the world. This is a place where you immediately fall in love with the culture and the people, resulting in an exciting group of positively charged humans exploring and enjoying the magic of Lisbon. No matter where you go, you will be greeted with open arms and warm smiles.

Portuguese is a swirly, dirty language. At least, that’s what it sounds like to my virgin American ears. The first night of my travels, I had the pleasure of being invited to eat with locals, thus presenting me with my second culture shock of my travels: sitting at a table amongst people all speaking a different language other than English. It was fascinating, but in that moment, I realized I had never been the one who didn’t understand a single word of conversation. Though it is a beautiful language, I was mind-boggled.

Anyway, if there is one thing (besides the food) that screams Lisbon, it’s this: There is always something beautiful to see.

I will be exploring and writing as much as possible between now and the next country, but for now, this short post is all I’ve got.

Below is a collection of pictures from my first week in Lisbon. Enjoy!