Portugal for the Weekend

Feb 10, 2020
4 min read

Updated: Feb 10, 2020

A weekend by the sea filled with tapas, laughter, and sangria. Vibrant and charismatic, Lisbon was truly the life of the party.

There she is, staring off into the Atlantic ocean on the precipice of a rugged cliff as the surrounding wildflowers sway in the breeze.

No, I’m not describing the final scene of a novel- just how I ended week 2 of being abroad.

In 14 days my life has changed, time can't do my experiences justice. This week was filled with wonderful highs and quiet moments of deep reflection.

If it taught me anything it’s that life is so very fragile, so we must love passionately, live unabashedly, and never take a single breath for granted.

With this energy we entered our spontaneous trip to the capital city of Lisbon, Portugal.

An early flight got us into the vibrant city just in time for brunch at Fauna and Flora, a delightful spot to sip a golden latte and have a dish that tastes as delicious as it looks, sprinkled with delightful edible flowers.

This brunch proved a fittting prologue to our Portuguese experience- colorful, creative, and with just enough flavor to bring a little spice to your life.

We spent our first day exploring the city and were met with stunning building exteriors of colorful tiles, abundant orange trees, and many an uphill walk. Lisbon is quite hilly, I would equate it to a European San Francisco with a Brazilian flare.

The Pont de 25 Abril bridge even resembles the Golden Gate Bridge. They also have a replica of the Christ the Redeemer Statue from Rio de Janeiro.

The phrase God is always watching holds especially true for Lisbon. He kept an eye on us all weekend. The city is a true blend of traditional heritage with a modern flare. A crossroads of cultures.

As they say the harder the climb, the better the view- and that most definitely applies to the gorgeous skyline and sea views around every corner in Lisbon. We took in the sights, and then decided it was time to get to the real business- and try the famous Portuguese pastry.

Called the Pasteis de Nata, it's a custard egg tart that when sprinkled with a dash of cinnamon and powdered sugar makes for a heavenly 2 bites, or 1 if you’re as excited as I was.

They’re sold on nearly every block, but we opted for Manteigaria that’s known as the best spot in Lisbon.

For 1.40 euros your entire day can take a very sweet, and crumbly, turn.

We sifted through the nautical street markets and then made our way up to a rooftop bar to watch the sun slip colorfully behind the bridge.

We followed sunset watching with a local spot for dinner that had superb seafood and tangy ceviches. Then, it was on to pink street (the literal street is pepto-bismal pink) for a night of live music and sangria.

Day 2 began with a ride outside the city to the Palacio Nacional de Pena. The palace has been around since medieval times and was ripe fruit of King Ferdinand’s creative, and opulent, genius.

The palace is in the 19th century romanticism style of architecture and is doused in a multitude of sorbet flavored colors. Towers of golden mango, arches of deep raspberry, and tiles bursting with stories to tell.

The view from the Palace looks out over Portugal's coast, but in an instant the area was surrounded in a cloud. At that moment my castle on a cloud became a physical manifestation.

Next, we cruised through the coastal surfer town of Sintra up to Cabo da Roca, the westernmost point of Europe. The rugged coastal cliffs made for stunning views overlooking the Atlantic.

Heading back into the city we stopped at the Jeronimos Monastary, the stained glass were luminescent in the echoing nave.

Next, we went to the National Azulejo Museum which has 5 centuries of vivid tile work. Truly breathtaking.

For dinner we decided to elevate once again, for a rooftop experience to take in every beautiful vista the city had to offer. Dessert was a holy experience as we tried Brazilian Quindim made of egg yolks and creamy coconut served with homemade vanilla ice cream. Talk about decadent!

Many laughs were shared over tapas as we marveled at all Portugal had to offer.

On our final night we learned that in Portuguese you don’t simply say thank you, you say “obrigada” or “I am obliged to you.” Something about this seems far more personal.

To be grateful is more of a characteristic than just a word, and that’s something from Lisbon that I’ll keep with me, along with an eternal craving for another Pasteis.

In loving honor of my friend Allison Benson, who in a short time brought so much light and happiness to our lives in Aix. 2/7/2020.

Mango colored arches at the Palacio.

Palacio Nacional de Pena.

Hotel foyer in Lisbon.

Cod and spinach with an LT egg. Délicieux!

Brazilian quindim.

Me, not remotely trying to act natural at the castle on a cloud.

The bright blue and white tiles were my favorite!

A stunning gold chapel in the tile museum.

The Jeronimos Monastery in all its transcendent glory.

Exterior of the monastery.

Cabo du Roca lighthouse.

Detail From the Palacio.

The westernmost point of Europe.

Me and Caroline.

The ‘Stag Room’ at Palacio.

View of the Costello from Palacio.

No worries of any prince coming, my hair isn’t that long.

Wonderful friends that made this trip unforgettable.

Professional sunset chasers in our natural habitat.

Relaxation in a photo.

I present to you the Pasteis de Nata. With hints of cinnamon, creamy egg custard, and a dusting of powdered sugar, they taste like a fancy cousin of French Toast.