Stopping by Lisbon, our capital N. 19
After a really nice time on the Portuguese seacoast, doing our typical slow travel, we finally arrived in Lisboa/Lisbon. We found a lovely spot just near the city center and ‘down by the river Tagus,’ grin. We had free WiFi from a local bar near by- that also had a crazy-crowded and loud Friday night (no sleep for us) thanks to their local disco.
Our week started with an invitation for dinner from Clara, Dedi and their daughter Nicole. Clara’s an old friend from Milano that’s lived in Lisbon for 15 years now. She’s recently started a very interesting project about creating an archive of diaries of normal people, to re-write the history of this country that is called Diaries Archives.
My week started out pretty busy, since I had work to do actually in town: 4 new videos for Tripfilms. Just like the one we did on Porto, it’s about things to see, food and travel tips. I grabbed my bike and started wandering around town. A tip? Going by bike is not really the best way in Lisbon, since it’s built on 7+ hills, like Rome. I met locals that told me more about: the culture and the traditions of their amazing touristic city.
Starting from the Pasteis de Belem: a custard tart. It was created a long time ago, when the local monastery was shut down and the monks needed to make some money. They created a unique recipe that’s still a secret today. I had a special tour inside the back of the cafe, where everything is created: from the dough to the baking in the oven. Their process ensures they give people the best and fresh pastries. And they taste delicious, topped with a bit of sugar powder and cinnamon on top. Don’t miss checking them out when you’re in town.
Another discovery was just near the theater, in a really tiny place that, for more than a hundred years, has sold something really typical for Lisbon: ‘Gingina.’ It’s a liquor made from cherries that gives you the right ‘boost’ in the morning to go be able to go up and down the hills.
My tour also included the beautiful Botanical Garden, where you can be surrounded by thousands of different and exotic plants and trees. I just listened to the birds and the wind blowing, with the background sounds of the crowded Jerónimos monastery, full of tourists from all over the world.
Friday night, we left Mork alone in the parking lot to go a local hostel that was featuring a digital nomad meet up with some speakers. We had a really good time, chatting with new people that come from the same little digital nomad world and share the same passion we have for traveling around the globe. We’ll keep in contact with some of them and maybe we’ll cross paths again? Who knows.
After an amazing week, I can say, thanks to the excuse of my job, that I felt perfectly at home in Lisbon. Not so much as a tourist, but more a local that wants to know more about the rich details of the town.
We’ve moved not so far away from Lisbon and we’re now in Costa da Caparica, watching the seagulls and waves and surfing the waves. Stay tuned for our next adventure, which looks like a huge Pro Surf competition in Peniche.
See you soon! Armando, Mel & Mork
