VERY BAD INTRO

After Porto, I looked forward to visiting Lisbon. I know that no two places are the same, and it’s always my fault to have expectations, but my landing in Lisbon was just not good.

I chose the train instead of the bus (one hour shorter but 30% more expensive); it was pretty comfy, had wifi on board, and watching the passing landscape was lovely. Right after arriving, I wanted to check two murals. I had the same reason here as in Porto: to finally see the famous street art of the city. The first wall (Ernest Zacharevic) was easy to find, but the second location broke my heart. I was so excited to see this:

But I found only a construction area, and the mural was demolished. I was so shocked for a second that people around me thought I would faint. One of the reasons why I adore street art this much is its temporary appearance. But I won’t lie, this bad timing made me pretty angry and sad, and I lost all my interest in the city (new record: disliking a place in only one hour). My disappointment smoothened when I walked to the Terreiro do Paço and saw a beautiful sunset. Still, a little taste of upset was left behind.

OPEN AIR MUSEUM

Lisbon is strong in murals, giving me the second-best visual tour (São Paulo is still No.1). Art is all around – the Bairro Padre Cruz is a mecca, but I also liked the Lx Factory with its design stores and hipster atmosphere (it’s similar to Łódź’ Off Piotrowska).

TOURISTS, TOURISTS EVERYWHERE

My first impression of Lisbon is that it’s like a f*cked-up Szentendre. Do I swear a lot? Maybe, but I was slightly annoyed.

Before my visit, I checked for hidden gems and secret places, but in reality, there were not a single cobblestones left without tourists. Especially the hotspots Bairro Alto and Alfama (it was raining, so I skipped Belém). With a different mindset, I could probably enjoy the city more. This time, I gave it up after 2 hours, went back to my hostel, and finally watched Flash Forward. I guess this is not how people spend a sightseeing tour, but it was my way.

The only place I enjoyed was Casa do Alentejo. It was kinda empty at midday, so I could enjoy the interior and the silence. I’m slowly becoming someone who prefers to spend extended time in one place and experience it on deeper levels, not just scratch the surface. If for no other reason, it was worth coming to Lisbon for this recognition.

HUNGRY SOUL

When I feel uneasy, I eat. Actually, I always eat.. but sadly, I didn’t find anything significant in Lisbon. At least I tried; I had an açaí bowl at Hello, Kristof!, my last lunch in the Mercado da Ribeira (and no, I haven’t got here pastéis de nata), and I already forgot the rest.

I HAVE THIS THING WITH AIRPORTS

Ok, it starts to be really funny. Mercury Retrograde was over but still in the shadow phase. When I arrived at the airport, the terminal was shut down, and we couldn’t get any clear info about the reason. We sat there dumb for two hours, then a bus collected us and transferred to another terminal, where it turned out that the check-in was closed. When I told the lady at the counter that no problem, they’d just pay for my next flight because it was not me who messed this up, she somehow managed to check me in, and a security guy escorted me to the plane to make sure I catch it (I felt like a VIP).

Honestly, I don’t know how I feel about Lisbon. I should probably give it a second visit.. but not anytime soon.