4 Days in Lisbon, Portugal
Runners at the harbor front of Lisbon, Portugal
Lots to Like About Lisbon
Flying From Casablanca to Lisbon
The flight time from Casablanca, Morocco, to Lisbon, is one hour and twenty minutes. As I looked down from our 737 and saw the northern coast of Africa disappear and shortly thereafter the shores of Europe appear, I pondered the vast differences between the two continents.
The Mediterranean Sea was a mesmerizing blue and the sun was shining, yet I could not help but think of the thousands of refugees who have risked their lives crossing the sea in an attempt to start new lives in Europe.
I remind myself how fortunate we are to have the ability to board a plane and travel to different parts of the world as we do. To have the ability and freedom to do so is no small thing.
Rossio Square in Lisbon, Portugal
Where to Stay in Lisbon
The airport in Lisbon is modern and we found our way through the metro without a hitch. Our accommodation was a very cool hostel-like experience at Lost Lisbon - Cais do Sodré.
A huge hallway staircase led us up to the third-floor check-in area. The spacious common area had couches and the tables in the breakfast area doubled as workspaces.
Hi-tech cappuccino machines offered coffee ad libitum and fresh-baked buns and fruit were offered all day long. Lisbon was the host city to a web conference and there was a buzzing vibe with young techies mulling about. We paid $83.00 per night for four nights and highly recommend it.
We made a point of doing almost nothing touristy in Lisbon. We just wanted to enjoy the city "as is". Cozy streets, decent weather, and our central location made for a pleasant stay.
Although this is the only city thus far where we have been approached to purchase questionable substances, three times in the span of half-hour as a matter of fact. Perhaps we were looking a bit too relaxed?
Pedestrians cross the road near Praça do Comércio in Lisbon, Portugal
US Election Night in Lisbon With Friends From France
On the night of the US election, we met up with friends at their rented apartment for drinks, dinner, and celebrations. We spent five weeks with Marie and Patrick in Boulogne-sur-Gesse back in March.
It was a pleasant surprise to find they were also visiting Lisbon. We had a long afternoon nap in anticipation of a prolonged night of election coverage.
Water front near Praça do Comércio in Lisbon Portugal
Let it be no secret we were rooting for another candidate and we stumbled through the Lisbon streets disillusioned and saddened around 3 am after the alarming results began trickling in.
The final result most certainly put a dampener on our spirits and to this day we are still struggling to understand this new order of the world.
Perm and Lave in Lisbon
Meeting New Friends From Canada
The breakfast room at our hostel was an opportune place to strike up a conversation with other travelers. The table setup did not allow one to hide at a table for two and hence new connections were made.
We met Perm and Lave over breakfast one of the first mornings and we decided to spend our last day in Lisbon together. '
Perm and Lave are from Vancouver and we quickly found we had a lot in common. It was a relief to be able to converse in Canadian and we caught up on Canuck stuff and discussed many aspects of each others' life experiences.
The 25 de Abril Bridge suspension bridge in Lisbon, Portugal
We took the ferry across the harbor, visiting the Cristo Rei, the Christ Statue of Lisbon. We followed the "scenic" GPS route to the ferry and had a nice lunch while waiting for the next departure.
We spent the whole day walking, talking, and taking in the atmosphere. We exchanged contact info and we plan to meet again when we are all back in Canada.
Travel Photography From Lisbon Portugal
Covered walkway at Praça do Comércio in Lisbon Portugal
A street scene near Ross Square in Lisbon Portugal
A man walks by the Jerónimos Monastery in Lisbon Portugal
A classic in tram in Lisbon
A group of men are working on a small speedboat at Porto Brandão in Lisbon
The narrow streets in the neighbourhood near Cristo Rei, the Christ Statue of Lisbon, Portugal
A boat at the shipyard at Porto Brandão is Lisbon
The men are fishing along the harbour in Lisbon enjoying the early December sun
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The photos in this article are made using a Fujifilm X-Pro2. Lenses: XF 14mm f/2.8 R - XF 23mm f/1.4 R - XF 35mm f/1.4 R - XF 90mm f/2 R LM WR (links to my camera and lens reviews). Editing was done in Lightroom. I have made use of Fujifilm film simulations.
