Amazing Time in Portugal

What an amazing time we had in Portugal. From day one we ventured out wherever the road took us. We didn’t worry about weather, time or place; we just rolled along and had a wonderful time. Of course, traveling with great company – such as my husband – makes it better. Only he knows me well enough to understand what I like, want or need.

Such a Serene Drive

We drove from Caceres, Spain to Lisbon, Portugal. It was a 3hr and 19-minute drive. But knowing us, it took longer. We stopped wherever our heart desired. We drove using the WAZE app since it has proved to be reliable for us. By the way, did you know that WAZE has a sexy voice too? I didn’t and was taken aback by the way it gave us directions. Also, once we crossed into Portugal, WAZE automatically switched to speaking Portuguese. Good thing we were on the expressway and didn’t miss any turns.

We Made It!

We arrived way before check-in time, so we left our bags at the front desk and ventured out to explore the surroundings. We stayed at the Hotel Avenida Park in the heart of the city and within walking distance to many tourist areas. It’s a very nice, clean hotel and modern hotel. However, the elevator was so tiny that we barely fit with our luggage. There was no way more than 2 persons would fit in there. It looked like a telephone booth! Our room was cozy, and the service was great.

Must See Tourist Attractions

Lisbon is a vibrant city bustling with tourists. We headed straight to ‘Praca de Comercio’ and strolled around the area. We didn’t know much about Portugal’s history, so we visited the Lisboa Story Center. It was a one-hour interactive museum of Lisbon’s history – very informative.

Interesting Fact About Lisbon

Lisbon’s streets are paved in black and white stones. Their reasoning is that they are more than just sidewalks. They are public art. The colors – black and white – were chosen based on their cities flag. You can’t deny it looks very clean and artistic.

Rain Did Not Stop Us

It was a cold and rainy day but that did not stop us from continuing our exploration. We ate at a local restaurant and continued walking to our hotel. What was 20 minutes of walk time seemed like hours when you’re walking in the rain, cold, and uneven pavement.

Hop-On Hop-off, The Way to Go

We purchased the Lisbon Hop-On Hop-Off Bus tour tickets. We figured it’d be the best way to travel with so much rain. It was also faster than taking the local metro, bus or tram and we were able to enjoy the scenery while traveling on the top deck of the bus when weather permitting.

Tower of Belem

We visited the famous Torre de Belem – one of Lisbon’s most famous landmarks. It is one of just a few buildings remaining after the devastating 1755 earthquake. We were one of the first ones to go inside. Hence, the importance of purchasing tickets ahead of time. These too were included in the Lisboa card. We didn’t venture all the way up to the tower. The steps were too steep and slippery while wet.

Padrao Dos Descubrimentos

The Padrao Dos Descubrimentos is such a remarkable monument – so detailed. It is among the most visited monuments in Lisbon. They hold a documentary tour inside the monument with its story about its construction and its meaning. However, the tour begins at 3:30 in the afternoon and it was not even 12 noon when we visited the monument. Unfortunately, we forgot to check the hours to fit our visits within those hours.

Food and Wine

Portugal is famous for its codfish. In fact, it’s their national dish. And I must say it was the best codfish we had ever had. Their wine was exquisite and they had some amazing desserts too.

We did as much as we could given that it was raining both days we spent in Portugal. So, that means that we will have to visit Portugal again. I won’t complain about that!

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