So I realize I haven’t posted in a while. You will read why in this post. Spring break was certainly a week to remember. It was probably the best spring break I will ever have, and hopefully the most destructive.
Let’s start with Thursday night (March 15), the day all of our midterms finally ended. Florence was gorgeous and we were so excited to leave for Lisbon the next morning and life seemed like it couldn’t get better. And then I chipped my tooth. Last year I had chipped it in school (a story we’ll save for another time and place) and my dad fixed it and it was fine. That is until I bit on a fork on Thursday and chipped off the bonding. So now my tooth is back to it’s chipped glory. Wonderful.
On Friday morning we woke up early, caught a train to Rome and then a flight to Lisbon!! It was uneventful except for this couple with this adorable little boy who was obsessed with us and Steph and I kind of loved them.
We got to Lisbon and followed the worst directions to our hostel, which can literally only be described as a Kindergarten for Flower Children. It was so peppy, and the rooms were themed (no, there was no “Irrigation Room” but close enough) and everything was labeled and happy and it was overwhelming. But we were rarely there, so it was perfect.
Lisbon is by far one of my new favorite cities. I am obsessed with it. It has this vibe that is a combination of Latin, Tropical, and European and everything about it is just so nature oriented and beautiful and I love it. The walk from our hostel to the main area was down the main avenue which had two islands in the center with gorgeous paved streets, flower patches, waterfalls, trees, and tiny cafes where they played live music. It was unreal.
The first day we were exhausted so we went down to the main square on the water, got THE MOST AMAZING ICE CREAM I’VE EVER TASTED, and then up to Barrio Alto, the neighborhood where all of the bars and some restaurants are. It reminded me of when I went to a neighborhood that had a similar feel to it in Guayaquil, and so I got homesick for the Galapagos trip. We hung out in this gorgeous plaza overlooking the city (surrounded by couples…and me and Steph) at sunset and then met Michelle and some of her abroad friends for dinner at this great restaurant. The waiter actually ran out to find Michelle and her friends in the middle of Barrio Alto and bring them to us. Now that, my friends, is what I like to call service.
The next morning we met Michelle again to go to Belem! Steph and I were literally only going to Belem because we heard that they have these special pastries there, which is reason enough to take a 25 minute tram ride. It was kind of overcast and one of Michelle’s friends was pickpocketed, but Belem was amazing. We saw the monastery there, which was mostly cool because they had an exhibit with a timeline of the history of the world. It was cool to see everything laid out in chronological order. It helps to bring perspective to different events I’ve learned about. We then went and got the Belem Pastries which were actually amazing. They come with cinnamon and sugar and were warm and gooey and delicious.
Steph and I split off from the group after that and decided to explore the area, which I think is what we do best. Steph found this park near the entrance to the Museum of Contemporary Art which was hosting some children’s fair. That’s our favorite part of abroad so far. The moments when we veer off the beaten path and can just enjoy an event with the people who live there. We walked around where adorable Portuguese children were selling crafts and toys and bracelets and watched two tiny nuggets have a dance-off.
break it down.
It was so much fun. We then walked to the water to the Monument of the Explorers (probs not the real name. Whatever). We sat by the water and watched seagulls pick up clams from the water and drop them on the tile to break them open. It was so cool!! We also weirdly kept seeing these Girl Scouts who were like 14 or 15 and almost like our counterparts. We saw them on our way to the monument, and one of them and Steph both went to look at these bracelets they were selling on the street.
they noticed the picture and got really freaked out. whatever.
And my reaction and the reaction of the other girls were the same exasperated sighs as we waited for them. We then saw them again on our way back to Lisbon, and the one who was looking at the bracelets was hugging the smaller one who was trying to escape from her grip as they walked- just like what Steph does to me.
i mean. hi.
When we got back to Lisbon, Steph had to go to the bathroom so we stumbled upon this adorable restaurant right on the water. The bathroom was only open to customers, so we decided to just get dessert and sangria. It was literally the best afternoon we’ve had. The desserts were AMAZING and there was a live band and adorable children dancing together and everything was just so colorful and happy, and I want every day to be just like that. We then sat on the water in these adjacement colorful planter-pod things until it was time to go back to get ready for dinner.
For dinner, Steph, Michelle, and her friend Mical went to sushi at the most amazing sushi restaurant ever. Really though, those Portuguese really know how to combine flavors. It was like a foodie dream. Everything was so creative and delicious and unique and I wish I could have stayed there forever. We then decided to go back to the restaurant on the water for drinks because they were open until 2. Best decision. After a while everyone left but us so we had a private concert from the band and Mical got to sing and Steph played the drums. Like actually played them. Who knew Steph could do that? She was amazing and we were just so shocked. The original drum player was obsessed with us and offered to drive us to some Fado place he was about to be singing at, but we regretfully declined…
The next day Steph and I ventured to the castle which was gorgeous even though it was quite the shlep. There were peacocks running around at the top, which I found particularly enjoyable. And I totally understand why everyone thought I was a peacock this year for Halloween, when really I was Envy. Steph and I decided to take the morning easy, so we got coffee with ice cream IN IT overlooking the water before our main event of the day: go-carting.
This experience was a combination of the most fun I’ve had and a nighmare. They put us in these tiny, rinkydink go-carts with helmets and just set us loose on the streets of Lisbon. Steph and I got lost right away, going the wrong way down a one-way tram street, and ended up passing everyone we were with while they sped off in the correct direction. And so we were lost. There was a “GPS” on the cart,but it only told you where to go if you were already on the right path. Pretty pointless? I thought I was going to die for almost the entire trip, where I rediscovered my OBSESSION with selfies. Finally, 3/4 of the way through the experience we suddenly met up with everyone else, which was really an act of fate and I have no idea how it happened.
After the go-cart trip, we went up to relax in Barrio Alto and have dinner with Michelle and Mical at this Indian/Italian restaurant before we headed off to our overnight bus to Seville. And this is where disaster struck.
The bus driver wouldn’t let me bring my lesportsac on the bus. That was RIDICULOUS because obviously it could have fit under my seat and if I wanted to be uncomfortable, that’s my own problem. But he was obnoxious and refused to let me bring it. So I took out my valuable (computer, passport, wallet, etc.) and brought it on the bus with me because I didn’t trust it under the bus. I put my computer in the pocket of the seat-back in front of me, and the rest of my stuff I was able to fit in my small bag. The bus left at 9 and didn’t get into Seville until 5am. I slept most of the trip, and was awoken suddenly by Steph when we got to Seville because we didn’t even realize we had to get off: they didn’t make an announcement. Steph dropped her bag on the floor in our rush to get off the bus, and had me look under the seat to make sure she didn’t forget anything. I gathered my cell phone (check!), camera (check), and found her chapstick on the floor. She was SO thankful because it would have been TERRIBLE if she lost that. I then realized I was missing something. Of course! My water bottle! I got it from my seat and got off the bus. I got my suitcase from under the bus, pulled up the handle and realized I LEFT MY COMPUTER IN THE SEAT BACK!!!!! The bus at that point was pulling away so I groggily at 5am in the freezing cold starting RUNNING after it screaming “COME BACK! MY COMPUTER! MY COMPUTER IS ON THE BUS!” to no avail. It was gone. I started crying and screaming for Steph. She had found a guy who she recognized from our hostel, and asked him to help us. But I was on an adrenaline kick, so I was able to gather the strength of 4 men, lifted my suitcase above my head, and CHARGED up the broken escalator. And then I had an asthma attack and thought I was going to faint.
The bus station was basically shut down and they were of absolutely no help and told me I couldn’t do anything until it opened in the morning. We took a cab to the next bus stop hoping to catch it, but I missed it. Defeated, we went to our hotel to wait for everything to open in the morning.
TO BE CONTINUED.
whatisshedoing 