Spring Break Part One: Deep Conversations and Too Much Gelato

Rossio Square 

Today is a Tuesday and I am currently sitting on  a bus making the four and a half hour journey back to Lisbon from Lagos. These past few days in Portugal have been relaxing and fun despite the fact that we picked a very bad time of year to come. 

We arrived in Lisbon on Friday and spent the afternoon walking along the streets, lined with cafés and small shops. We made our way down to the water and were able to see the 25 de Abril Bridge, which is supposedly what the Golden Gate Bridge in San Fransisco was designed after. It was absolutely beautiful and the sun was shining. Down by the water was Rossio Square with the Column of Pedro IV in the center. You can tell all of the buildings are old and many were falling apart but the colors were so vibrant and the limestone used to construct many of the buildings and streets were gorgeous. So pristine. We had lunch outside and walked around some more. 

25 de Abril Bridge 

After trying all afternoon and failing miserably to find a hostel or hotel to stay in for the night that was reasonable and close to the bus station (the only part of the trip that wasn't planned ahead and the one thing we regret most not planning) we made a quick decision to hop on a bus and get to Lagos a night early. Traveling all day Friday was a lot but worth it because we were able to have three full days to explore in Lagos. When we finally made it to the bus stop in Lagos an extremely kind taxi driver who spoke very little English helped us find a hotel just up the road. It was perfect for the night and we were all very grateful. We had dinner at a Mexican resturant that had amazing burritos and all got drinks to celebrate finally making it there. We called it a night early, all exhausted after getting up at 4am and traveling all day. 

Lisbon 

The next morning we headed down to the center of town, which had a ton of restaurants with outside tables and small boutiques (our favorite was a store that only sold Jeggings in various colors and designs) so funny. The town was beautiful and right along the channel. Just beyond that was the ocean and in the hills, off to the side, you could see other towns with houses and trees dotting the landscape. The town was very simple but elegant and beautiful none the less. It reminded us of a movie set. 

After we had a three hour lunch we headed to the apartment we would be staying in for the rest of our time in Portugal. We lucked out and got a room upgrade so the place was huge for just the five of us (me, Helen, Kyle, Charly and David). We had a deck that overlooked town and in the distance you could see the water. It was perfect. Great job getting us that place Helen!! 

Lagos 

After being in Lagos a short time we quickly realized that it was not really what we were expecting. For some reason in our minds, it was going to be warmer and we would be able to sit on the beach and the town would be bustling with people. However, it was overcast almost everyday and we were among the few people that brave the cold of Lagos in winter. We were dumb. But never the less we still had a great time and were able to relax which was nice. 

Lagos reminds me a lot of Cape Cod in winter. Being a coastal town, we were completely surrounded by beautiful blue water and there was a large marina with more sailboats than you could count, all docked awaiting the warmer weather. There was hardly anyone around and not all of the shops were open this time of year. We quickly learned that Lagos is a summer destination and the city comes alive in the warmer weather. Resturant waiters and shop owners told us you can hardly walk down the street because there are so many people. Sadly, we didn't see any of that. 

Although we didn't pick the ideal time to come, we made the best of it and still had a great time. The boys were very keen on staying in the apartment and not wandering too much but Helen and I walked the 15 minutes from our apartment to town eveyday and explored. We wandered up and down the streets for hours, fascinated by the quaint homes and the beautiful and unique doors everywhere. (Helen took close to 50 pictures of doors alone) We were able to see the town from higher up and got to know our way around the winding streets that seemed to be a maze you could easily get lost in. We ate authentic Portuguese food and found a jewlery store nestled in the corner of the street run by such an interesting man who we stayed and talked to for a while. 

"The Boys" and Helen

On Sunday we ventured to see the beach which was right down the street from our appartment. It was really windy and chilly but we were able to get a closer look at the ocean and sit on the sand for a little while. All of the guys decided to go in the water despite its freezing temperature and shivered in their boxers the entire walk back. They claimed it was worth it though and they were probably right. 

We ate a lot of good food while we were there but the highlight of Lagos was hands down the gelato. I consumed 7 scoops in the three days we were there, never repeating a flavor. (Excessive? Maybe but I didn't care) It was soo good and a great thing to eat while walking around. 

One of many cups of gelato

Although we didn't get to lay in the sun on the beach like we were planing to and there weren't a lot of people around, we still had a wonderful time. Helen and I spent many afternoons reading and talking at coffee shops in town and at night we all hung out in our apartment, listening to music and having really intense conversations about life and our futures. We are all eager to get to Barcelona but glad we were able to spend time in Portugal. I would definitely go back but most likely in the summer when there is more going on. 

We are almost to Lisbon where we will take another bus to the airport and arrive in Barcelona tonight. I can't wait to see what Spain has in store for us!!