Portugal: Picture It - Sep 2020

We had heard such good things about Portugal, so expectations were high. We planned a long weekend so we could enjoy a couple days in Porto before taking the train to Lisbon.

The trip got off to an auspicious start, when are bags refused to show up at the baggage claim. After submitting a ticket, we took public transit into town. On the walk to our hotel, we ran into the stray cat area, which definitely made me feel better!

Our hotel was super cute and the staff was friendly and super helpful. We were treated to a welcome glass of Port wine - our first of many that weekend since Port is, in fact, what Porto is known for. After settling in, we found a nice spot for a riverside dinner. Post-dinner, we walked along the river a bit, obtained temporary toothbrushes, and called it a night.

We woke up the next day to a really delicious homemade breakfast, including pasteis de nata (Portuguese egg tarts) and delicious orange juice (and I'm not an OJ person). We then started a self-guided tour of the town; Porto is easy to explore on your own because everything is within a pretty small area. There are a lot of hills, though! We did eventually give in and buy new clothes since our bags were still M.I.A. The tiles on the building really give a unique look - the tile work in the central station are very cool. My fave part of the day was our brief Porto and chocolate tasting interlude. Yum!

Our hotel host even helped book a tour of one of the Port wine lodges across the river. We learned all about how Graham's makes their Port and ensures quality. Then we got to taste all the classics - tawny, ruby, and LBV. You really can't go wrong.

Our luggage finally showed up the next morning - a few hours before our train to Lisbon, go figure! After another delectable breakfast, we went out exploring once more. We grabbed a lunch of croquettes and Port wine (our last chance to get it from the source!). The experience was enhanced because the book store that supposedly inspired depictions of Hogwarts was across the street and there was quite a line to get in. You could definitely tell who was really excited for it and who was just humoring their friends (i.e. the guy doing push ups on the empty bench).

Next up was the train to Lisbon! It was an easy and relatively scenic journey, but we were a bit unimpressed by how close we had to sit to other passengers considering the pandemic recommendations for social distancing. There were entirely empty cars that folks weren't allowed to sit in - instead we all had to sit in the same one? Confusing, but perhaps they had their reasons.

We stayed in a spot close to a big stately square, which we walked around before heading to the Time Out Market for a great plate of paella. Total offers to buy sunglasses: 2.

The next day was spent seeing some of the essential sites. We started out by taking the train down to the Torre de Belém, constructed in the 16th century. As we approached, we noticed a cart where a woman was serving juice in hollowed out pineapples. This seemed like a great idea, so we purchased one to drink while we marveled at the building. What we didn't account for was the fact that the pineapple wouldn't fit it any of the garbage cans... On the journey back, we encountered the impressive Monastery of Jerónimos, walked through a cute park, and finally managed to jam the pineapple into the trash.

Unbeknownst to me, Portugal is known for more than just Port wine. We found several spots that offered interesting liquors while we were visiting, including Licor Beirão, a sweet liquor, and Ginjinha, a cherry liquor sometimes served in tiny chocolate cups.

St George's Castle was a neat spot to check out, with its views of the city and pretty peacock population. The Alfama district was also fun to explore, with its old town vibe. We relaxed a bit at Rossio Square, enjoying the fountains and the people watching. Total offers to buy sunglasses: 8.

The next day, it was time to say farewell to Portugal. We took a final stroll around the city, ate some final pasteis de nata, and crossed our fingers that our luggage would make it back to Copenhagen on the same plane as us.