7 days | Jun 2019 | Drone shot of Sanctuary of Christ the King overlooking Lisbon, Portugal.
Quick Thoughts
2020 sucks.
Sorry had to get that off my chest..
Portugal though?? Amazing to say the least. I spent seven days with a close friend roadtripping across the country, constantly in a state of amazement at the surrounding wonders. We started in Lisbon, drove inland to the Serra da Estrela mountains, stopped in the vibrant city of Porto, then pivoted south along the coastline to the magical town of Sintra before capping it off back in Lisbon. Each destination has its own color and vibes which deserves undivided attention to fully appreciate it.
Best way to sum it up? If roadtripping through Portugal turned out to be the cure to a global pandemic, I wouldn’t be surprised.
Key Highlights
Link to my collection of Instagram Stories from the trip!
Porto - My biggest regret was only having a day to spend here. I’d love to spend an endless period of time exploring this city.
A child’s bliss - Being reminded that children have an amazing superpower: the ability to enjoy the little things in life, like chasing after bubbles without a care in the world.
Sintra & Azenhas do Mar - Sintra is this magical town built on an absurdly steep mountainside along the coastline. I still have residual nightmares of driving up the impossibly narrow mountain roads without smashing into everything. Yet here I am, wishing I could live there, the views are that stunning.
Praça do Comércio - I enjoy taking long exposure shots, standing patiently in one place allowing time to smooth away the chaos, leaving behind motionless serenity. Trying to apply this perspective to 2020..
Sunrise shot @ Vasco da Gama Bridge - Funny enough, I was upset with myself because I forgot my main camera gear for this shoot. But it led to a much-needed revelation. I’d become overly consumed with taking the “perfect shot” that I almost forgot to enjoy the moment as it passed me by. Definitely something I’ll take to heart going forward on my future travel endeavors.
LxFactory - My favorite place to explore in Lisbon was this hipster art district.
Pastéis de Belém - The OG of egg custard cakes. Go here. Just do it.
Things to Know
Spend more time in Porto!
In Lisbon, try out the Lime scooters to get around. Cheap and quite the thrill.
Places I stayed: Porto Spot Hostel, Nice Way Sintra Palace, Lisbon Marriott Hotel, Sant Jordi Hostels Lisbon.
