A first impression of Lisbon, Portugal
Lisbon, a city of artists and poets. City of tiles and mosaics. City of steep hills and yellow trams. I’ve traded hot, sweaty Bali for hot, burning Lisbon. A little closer to home, but still far enough to be unfamiliar and exciting. While I’ve lived in Europe all my life, I’ve never been to any of the southern countries. I figured it was high time to amend that and spend a month in Lisbon, Portugal.
The hills will kill you
Lisbon, the city of seven hills. They did not lie. I have cursed these hills to no end. But I love them as well. Steep and unforgiving, they also offer the best views of the city. Not to mention just how darn cute those small, steep streets are. Beautiful tiles, clotheslines hanging between buildings, and balconies filled with plants. Need a break from the endless hills and stairs? There’s a small strip of flat land that runs parallel next to the river. Perfect for an effortless stroll and it will take you right to some popular tourist attractions.
Very walkable
Okay, I just said the hills will kill you, so this might sound a bit contradictory. One thing that annoyed me most about Bali was that I didn’t feel safe walking. I love walking. It’s my primary means of transportation and I believe it’s the best way to explore a new place. Unfortunately, Bali was all about the motorbikes and there were hardly any safe sidewalks to walk on.
Lisbon is the opposite. Every street has a sidewalk and there are so few cars that it’s usually safe to walk on the street itself. Yes, some sidewalks are incredibly narrow, but that’s because Lisbon is full of these cute, steep, and extremely narrow streets. In those cases, you’ll often find little posts separating the sidewalk from the street, so people on foot are protected from oncoming traffic. Another great thing for a person who always gets sunburn, the buildings are really high and no matter what time of the day, you’ll always find a strip of shade to walk in to protect yourself from the burning sun. All this makes Lisbon a perfect city to explore on foot and I highly recommend you do just that. Lose yourself in the small alleyways and you’ll discover the cutest little streets and houses. Trust me, the soreness in your legs the next day will be worth it.
It’s hot - but that’s okay
This might be because we’re right in the middle of a record-breaking heatwave. I’ve just spent three months in Bali, but this is a different kind of heat. Most Lisbon houses don’t have air conditioning. Most Lisbon houses also have 2 feet thick walls, which help with keeping out the worst of the heat. Another thing I noticed about this city is that there are many public parks. And not public parks as I know them in Belgium. These parks are not covered in concrete and actually have big, mature trees, which are awesome for battling heatwaves. It has been proven multiple times that green parks are significantly cooler than the surrounding stone city. There are four of said parks within 5 minutes of walking distance of my Airbnb, and I go out every morning and evening to read and cool down a bit. In general, I’ve found it easier to handle 40°C heat here in Lisbon than 30°C back in Belgium.
Lisbon is right next to the Tagus River, which is also a perfect place to cool down if you’re overheating. The big river brings cooler winds and there are even a few places where you can dip your feet into the water.
My favorite reading spot in my favorite park. It’s at the top of a brutal hill, but so worth it.
Bakeries, butcher shops, and coffee
It depends a bit on in which district you find yourself, but it’s highly likely that you can’t move 100 meters without running into a bakery, butcher shop, and/or coffee shop. It’s great to see that these local mom-and-pop stores are still going strong in this city. As a result, you’ll have no trouble finding a pastel de nata. Pastel de nata is without a doubt the most famous dish in Lisbon and a must-try for everyone who ever finds themselves in Portugal.
The famous historic 28 tram
The same but not the same
When I first arrived in Bali, I got a major culture shock. The unintelligible language, the unfamiliar customs, and the strange foods really threw me off. That’s part of traveling, of course, but the combination of being way out of my comfort zone and not having something familiar to hold on to made it so much more intense than I was prepared for. Needless to say, I was a bit apprehensive about my stay in Lisbon. I’ve never been so far south in Europe and I knew absolutely nothing about Portugal or Lisbon. To my surprise, my first week in Lisbon differed completely from my first week in Bali. With Bali, my travel day was perfect and everything went according to plan. I was super ready to start my time in Bali with good vibes and positive energy, but reality turned out differently. Arriving in Lisbon was completely the opposite. My travel day went all wrong, and I was completely stressed out by the time I arrived at my Airbnb.
And yet, no culture shock or negative feelings at all. Lisbon differs greatly from what I’m used to back home. Just as in Bali, I don’t understand the language and even fewer people speak English here, but the city is undeniably influenced by the same western culture as Belgium. There are McDonald's and Burger King and all sorts of familiar food brands in every grocery store. There are historic trams packed with tourists huffing by and electric steps racing through the streets. All things I’m familiar with in my own country. At the same time, the experience is vastly different. There’s hardly any traffic here in Lisbon, the steep streets are hard on the legs but so beautiful to the eyes, people are much more relaxed and easygoing, a lot of stores close for a siesta in the afternoon, and there are so many people in the parks enjoying life.
I found that it’s the little familiar things that anchor me to the known that allow me to fully experience the unknown. Culture shock and homesickness can really mess up your experience, so if these silly “western consumerism things” help me feel at home in an unfamiliar place, then I gladly welcome them. The thing is, I don’t even need them. I never go to McDonald’s or Burger King and I try to eat as much local food as possible, but just knowing it’s there just in case I want it is all I need.