• About
  • Blog
  • Working together
  • Testimonials
  • Contact

Girl Gone Travel

Girl Gone Travel

Europe, Travel
/
November 19, 2014

A Taste of Lisbon, Portugal

Enjoyed this post? Give it some love and share!
Share

Two days are hardly enough time to visit Lisbon, but this is the part where my job gets in the way a bit. I would love to stay here longer and take in the city even more, but I must move on to cover other places. Were I to take a regular tour with Insight Vacations, my visit would be longer and the pace slower. But as a media guest invited by the company (full disclosure), I am seeing the highlights, which at least are enough to convince me that this is a city worth exploring.

I ended my last night in Lisbon having drinks by candlelight and resting from a long day, while listening to Fado in the trendy, night life area of Bairro Alto. The evening was cool and rainy and beautiful.

Fado is a traditional Portuguese form of song categorized by deeply emotional melodies and lyrics. I sat there entranced by the voices of each singer, accompanied by three guitarists, and couldn’t help but feel a sense in my heart that lets me know that something really special is taking place in front of you. I couldn’t understand the words being sung, but the emotion behind each song was very clear. I remember thinking at one point that this is what Insight Vacation does so well; they leave you with the memories of unique travel moments like these.

Lisbon_girlgonetravel

Fado in Lisbon_girlgonetravel

My first few hours here have been magical from the start, in that hazy, jet-lagged kind of way. Refusing to sleep after flying through the night and arriving early morning, I joined some friends and made my way to the oldest district in Lisbon: Alfama. The public transportation in Lisbon is easy to use and taking the tram 28 (at the time of this posting it costs 2.85 euros one way to ride the tram) was easy-peasy. Alfama was the totality of the city during the time of the Moorish domination and today it represents the oldest district in Lisbon. Chances are your Insight Vacation tour won’t take you through the narrow streets of what is considered home to many lower-income locals, but what’s wonderful about these tours is that you have the flexibility to explore it on your own if you wish, which I highly recommend.

Lisbon tram_girlgonetravel

Lisbon_girlgonetravelThere are tons of cafes, shops, and bars, but what was a highlight for me were the colors everywhere, whether on the tiles on almost every building I walked past, or the bright yellow of the trams that passed by, or the laundry hanging outside, or the roof tops from Miradouro de Santa Luzia. The sights are spectacular.

Lisbon_girlgonetravel Lisbon_girlgonetravel Lisbon_girlgonetravel Lisbon_girlgonetravel

There are so many photography-worthy sights here in Lisbon, but I really appreciated having kicked off my visit in Alfama because it gave me a raw view of the culture, people, and place. There are plenty of attractions here as well. Such the medieval Castle of São Jorge and the Museum of Decorative Arts, but I suggest putting on your most comfortable walking shoes and prepare to adventure through the winding, up-and-down paths of this interesting district. I spent my entire first day here, and still didn’t see it all. It takes so long to get through any part of the city, because the beauty is in the details of everything your eyes from see.

Lisbon_girlgonetravel

Lisbon_girlgonetravel Lisbon_girlgonetravel Lisbon_girlgonetravel Lisbon_girlgonetravel

Lisbon is known for its escalating and descending streets. I have been told that people often get lost through the maze-like paths, but it’s not difficult to find help. This is the capital of Portugal and one of the oldest cities of the world, so it is very cosmopolitan and busy. Many people I have met speak English, but I have heard tons of other languages as well, primarily French and Spanish (in addition to the local Portuguese, of course). The weather is Mediterranean, though it can get chilly during the shoulder seasons. If you don’t like the humidity and heat, this might be a great time to visit, just remember to also bring a rain jacket. Its river is the beautiful River Tagus, the largest in the Iberian Peninsula. Its surrounding ocean is the Atlantic.Lisbon_girlgonetravel

I have eaten a lot of shrimp here and tried sardine pates for the first time (yum!). I’ve also had a generous amount of Port. Artichoke is another local favorite. I ate a Pastéis de Belém, a treat that has been a part of the general Lisbon culinary culture since 1837. These warm cream pastries prepared daily with over 150 employees working at this establishment by the same name, to serve 20,000 of them during the week days and 50,000 during the weekends! I get it though, they are delicious! A must have.

Lisbon_girlgonetravelLisbon_girlgonetravelLisbon_girlgonetravelLisbon_girlgonetravel

In Lisbon, the people are lovely, though not in a soft-spoken way. I also haven’t found it to be a particularly expensive city to visit. Granted, I have searched for places to eat that are inexpensive when touring on my own, but these aren’t hard to find. Of course, those on an Insight Vacation tour have access to some of the finest restaurants in the city, so spending money on a nice, high-end meal is not something you need to invest in too much on your own time. A meal of sardines with warm rice and beans can cost you less than 10 euros.

Lisbon_girlgonetravel

Another must is the out-of-town visit to Sintra, a UNESCO World Heritage site less than half an hour from Lisbon. A lot of out-of-towners come here to take in the sights of the Moorish Castle and the National Palace of Sintra, just to name a few. This town is like a scene from a fairytale, and even with all the rain during the time of my visit, I couldn’t help but feel like I was walking through the pages of a storybook. You can drive (though it can be really difficult to park and a bit congested) or take a train from Lisbon. Of course, the tour offers a comfortable coach and driver, so you don’t have to worry about any of those details.

Lisbon_girlgonetravelLisbon_girlgonetravel

On my last night, after a fun ferry ride and dinner with friends, I was where my post began, listening to beautiful music and relaxing. Part of this trip is the beautiful destination, but I also really do enjoy getting a taste of the luxury experience offered all guests. And the people I am traveling with are so fun. It’s easy to meet people and make friends this way. I’m surprised more solo travelers don’t consider this travel option more.

Lisbon_girlgonetravel

The service is top-notch, but so are the people I am traveling with. 

I wasn’t sure what to expect from Lisbon, though I know that I wasn’t expecting all it has to offer. If you are considering a visit to Lisbon, know simply that it is easy to navigate, easy to communicate in, has plenty of inexpensive and delicious food options, is cooler during the shoulder months (though with more rain as well), and has a great public transportation system. Oh, and you will definitely want to bring your camera.

Lisbon_girlgonetravelLisbon_girlgonetravel Lisbon_girlgonetravel

If you consider discovering the city through an Insight Vacations tours, then just know that you will have the options to enjoy both guided tours and time on your own to explore, plus all the luxury in hotel, transportation, and restaurant experiences.

Check out more on our fun whirlwind adventure with #InsightIberia on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter!

Images used in this post were photographed with a Sony NEX-5TL/W, using the Sony SELP18105G E PZ 18-105mm F4 G OSS. All photography is property of Girl Gone Travel and may not be used without direct consent of the publisher. 

Disclosure: I traveled as part of a media group courtesy of Insight Vacations. All updates are at my discretion and all opinions are my own.

Related

Enjoyed this post? Give it some love and share!
Share
Pin this Post
Share this Post
Carol Cain

Brooklyn native Carol is happiest when on an adventure, whether close to home or farther away. She is a small business owner and travel writer. In addition to creating Girl Gone Travel, she is the Founder and Principal of Brave World Media, a social media marketing, communications, and branding agency. She's mom to three wonderful sons and wife to a handsome Irish/Scot. She lives, works, and plays in the beautiful Finger Lakes region of NY.

You May Also Like...

Christmas Tree Hunting in Long Island, NY

December 12, 2008

Fort Tryon Park, Washington Heights, NY

December 10, 2008

Winter afternoon in the Bronx Zoo, NY

December 16, 2008
6 Comments
  • thebritishberliner
    November 24, 2014

    I love your photographs Carol as they bring back so many memories. I have been to Lisbon and Sinatra and both places were amazing. I especially liked the history of the Moors and the hanging of the washing on every corner! The people were warm and lovely and at the time, (7 years ago), I stayed in a private roof-top room of a fantastic hostel. You could sit on the edge of the window and to your right was the sea and to your left, fantastic old-town traditional shops!

    It was great and so were those delicious custard pies. We had loads of them every day as they were totally irresistable.
    Love it! Love it! Love it!

    Reply
    • caincarol
      thebritishberliner
      December 6, 2014

      Thank you so much! So happy to help bring back such happy memories : )

      Reply
  • Fabiana
    December 4, 2014

    Gorgeous photos of a place i really miss.

    Reply
    • caincarol
      Fabiana
      December 6, 2014

      Thank you!

      Reply
  • Christina Nguyen
    November 23, 2015

    Your photos make me feel like I was right there traveling with you! Great shots since we all know the struggle of capturing the beauty as well as our eyes can see.

    Reply
    • caincarol
      Christina Nguyen
      November 23, 2015

      Thank you so much! I am so happy to hear. Lisbon is such a great city though, not hard to capture all those colors : )

      Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Previous Post
Behind the photo: City of Music
Next Post
Family, Turkey, and Christmas Tree Hunting

About me

Hi! I'm Carol! I am an award-winning travel blogger, a keynote speaker, and the Principal and owner of Brave World Media, a social media marketing, communications, and branding agency. I a wife to a handsome Irish/Scot and a mom to 3 sons and 2 puppies. Welcome to my blog where I share stories of my travels and professional public relations insights and advice. Thank you for reading and for your support!

Carol Cain

Categories

  • Asia5 Post(s)
  • Caribbean17 Post(s)
  • Central America4 Post(s)
  • Europe53 Post(s)
  • North America316 Post(s)
  • Oceana1 Post(s)

Contact

  • carol@girlgonetravel.com

Follow @girlgonetravel

Are you a MacKenzie-Childs fan? I only heard about Are you a MacKenzie-Childs fan? I only heard about @mackenziechilds after moving to the Finger Lakes, as did my husband. But my MIL is very well-versed in all things MC and is a massive fan. We were so pleased to have learned that her visit coincided with their Artisan Crafts Festival (going on through today, Oct 1, 2023), featuring regional artisans and craft makers, as well as tons of discounted MC items! We thought for sure this would be fun FOR HER and that was the goal. Little did WE ALL expect - including the teens - to enjoy it so much and get caught up in the excitement of finding items we also wanted (the pumpkins and Xmas decor were a huge hit)! Plus the festival has several delicious food trucks and beautiful grounds to explore, as well as this whimsical farmhouse to tour - seen here. 

So we walked away with several goodies (not just for grandma) and a lesson on not making assumptions because we actually really loved it. In the end, it was such a fun day and we all agreed we would return, even without grandma in tow!

To learn more about the artists who founded MacKenzie-Childs and the fun festivals they host throughout the year, visit their website.

#mackenziechilds #aurorany #fingerlakes #artsandcrafts
The only place I happily wake up before the sun is The only place I happily wake up before the sun is in the country because it is absolutely magical. ✨

#fingerlakes #countryside #myflx #countryliving
There’s so much to see, pick, eat, and enjoy dur There’s so much to see, pick, eat, and enjoy during harvest season in the Finger Lakes! The lakes are a bit colder but still so beautiful, our favorite wineries are busy harvesting grapes (thanks to our friends at @wagnervineyards for taking me along for the ride!), and there is so much abundance from our local farmers to enjoy!

Here’s a glimpse of life in wine country! 🍁🍂🍎🍏🎃

#myflx #flxwinecountry #harvest #citygirlgonecountry #countrylife
My awesome babes. Love them so much. #NationalSons My awesome babes. Love them so much. #NationalSonsDay
The early morning fog is my favorite view of the s The early morning fog is my favorite view of the season. If by the lake it dances over the vineyards, water, and hills. If in the valleys, like Corning, it sits like a blanket cuddling the streets and homes while everyone slowly starts their day.

The runners at this weekend’s @wgmarathon might get to enjoy a glimpse of it as they start their race (I will be up early to cheer my girl @thereshegoesagn on! 🙌🏾). But even if you don’t get up early enough to enjoy this sight, the fall colors are here to take your breath away too. 🍁🍂 

#myflx #flxwinecountry #corningny #flxfall #bestfallgetaways #fallvibes #autmnseason
Yay! It’s officially autumn, my absolute favorit Yay! It’s officially autumn, my absolute favorite season especially since moving to the Finger Lakes! Harvest has already started and soon everything will be colorful with a warm glow. 🍂🍁🎃 Have you visited the region in the fall?

#myflx #fingerlakes #flxwinecountry #flxfall

Copyright © 2023 Girl Gone Travel | Privacy Policy | Copyright Notice