Not all of my memories of Lisbon are about sweating balls and breaking ribs, contrary to the impression my previous post may leave (see Swiping Left on Lisbon). The fact that I did not connect with the city does not mean that I did not enjoy the city. Far from it.
My quality of life was high. I had a nice apartment, a great roommate, and a wonderful workspace. My apartment had charm and was one of the few I could see myself choosing to live in, lack of AC withstanding. I did not know Jill well prior to living together. I am grateful that being roommates gave me the opportunity, for I got to see the depth behind the laughter that she leads with. I spend more time in the workspace than I do in my apartment, so it’s always a plus when I enjoy the workspace. WIP Lisbon was inviting, beautiful, and had a surplus of call booths. Yet the best part was my proximity to WIP: I lived on the same street, half a block away. Taking the commute out of your daily equation is a gamechanger. This luxury was not lost on me, I promise you.
I had the time of my life during one of my first nights out in Lisbon. The outdoor cinema at Topo Chiado was playing Dirty Dancing, a movie I have seen hundreds of times, but I gladly paid $9 to see again. Dirty Dancing is one of the first movies I saw on VHS, a formative movie for this young girl, but also one of the best summertime movies in my opinion. So on a summer night in Lisbon, I sat on a rooftop with my girls Danche and Mary and got lost in the feel good moments between my headphones. The time of our lives continued after Baby did the lift. When the movie ended, a headphone dance party ensued to the movie soundtrack and other dance classics. A night dancing under the stars. I see you Lisbon.
I was fortunate to get my second visitor while in Lisbon. Colleen, my friend and forever work wife (even though we don’t work together anymore) came for a long weekend. When I walked out of the callbooth and saw her standing in the workspace, I ran to greet her, as if I didn’t know she was coming. To see a familiar face in your current natural habitat is beyond exciting (hence my welcome). And if friends are good for one thing, it’s giving you an incentive to take a day off from work. If Colleen hadn’t been in town, I wouldn’t have looked twice at the plus event Remote Year was offering that Thursday at Parque Natural da Arrrábida.
The day was dreamy. In one of those, is my life a movie moments, our guide for the day was a handsome and charming Portuguese surf instructor named Nuno. We spent the day at the magnificent beaches of Parque Natural da Arrrábida where we kayaked, swam, and had a fresh fish lunch overlooking the beach.
After lunch we ended up exploring an abandoned house, which sounds shady, but was one of those magical travel moments you stumble into and won’t forget. We sang along to the songs in the van, as Nuno drove us back home with sand in our shoes and tired bones. You know it, the kind of beautiful exhaustion that can only come from a day spent outdoors. A day out of the office, in nature, with a good friend is a very good day. I see you Arrrábida.
Arrrábida was a singular day. I was fortunate to have another singular experience while in Lisbon. One of the perks of traveling with Remote Year are “track events” or curated, local experiences included in your monthly fee. I can confidently say about each track event that I would not have had the experience on my own. If RY does one thing well, it is source local talent. Every tour guide I have had this year has been outstanding and positively added to the overall experience. Well, let me just say that RY outdid themselves with the “West Coast, Best Coast” event.
We toured the west coast of Portugal, including Cabo da Roca, the most western point in Continental Europe in restored UMM Jeeps, previously used by the Portuguse army. We took the top off and cruised the coast on a beautiful Sunday afternoon. It was by far, the best way to see the coastline, the forest and the trees. It was a true off-road experience for this city mouse. It may sound silly, but the vehicle made the experience what it was, an adventure. And the captain of our afternoon adventure, was our awesome tour guide Nelson of Safari Flamingo Tours. He was knowledgeable, fun, and the best ambassador to Sintra and the west coast. I see you Sintra.
I see you Portugal. You left me with a lot to remember. Although I didn’t connect with Lisbon the way I have other cities, I am grateful for the reflection a piece like this allows me. For recalling the good times helps me to see that beauty and gratitude is everywhere and in every experience.
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