As I finished up my week in Lisbon, I feel like I have seen a lot of the city. Most of my days were spent walking through the Latin Quarter and Alfama district which were both neat to get lost in because there are so many unique buildings and tile works throughout the narrow alleyways. My plans however were greatly changed due to the hop-on, hop-off tour bus I was taking around the city, breaking down twice. So, I didn't get to see everything that I had originally planned to visit, but I was presented with the other wonders of Lisbon. On my way to visit the Sao Roque church (which has the most expensive altar in the world) the bus broke down for the second time, but it broke down near the basilica which was absolutely beautiful (and the highlight of time in Lisbon), as well as a lovely park. So I am taking what I have learned on the camino and applying it now - when things don't go according to plan, keep moving forward, and eventually it will all work out. On my final day in northern Portugal, I was planning on taking a day trip to Sintra, a very beautiful city with a fairytale atmosphere. The day before my tour I called to confirm my pick-up time and location, and after being redirected to five different numbers, I was told to call the first number I had called, and finally got my confirmation. The tour director told me that I would be picked up outside of my hostel at 8:20am, so, on the day of the tour, I was outside by 8am. 8:20 rolled along and the bus was still not here. Another twenty minutes passed and I was still waiting. I was starting to become frustrated, and because the company didn't open until 9am, I wasn't able to call anybody. So after over an hour of waiting, I got a hold of the tour director and asked why I was not picked up at my designated time and location. This is when I was informed that they do not pick up outside of hostels and that I was supposed to go to the bus station where I would be met with the bus. When I explained what I had been told on the previous day, there was no apology, instead, the lady told me that I must have called the wrong number (which I didn't). After this little mess up, I was not in the best of moods, but I still really wanted to go to Sintra. So, I hopped on the train, when to Sintra, and did all of the sightseeing that I was supposed to do in the first place. I visited the Moorish castle, the Pena Palace (which is very colorful and architecturally fascinating), and I visited a palace with a very beautiful garden. The garden was neat because there are many grottos that you can walk through, and all of the cave tunnels lead to different places throughout the park. I got lost a few times and had no idea where I was, but it was fun to explore this massive garden. After a full day of sightseeing in Sintra I took the train back into Lisbon and went straight to bed. The next day I would be back on a bus, this time headed to Lagos in the south.
Today was my first full day in Lagos, and what did I do all day? I spent the entire day at the beach! The sun was shining, there wasn't a cloud in the sky, and the hot sand felt amazing on my decaying feet. Lagos is a beautiful city, and it is completely different from all of the places I have visited. Not only is Lagos a tourist town and beach resort, but it is mostly owned by the Brits, so everywhere I walk people are speaking English. Although its nice to hear people having conversations in my mother tongue, I miss the language barrier and attempting to communicate with the waiters and store owners. But, I am in lover with Lagos! The beaches are beautiful and everything is within walking distance. My only negative about Lagos is that the water is still freakin cold!! I was hoping that since I am in the south and close to the Mediterranean that it was going to be warm, but the ocean is heart attack cold. I went in a few times to cool off, but after about five minutes when my body is completely numb, I need to get out! I am also really enjoying the food. Everything is really cheap so I can afford to eat three times a day rather than just once. Plus, all of the cravings that I had on the camino (sushi, fish and chips, steak, and the list goes on) are all in Lagos, so every night I get to eat at a restaurant with all of the food I have been missing.I have another four days in Lagos before I head back into Spain and then Morocco. Because there isn't a whole lot to do and see hear, I am going to relax at the beach and enjoy the few remaining days I have left on my adventure. Maybe I will go on a dolphin sightseeing excursion, maybe I will go scuba-diving. My options are endless!
