Lisbon

Lisbon. Why Lisbon? What the things I’ve done? How I accidentally walk 30 kilometres (18.6411 Miles ;) or how come there are millions of tourists on the streets. You are reading my Lisbon trip which is completed yesterday. As I mention in my previous blog posts, this is not a guide. It is an experience. My main purpose is here is to give you my perspective about the Lisbon. Also, I’ll talk about the story of the photos and little bit philosophy. I want to combine all of them. So, get a coffee because why not?

Let’s start with the first question. Why Lisbon? All the people who I met during this trip asked me that question. So, the answer is simple. Thank you Ryanair! If I were be more serious about it. My answer would be that I wanted to go to the end of the world before the explore of the America continent. Imagine you are living in those times. Portugal was the edge of the known world. In that sense, I think it is similar to looking at the stars. We can’t see the beyond of the visible universe. We don’t know what is there. Of course scientist have some opinions about our universe. But this is not the topic that I want to talk about it. The thing is the visible universe for us was the Atlantic Oceans' horizon about five hundred years ago. People were thinking that the Cabo da Roca was the end of the world. I went there. I looked through the absolute west. There was nothing except Atlantic ocean and the sky. I wish I could stay there little bit longer and go into the deep thoughts. Sadly I’ve spent only 30 minutes there. They say in the sunset the sun go down through the ocean. So Next time I’ll make sure that I’ll be there at sunset and also I'll to hiking over there.

I want to ask a question to myself because obviously there is no one around to ask me while I am writing this. Why did you walk 30 kilometres and go for pub crawl in your first day? I’m not sure exactly. I landed Lisbon around 9 in the morning. Then I found myself in the Baixa. I walked through, Arco da Rua Augusta. I passed Elevador de Santa Justa. However I didn’t stop for them. First I needed a cup of coffee. For that, I had few options. I do like my trips as spontaneous as possible. So, I walked through Cais do Sodre. In this moment I want to thank to yoldabiblog.com and oitheblog.com. I read their blog posts for Lisbon. To be honest I didn’t read carefully because I did not want to do what they did. I looked for food recommendations and must to go places. So after the giving some reference, I’m continue with my story. First I went for Cafe Janis. It was full. I disappointed. There were a long queue. I wasn’t willing to wait in queue so I skip for another coffee shop. I walked through the uphill. It feels so different after Dublin. How different let me explain. Everything were in yellow tones. Bright. Looks old but at the same time there were a style on the buildings. In every building there are various designs of tiles. They are colourful and Very beautiful. In addition, the pavements and roads are covered with small stones. It made my feet uncomfortable at some point, but I must say that it added a character to the city. I know, I know I’m not writing a guide, but.. make sure that you have proper shoes if you go there. It is slippery even in sunny day. Imagine rainy day. Phew! I needed to give you this for your safety.

So after 10 minutes uphill I’ve reached the Dear Breakfast. But what’s that? There were a group was waiting in front of the entrance. I asked myself, What is going on? I asked the waitress and she told me to wait about 30 minutes. I thanked and continue. I know, I know these are the most recommended coffee shop but so what? In the end it’s a cup of coffee right? I am aware of that my last question can lead to heated discussions. Please do not by yourself. Talk with someone or write a blog po…

Neoclassical architecture with Tram 28 route

After the feel the coffee in my veins. I was ready. I WAS READY TO EXPLORE! I got my Lisboa Card and went directly to Lisboa Story Centre. There are two things for Lisbon. Earthquake and being home for explorers. There was a massive earthquake in 1755. First most of the city became a pile of rubble. Then the tsunami and the fires. I can’t imagine the atmosphere of those times. There are lots of hills in Lisbon so some areas like Alfama did not affected a much for the events. People thought to move the centre of the city to the other places. However, I don’t know exactly who (It’s not a history blog) and when did it but they design the Baixa from scratch. I walked around those streets. Every building on the same height. Streets are on same length. Easy to find your way. So, if you get the idea about the history of Lisbon, it is enough for me.

I have a news for you. If you liked so far this point, hold on I couldn’t even reach the noon of the first day. So, I walked through the Castelo de Sao Jorge. There was a long queue, again. I skipped. Then I went to the Miradouro da Graça view point. When I reached there, I did not fascinated. I can’t express my feelings. It looked familiar to me. Looks a bit like Istanbul. I tried to understand which location is where but I couldn’t. I left to come back again later.

National Tile Museum was closed on Saturday. It’s a bit unusual right? Tourists usually come for a weekend and the museum was closed. I didn’t mind actually. I was in Lisbon not because of that museum or the others. I didn’t enter Lisbon Cathedral as well. Actually I’m not sure that was a Lisbon Cathedral or not. They tried to charge me 5 euros. It’s OK not expensive but the thing is that was a cathedral. People go there for praying. I’m not going to pay 5 euros for that sorry. In front of the cathedral the Tram 28 line was passing. I followed a bit and I lost in the streets for a few hours.

I’m not sure but I think after 20 kilometres (12.4274 Miles ;) I stopped at A Cultura do Hamburger. I’m not a food lover. All I can say is I could finish my meal. This place also was recommended from blogs. When I saw a Guinness Beer on the bar I smiled. I’m not Irish. However It’s been more than a year in Dublin. I think it is normal to felt in that way. In addition, the people who I met usually surprised that. I’m Turkish and I’m living in Dublin. One edge of Europe to other edge. I keep saying the people who I met. Who are they?

What I saw in their eyes was that they were all looking for something.

I don’t know who are they. I know only the names and their experience. I’ve met them in the rooftop of my hostel. I’ve never ever experienced like this before. Everyone were friendly. All of them has unique story. Some of them were in Lisbon because of work. Most of them were in vacation. Few of them start from Barcelona to Lisbon. Few of them the opposite. Few of them were travelling for months. Some of them only for few days. What I see in their eyes is that all of them was searching something. Maybe a feeling. Maybe happiness. They were trying to not to think their problems. Same as me.

It is easy to overthink. The trips like this taught me do not overcomplicated things. Leave it to current. Do not miss the moment. Don’t forget past. Don't obsess about the future. You have to make balance my friend. What I suggest you is that slow sometimes. Take it easy. Do what necessary to do for relaxation. I was studying for relaxation in high school. Does it sounds odd? Perhaps. Let me explain this. I knew It what I need to study. Which topics should I study more. I was fully focused on this. I had an objective. The thing is I forgot to live the moment on high school and university. Maybe the system obligated me to do so. If you want to be successful, you have to study, make sacrifice from your social life. Of course not all the people same. What I am trying to say is I couldn't find the balance.

These trips make me focus on today. I’m walking in the streets and I lost on purpose. I go with my gut feelings. It is not important if it’s the most recommended place. If I don’t want to be there, I just pass. I know It’s not possible for everyday life. I can suggest you to change yourself. If you not like a part of your behaviour, change it. Change the thing you can control. I’m reading a book about stoicism. Stoicism suggest you change your focus on the things you can control. You can’t control the weather of today. Do not be stressful about it. Just accept it and focus on the things you can control like your habits, behaviour, communication etc. I’m not saying ignore it, understand the things but don’t think the things more than it should be. Observe your feelings. Try to understand what you like or dislike. Don’t harsh on yourself. Be kind of everyone and and the most importantly to yourself.

As I said I’ve lost a lot, not just on streets. Maybe it explains why I walked so much. I was looking for something. I was looking around but I couldn’t focus entirely at least till some point. Now I see clearer. I was definitely thinking lots of things. This was the whole point of my trip but obviously you can’t left them behind. It is way easier to walk whole day around the hills than thinking whole day.

The things changed when I went to hostel. As I mention before the rooftop was beyond my expectations. It’s not my first time to stay at hostel. However, It’s the first time talk with the travellers. I told myself, something is wrong. Either this is normal or my past experience. As I mention before all of them were friendly. I don’t need to remember those conversations. However those are make me grow. I was like them. I’m travelling. I’m still in the beginning of this journey but I realized that I have fun travel stories to tell them. Those were very fun evenings. I like Lisbon not only because of architecture or hot weather, also because of those travellers who I met. I’m thankful for them.

In other perspective, I realised that all of us were going same places, streets and take pictures etc. We all living in the same world but all of us different. It’s make me feel very unique. I sometimes go to the famous places like Lisbon and not take picture. Yeah, believe me I do not like to take picture every thing. I observe the area. I try to think those who built or the people who are lived in here in the past. I like to go into deep thoughts by that. The pictures I took only the tip of the iceberg of my travels.

I went to Belem in my second day. I could walk there but maps shows more than two hours of walking. So, It was an easy decision. There was a long queue on the Jeronimos Monastery, I only looked the details on the surface of building. There were lots of details. I wasn’t sure the meaning all of them but does it really necessary? I sat on the bench and watch the people who are waiting on the Portuguese sun. It just not make sense to me. Wait for about an hour for what? An old building or museum. It’s not right for me. Anyway, I saw the Monument of Discoveries on my back side. So, I walked there. There were lots of explorers looking at one direction. I looked same as them. There wasn’t any specific thing on that direction. So, I think it’s just a metaphor.

Well, all blogs and vlogs says Sintra must to go place if you come to Lisbon. My hostel provided a daily tour for Sintra and Cabo da Roca. I was thinking to go by myself with public transport but It was going to take lots of time. First destination was the Pena Place. We got only garden ticket. We walked through the inside of the garden by meaningful conversations. I had a chance to talk all of them individually. I usually go that kind of places on my own. It was a bit unusal to me to talk whole day. However, I must say I liked it. I learned new things from them. I was the guide. Well, at least I tried. Then we went to reverse stairs. Quinta da Regaleira. The stairs built in spirit of romanticism and ideals. It’s a journey into an imaginary universe of symbolism and metaphor. It was written in the ticket, and I read while I was going down. I kept asking myself and others. What they were mean by symbolism. Maybe it was about to emphasise to unusual, I’m not sure. After that we went into the caves. To be honest I could not see any romanticism or something on the Quinta da Regaleira.

In the end, on my last day on Lisbon I was happy to finish my objectives for this trip. I had already been to the places I wanted to go and I had a whole day before my flight in the afternoon. I start from the Miradouro da Graça view point. Now that location made sense to me. I stay there about 10 minutes. Then I started to follow Tram 28 line. I did not take Tram on this trip. I followed the line from one end to the other. I walked uphill and downhill through the old town.

11 May 2023

Osman Kerem

Lisbon

Thoughts

Five Minutes