Oops I… Escaped to Lisbon

Seeing my family name scattered around Lisbon streets, the smell of bacalao wafting through the air, and the colorful tiles sprinkled throughout the city: Lisbon was like a hug from your favorite cousin. 

I sat in the bus, listening to the chatter of tourists and watching the mountains and the castles passing by. I had woken up at a heinous hour and started my walk to the train, to the bus, to the flight that was taking me to Portugal that morning. 

Call of Adventure

Months ago, I answered the call of adventure (and my brother) and booked my flight to Lisbon. The plan was to go see my brother and his girlfriend on their trip, Lisbon being, in a strange turn of events, a much closer meeting point than Chicago. 

A sibling is your original partner in life. A friendship forged through sharp legos, tough punishments, never-ending chores, crumpled paper airplanes, long road trips, ‘accidental’ injuries, and a shared childhood is the strongest kind of friendship there is. We laughed and bickered and reminisced as we always do, happy to be able to see each other. 

The next day, after another morning spent eating, walking, and adventuring, I said goodbye to my brother and his girl and prepped to take on the rest of my trip solo. 

Portugal felt easy. It was easy to talk to people, easy to navigate, and easy to breathe in. 

The next couple of days, I explored the city. Every leisurely walk turned into a workout, courtesy of the steep stairs littered throughout the city. I climbed stairs in forts, castles, museums, flea markets, bookstores, galleries, and beaches; every step blissful in its aching. 

Lisbon on Rewind

My last night in Lisbon, I found myself standing in a cobblestone alley, freshly tanned and bathed in the light of a neon sign. I stood in line in the little alley of the packed local restaurant Tu e Eu.

“How many people?” the waiter went down the line asking. “Two! Five! Four!” the crowd echoes. “One!” I joined in. The girl in front of me chimed in, “Also one!”. 

You see what I mean? Easy. 

A stranger turned friend by the simple question, “Do you want to share a table?”. A driver turned local guide with connections and a deal on port wine. A handsome Brit turned moonlight dance partner and football coach.

I left Lisbon with the smell of the sea in my hair, the taste of pastel de nata on my tongue, and a huge smile on my face. 

One more experience, one more tile on the mosaic of life.