We left pretty early on Friday morning because we were going to have a long bus ride ahead of us. We finally got to Lisbon around 1:30 PM local time (they're an hour behind Spain) and met again at 3:30 PM to go to Castelo de São Jorge, located high up on a hill that overlooks the city and the river. We walked through the winding streets of the city to get there. I always love walking through the city, especially when I first arrive, because it really gives a sense of what the city is like. Our ISA director told us that Lisbon is sort of like a combination of San Francisco and Rome-- it is really old and has gorgeous architecture, but it's also a hilly city with working cable cars and it's very own Golden Gate Bridge!
When we finally reached the castle, we were all speechless. While we were all really excited about the Lisbon excursion, none of us had really had the time (or the overwhelming desire, I regret to say) to research Lisbon. We really had no idea what to expect. I think it was then that I realized how much I was in love with the city. We all took our 759 pictures from there and then continued on into the castle itself. There isn't really anything inside-- it's just open courtyard space-- but you can climb to the top of the wall surrounding the whole complex, and there are numerous things to hold your attention. Each side obviously offers a different view, but there are also little nooks and crannies that beg to be inspected as well. It was a beautiful afternoon, and I think I can speak for everyone when I say that we would not have wanted to spend it any other way.
After visiting Castelo de São Jorge, we were free to explore the city. It was around dinnertime, so we leisurely walked through the streets looking for somewhere that served Portuguese food. We were told to try a certain dish, which our directors told us was like paella but with more soup. (I can't for the life of me remember the name of it.) It was really good! Very fishy, but that doesn't bother me, so I liked it! After dinner, we walked the streets and observed how the Portuguese like to "let loose." Many people think that Portugal and the Portuguese are a lot like Spain and the Spanish, and in some ways, they are. But really, the two cultures are very different. It's difficult to explain; the Portuguese seem to be more laid back and casual. Not that the Spanish aren't, of course, but Lisbon had the relaxed feel of a seaside town, despite the fact that it has no actual coast line. The food and the language also separate the cultures. It is often thought that the Portuguese language is only a little different from Spanish, and while it is true that a lot of their words are similar, it is also very easy to see the French influence on the language as well.
The next day, we went with the group to tour the Monasterio de los Jerónimos, the Torre de Belem, and the Monument to the Discoveries, and then we were on our own. We found this little Italian place in the Barrio Alto for lunch (I know, it isn't Portuguese, but what can I say?), and it turned out to be some of the best food we've had. They had homemade pasta. :) It was great. Then we walked to this small park area that overlooked the lower parts of the city, the castle, and the river and relaxed and chatted for the rest of the afternoon. I think it was then when I began to realize that leaving Europe in June is going to be just as hard as I thought it might be...
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