Why I fell in love with Portugal

The real Lisbon: simplicity, authenticity and joie de vivre

I spent 3 days in Lisbon with 5 girlfriends. One of them is actually Portuguese. There is no better way to discover a new country when you are accompanied by a local person.  

I loved the city, the people and the food.

Lisbon is the capital of Portugal. The history of this city is fascinating. The Lonely planet guide describes this very well. Walking around is probably the best way to discover this place. If you get tired, there is a very good tram system. The line 28 takes you to the old part of town.




As you get closer to the centre, you will find beautiful classic architecture. Some buildings need a bit of TLC but it actually gives the city its unique charm. It did remind me of Cuba: not overly developed (if we compare with other European capital cities), very old shops and a few graffiti.

It is really nice to see that Portuguese people are holding on to their traditions. Finding souvenirs which are made in Portugal is pretty easy. You can get some lovely potteries or colourful ceramic tiles.  

The food is simple but so tasty. Their speciality is bacalhau, dried salty codfish which is cooked in many different ways (tomato sauce, olive oil and garlic sauce, white sauce etc...).

Portuguese people love their desserts. One of their specialities is custard tarts. If you are going to have one dessert, you should definitely try them.

This country has so much to offer. The best places seem to be hidden behind old facades. You have to talk to the locals to discover those treasures.

And how refreshing it was to find a place which wasn't developed to accomodate tourists needs. I believe the resorts by the seaside are pretty developed in this country, but the capital is so full of character. I highly recommend a little trip to Lisboa.



Our first Portuguese lesson





Bacalhau: Portuguese word for dried and salted codfish - simply delicious





Amazing choice of pastries






















Old cash register - holding on tradition

Tram: a great way to visit the old town



Have you been to Portugal?
What did you think?