Portugal, A.K.A. Lets Get Started
Portugal was the starting point of our European backpacking adventure. From Canada, a flight to Portugal only costs about $500 -- this only slightly more than the cost of a cheap flight from Toronto Vancouver some days. This is why we chose to start in Portugal.
We hadn't planned on visiting Western Europe very much, for 2 reasons: 1. Countries in the West are a lot more expensive than countries in the East, and 2. We wanted a more unique, less experienced trip.
Looking back on the trip now, I consider us lucky having started in Portugal and not farther East. Our attention to budget rewarded us with this amazing country and all it had to offer. We could have easily spent weeks there as there were still so many places we wanted to see. Plus, the journey Eastward gave me some amazing insight and perspective about a continent I believed I was already familiar with.
We hadn't planned on visiting Western Europe very much, for 2 reasons: 1. Countries in the West are a lot more expensive than countries in the East, and 2. We wanted a more unique, less experienced trip.
Looking back on the trip now, I consider us lucky having started in Portugal and not farther East. Our attention to budget rewarded us with this amazing country and all it had to offer. We could have easily spent weeks there as there were still so many places we wanted to see. Plus, the journey Eastward gave me some amazing insight and perspective about a continent I believed I was already familiar with.
Toronto to LisBoa
August 27, 2015
Arriving in Lisbon was exhilarating and we jumped in with two feet. Never one to be a tourist, I knew I would struggle with feelings of disconnection and naivety so I had promised myself that I would let myself be a tourist (see the sights, take the photos, and walk the neighbourhoods) BUT I would have to do it in a locals way. This led to us getting metro passes, navigating the subway system, and finding our very cheap barebones hostel located out of the city centre… before collapsing form jet-lag and sleeping the entire afternoon away.
Lisbon
August 28 - 29, 2015
Lisbon surprised me in a few different ways. For a capital city in a Western European country I expected a lot more modernity, but the humble and classic architecture and lifestyle left me enchanted. A city full of ordinary people is what I found. Even the manicured courtyard centres with their fancy restaurants and large fountains were somehow relaxed and down to earth.
Lisbon's metro and train system is definitely something to be noted. Its easy to figure out and connects a lot of major points of interest in Portugal right to the capital. There is no need to look into more expensive and other forms of transportation other than the trains. A reusable metro card can be purchased and loaded with credit at any station (including the airport's). The card itself only costs .50 Euro and a single fair is 1.40 Euro.
Lisbon's metro and train system is definitely something to be noted. Its easy to figure out and connects a lot of major points of interest in Portugal right to the capital. There is no need to look into more expensive and other forms of transportation other than the trains. A reusable metro card can be purchased and loaded with credit at any station (including the airport's). The card itself only costs .50 Euro and a single fair is 1.40 Euro.
CaisCais
August 30, 2015
Caiscais is a beach town located just outside of Lisbon and easily accessible by the Lisbon metro service. The train runs frequently and the ride is only 40 minutes.
We travelled here for a day trip and lucked out by picking not only a Catholic festival day which treated us to a parade of the prominent church members in full traditional garb and worshipers carrying alters and icons, but also a tourism focused celebration of the town itself complete with vendors and musical performers.
Caiscais is a cute town with a great little city centre full of souvenir shops, restaurants, and cafes. We spent our day wondering around the small residential alleyways and admiring the ocean views.
We travelled here for a day trip and lucked out by picking not only a Catholic festival day which treated us to a parade of the prominent church members in full traditional garb and worshipers carrying alters and icons, but also a tourism focused celebration of the town itself complete with vendors and musical performers.
Caiscais is a cute town with a great little city centre full of souvenir shops, restaurants, and cafes. We spent our day wondering around the small residential alleyways and admiring the ocean views.
Porto
August 31 - september 1, 2015
I'm unsure where to begin when describing Porto because I wish my time there hadn't ended. This was for sure one of my favourite cities out of the whole trip. The landscape of the city rising and falling; the busy riverside filled with boats carrying both people and goods across; the liveliness to the streets, filled with people and small bustling businesses; it all seemed perfect. This city was alive!
With only a day and a half to explore it, we really motored, hoping to see and do as much as possible. We maximized our time and left not feeling as if we'd missed out but definitely knowing we'd love to come to back.
With only a day and a half to explore it, we really motored, hoping to see and do as much as possible. We maximized our time and left not feeling as if we'd missed out but definitely knowing we'd love to come to back.
Port Comes From Porto
While in Porto, we were surprised to learn (and I suppose we really shouldn't have been) that port, the alcoholic beverage of the same name, comes from Porto. We then couldn't resist the opportunity to cross the Dom Luis bridge into Vila Nova de Gaia and visit one of their iconic wineries specializing in port. We chose to visit Croft Port which offers daily tours and tastings. Croft Port is very well accomplished and is the oldest port producing company still active today; it was started in 1588. There was so much we didn't know about Port and how it differs from wine, the tour was really interesting. Also, having only ever tasted cheap port once or twice back in Canada we were pleasantly surprised at the range of flavours available in this sweet dessert wine and found ourselves liking it enough to pick up a bottle on the way back to our hostel that night. As with most things, tasting them at their source is usually the best place to taste them.
Sintra
September 2, 2015
Sintra is a city known for its castles. It is easily accessible from Lisbon, taking only 45 minutes to an hour by train. There are a few major sites to be seen in this town and its unfortunate to say, but we missed the most major. We were only in Sintra for a day trip and we had our backpacks with us. I can keep making excuses if you like… we also were not keen on paying admission fees to many places and it was rainy out and…. what all of this added up to was a choice between the Palacio de Pena (Pena Palace) and the Castelo dos Mouros (Moorish Castle). We had hoped to both but after walking from the the city centre, around town, and then up to Castelo dos Mouros, we were tired. There were no regrets though, we had a great time and we love hiking so the Moorish Castle was perfect for us.
I would advise have a map of Sintra with you when walking around, it can get a little confusing. There are signs periodically pointing you in the right direction of Castelo dos Mouros, however, they are spread out and there is some guessing to be had. Our motto on more than one occasion on this trip was just, keep in the direction that's going up.
I would advise have a map of Sintra with you when walking around, it can get a little confusing. There are signs periodically pointing you in the right direction of Castelo dos Mouros, however, they are spread out and there is some guessing to be had. Our motto on more than one occasion on this trip was just, keep in the direction that's going up.
And that was Portugal for us. A nice quick visit, but an incredible one. I am so happy we got a chance to see as much as we did and I think we will definitely be heading back sometime to see the rest.