The second day started off with “continental breakfast” at the hostel. Breakfast ended at 10 so we all got up at 9:30 and went downstairs in our pjs to have breakfast. We walked into the room and there was a bar type area th
at had cups, baskets and trays set out. Then to left of that
was a table about the size of a 3x5 desk. On that table was a basket with some bread rolls in it, some butter and jelly, and a coffee pot. That was it. Continental breakfast! We were all like seriously? Where’s the real breakfast. So, we all got a roll and some coffee and sat down and enjoyed our first meal of the day. Now, I will give them some credit, the bread was extremely fresh and very good, and the coffee was great too, but still. Not exactly what I would consider a meal. T
hen we all went upstairs and got ready to meet the other two in the group and their friend from Portugal that they stayed with. The girl from Portugal, Felipa, came along to show us around the city. While we were waiting for them to show up we got espresso shots from the same bar we went to the night before. The espresso in Portugal is amazing! It’s very thick and rich, not like the nasty espresso we have in America or in Spain. Gross. We walked all around the city passing beautiful buildings, plazas, statues and so on. I know I’ve said this before but it’s so amazing how you’ll be walking down a street and it just opens up to this round-about with a huge, breathtaking statue in the middle. I love it! We snuck into a hotel and rode the elevator all the way to the top and then went out on the roof deck and got an awesome view of the city. Then we continued, looking in souvenir shops and such until we got to the bay I think…or maybe it was the river, I’m not sure. Right before the body of water, there was this huge plaza with a really big arch into it and then a huge statue in the middle. It was really pretty.
Next, Felipa wanted to take us to the Monastery, but it was on a different side of town. We had to ride an old trolley and a new tram to get there. On our way to the trolley stop we passed a street full of artists so we stopped and looked at all the paintings. I bought two small paintings of Lisbon for 8 euros all together! So much cheaper in Portugal. When we were waiting for the trolley to come, a guy came by trying to sell us “hashish”, which we declined. The trolley ride was fun but very jerky. Luckily I was sitting or I probably would have fallen on my face. From the trolley we caught the tram and rode that to the Monastery. When we got there, about 2 or 3, we were all starving so stopped at this little restaurant and had lunch. I got the cod fish again because it was so good for dinner, but I decided to be brave and get it cooked differently…the way felipa suggested to get it. If I was in the situation again, I probably wouldn’t order it again, b
ut it was alright for one meal. It was braised and VERY fishy and salty. It was really weird. But, it came with these cooked potatoes too, and I figured out about half way through the meal if you eat the fish and potato at the same time it was really good. After the meal we ordered espresso shots, because that’s what you are supposed to do…order coffee after the meal. I like it, we should do the in the US. After lunch we walked to the Monastery and took lots of pictures and then when inside the cathedral. We were so lucky to get to go in because there was a wedding fixing to start. We could only go a little ways before they made you stop in preparation for the wedding and when we left, they weren’t letting anybody but wedding guests in. Then we crossed the street and went to the most boring museum ever. It was the museum of contemporary art, and I almost fell asleep standing up. We left shortly after and split up. Me and one other girl, Shanna, went shopping back in the main part of town. It was quite a disappointment because we got there at about 6:15 and all the shops in Portugal close at 6…opposed to Spain where
they close at 10. Anyway we had a lot of time to kill because we planned to all meet up again at 9 at the hostel, so we just wandered around…like usual. When we finally all met back up we went out to get dinner and then out to some bars. We couldn’t find anywhere to eat in the area we were at, so we stopped at Subway. I’m obsessed! It is so good here for some reason. I mean it probably tastes just the same but to us it’s amazing because it’s the only thing that tastes like home. Even McDonalds here is totally different. Turkey on wheat with pickles and lettuce and a double chocolate cookie….heaven. After dinner we went bar hopping on this one street, but everything was so crowded and we couldn’t find a single place to sit down so we just called it an ea
rly night and went back to the hostel. Tonight, me and Anthony switched beds because mine was like a board and his was one of those that forms to your body and it was right by the window so much cooler. I was asleep in like 5 minutes and didn’t wake up once. Oh, and i forgot...one of the coolest things in portugal. All the sidewalks are cobblestone, black and white and its gorgeous. they have super intricate designs and it is different all over the city.
at had cups, baskets and trays set out. Then to left of that
was a table about the size of a 3x5 desk. On that table was a basket with some bread rolls in it, some butter and jelly, and a coffee pot. That was it. Continental breakfast! We were all like seriously? Where’s the real breakfast. So, we all got a roll and some coffee and sat down and enjoyed our first meal of the day. Now, I will give them some credit, the bread was extremely fresh and very good, and the coffee was great too, but still. Not exactly what I would consider a meal. T
hen we all went upstairs and got ready to meet the other two in the group and their friend from Portugal that they stayed with. The girl from Portugal, Felipa, came along to show us around the city. While we were waiting for them to show up we got espresso shots from the same bar we went to the night before. The espresso in Portugal is amazing! It’s very thick and rich, not like the nasty espresso we have in America or in Spain. Gross. We walked all around the city passing beautiful buildings, plazas, statues and so on. I know I’ve said this before but it’s so amazing how you’ll be walking down a street and it just opens up to this round-about with a huge, breathtaking statue in the middle. I love it! We snuck into a hotel and rode the elevator all the way to the top and then went out on the roof deck and got an awesome view of the city. Then we continued, looking in souvenir shops and such until we got to the bay I think…or maybe it was the river, I’m not sure. Right before the body of water, there was this huge plaza with a really big arch into it and then a huge statue in the middle. It was really pretty. 
Next, Felipa wanted to take us to the Monastery, but it was on a different side of town. We had to ride an old trolley and a new tram to get there. On our way to the trolley stop we passed a street full of artists so we stopped and looked at all the paintings. I bought two small paintings of Lisbon for 8 euros all together! So much cheaper in Portugal. When we were waiting for the trolley to come, a guy came by trying to sell us “hashish”, which we declined. The trolley ride was fun but very jerky. Luckily I was sitting or I probably would have fallen on my face. From the trolley we caught the tram and rode that to the Monastery. When we got there, about 2 or 3, we were all starving so stopped at this little restaurant and had lunch. I got the cod fish again because it was so good for dinner, but I decided to be brave and get it cooked differently…the way felipa suggested to get it. If I was in the situation again, I probably wouldn’t order it again, b
ut it was alright for one meal. It was braised and VERY fishy and salty. It was really weird. But, it came with these cooked potatoes too, and I figured out about half way through the meal if you eat the fish and potato at the same time it was really good. After the meal we ordered espresso shots, because that’s what you are supposed to do…order coffee after the meal. I like it, we should do the in the US. After lunch we walked to the Monastery and took lots of pictures and then when inside the cathedral. We were so lucky to get to go in because there was a wedding fixing to start. We could only go a little ways before they made you stop in preparation for the wedding and when we left, they weren’t letting anybody but wedding guests in. Then we crossed the street and went to the most boring museum ever. It was the museum of contemporary art, and I almost fell asleep standing up. We left shortly after and split up. Me and one other girl, Shanna, went shopping back in the main part of town. It was quite a disappointment because we got there at about 6:15 and all the shops in Portugal close at 6…opposed to Spain where
they close at 10. Anyway we had a lot of time to kill because we planned to all meet up again at 9 at the hostel, so we just wandered around…like usual. When we finally all met back up we went out to get dinner and then out to some bars. We couldn’t find anywhere to eat in the area we were at, so we stopped at Subway. I’m obsessed! It is so good here for some reason. I mean it probably tastes just the same but to us it’s amazing because it’s the only thing that tastes like home. Even McDonalds here is totally different. Turkey on wheat with pickles and lettuce and a double chocolate cookie….heaven. After dinner we went bar hopping on this one street, but everything was so crowded and we couldn’t find a single place to sit down so we just called it an ea
rly night and went back to the hostel. Tonight, me and Anthony switched beds because mine was like a board and his was one of those that forms to your body and it was right by the window so much cooler. I was asleep in like 5 minutes and didn’t wake up once. Oh, and i forgot...one of the coolest things in portugal. All the sidewalks are cobblestone, black and white and its gorgeous. they have super intricate designs and it is different all over the city.
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