A solo adventure
WELL, I made it to Lisbon. Sunny, beautiful Lisbon. It was a delight. A treat in every way. I felt as though I’d stepped into another world entirely.
I emerged from the metro into the hustle and bustle of a mild Lisbon evening.
The colourful tiles and architecture, the trams, the general exciting newness and unfamiliarity of a foreign city.
I arrived at the hostel around 7pm. (A beautiful building that felt more like a hotel with its gorgeous interiors and tall ceilings.)
After settling into my room and making several excited videos of my room, I was hungry for dinner. Tired, I wasn’t up for roaming the streets to find food, so I opted for the hostel restaurant.
“Please wait to be seated,” the sign read. This place was nicer than I’d envisaged. I’d brought a book. I was more hungry than self-conscious about being alone at this point anyway.
A tall elegant woman with an expensive coat joined me in the line.
“She’s probably meeting someone,” I thought. We started chatting, discovering we were both solo-travellers. I quietly hoped she’d be up for eating together so we could continue our conversation.
“Table for two?” The waitress asked.
We glanced at each other, trying to read the other one’s mind. I didn’t want to impose if she really did want to eat alone.
“Yes please,” we said simultaneously.
I was relieved to have a friend for dinner.
“How romantic,” she joked as we were shown to our table. The lighting was low but warm, lively music played and the leaves of a giant plant of some kind hung around her seat.
We clicked straight away. Talked about everything.
Travel, books, art, writing, families, friends, relationships, Damien Hirst.
I was fascinated by her job in the art world and she was intrigued about motherhood.
Two women, leading very different lives, yet with so many shared interests, and so much to talk and laugh about.
It was a sharing menu, so we ordered several plates of food I’d never ordinarily consume, like squid with green froth and raw prawns with fried chicken skin (tasted better than it sounds).
I remember thinking how funny it was to be deciding on what we should order to share, having only met minutes earlier.
As empowering as eating alone can be, I was thrilled to have such wonderful company that first evening. A perfect welcome to the city.
Stepping out of my hostel the following morning, I was met with the most glorious view; a perfect backdrop of Lisbon. Buildings in shades of white, yellow, pink and blue sprawled across a hilly landscape, I took a moment to absorb it all before snapping away.
This was a highly photogenic city and I think I photographed every second building that first day.
I took my time exploring the streets, soaking up the sun and the charming architecture, wondering how many tiles I could fit into my suitcase. Poring over postcards and tacky magnets made me feel like a true tourist.
Following several recommendations, on day two I took the train to Sintra, where I explored Pena Palace and the ruins of the Castelo dos Mouros. They did not disappoint.
By the end of my trip I’d walked over 17 miles, fuelled by seafood, ice cream and Pastéis de Natas.
I flew home feeling light and happy and of course eager to book my next trip. Where to next?