okay, so lisbon. i’m still processing. it’s…a lot. i just got back and honestly, my brain feels like it’s been through a washing machine set to ‘delicate’ - a very Portuguese delicate, mind you. i’m still trying to decipher what exactly happened while i was there.

first off, the weather. i just checked and it's…there right now, hope you like that kind of thing. a little cool, a little bit drizzly, but that’s just the Lisbon vibe right? seriously, the humidity is a monster - almost 9 percent. and the pressure? 1005. yeah. feels like a constant, gentle hug from the ocean. the altitude is something else too - 987 feet at the ground level and 1005 at sea level. felt like i was bouncing between the ocean floor and the clouds at times. a bit disorienting, tbh. the number i kept seeing? 1256529 and 1356626392. i'm not even sure what it means. maybe it’s some local code? or just a random string of numbers that somehow imprinted itself on my brain? i’m running with it.

my accommodation was a tiny little apartment in Alfama, the old district. totally charming, but also…a vertically-challenged labyrinth. it involved a lot of stairs and a near-death experience navigating a particularly narrow passageway. i’m pretty sure i saw a cat wearing a tiny hat. or maybe it was my imagination. probably the humidity.

food-wise? just…wow. i’m still dreaming of pastel de nata. seriously, the creamy custard tarts are an obsession. i’m trying to recreate them at home, but it’s a losing battle. i heard that the best ones are down on Avenida da Liberdade, but someone I overheard say something about a baker who’d “lost his touch” - now that’s gossip. i’m going to have to investigate further.

*Neighborhood Vibes*: If you get bored, Sintra is just a short train ride away. it’s a fairytale town with castles and palaces - a definite highlight. and if you’re into a little nightlife, Bairro Alto is packed with bars - just be prepared for some serious crowds (and maybe some questionable dance moves).

Lisbon, Portugal: Whispers of Altitude and a Seriously Strange Number

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About the author: Zara Walsh

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