Lisbon and Leixoes: Natas Galore!

Lisbon

1/3/2019

Yesterday, I had IPM (In Port Manning. If you are a crew member with IPM, you can’t disembark. This is to make sure that if the ship sinks, at least a fourth of the crew is definitely onboard to deal with it.), so I couldn’t spend any time in Lisbon. However, today I don’t and we are still in Lisbon, so after breakfast and a run-through of Cotton Club, I got off the ship immediately with George to spend a fast couple of hours wandering the city!

It was a joy! Everything is built on hills, the buildings curve along with the tiny streets, the walls are decorated in rich tiles and bright colors, and every kind of transportation is fighting for space on the little roads. I want to come back to Lisbon so badly with my family!

George and I walked along the coast, then up toward the main city area. We got gelato (chocolate chip, vanilla with basil, and coconut) and then found a huge square with pigeons, a statue, and an arch. Walking around this area was so lovely. I was so happy. We also got natas, a traditional Portuguese custard tart that is served warm and topped with cinnamon. I swore a couple of times because they were so good that it made me angry.

Next, we found a cobblestoned street with cafés set up in the middle (think Stone Street in NYC on crack). There was a man selling roasted chestnuts, so we snacked on those while we strolled along and up the hills to a vantage point. There, we could see all of Lisbon.

It was time to re-embark onto Cara, so we quickly took a look at the Cathedral, located in the Alfama, the oldest part of the city. The Cathedral was originally built in the 1100s and redone in the 1940s due to an earthquake. I wish we had had more time to spend exploring the historic building, but alas, duty called.

We said goodbye to Lisbon, and back on Cara we went! A quick excursion out into the capital of Portugal, enough to leave me wanting more. Lisbon, we shall meet again!

Leixoes

2/3/2019

The coolest port ever in Leixoes!

Today, we had a few hours in Leixoes, Portugal. To be honest, I didn't know what to expect at all. I had researched the city and there were a few amazing things to do, but apparently Cara was not docked anywhere near the city center. All of the excursions organized by AIDA were expensive, so George and I decided to simply wander around the coast immediately off the ship.

What we found was pedestrian, "real life" Leixoes. It was a beach with people biking, running, surfing, sitting at the few seaside cafés and drinking espresso (we followed suit and bought coffee and natas. When in Portugal...), shopping at a small open air clothing market. There was a castle in the distance, but when we got closer we decided not to visit because it looked closed.

And that was it! And honestly, I appreciated it a bit because there was no tourism to be found. We had literally been dropped into Portugal on a Saturday.

On a whim, we stopped at an acai bowl shop, as it was the only food establishment around, and each ended up getting a small acai bowl and a tapioca flour panini thing. I kid you not, it was the b e s t. Maybe not traditional food, but I will always remember it as the best meal I had in Portugal.

On our walk back to Cara, we happened upon a Capoeira circle. This was very special to see.

Ah, I will miss the Mediterranean, as I know where we are heading next is COLD. Next up, Dover and Rotterdam!