Egg tarts, night views, everything is perfect! A Portugal trip I've decided to revisit | Impressions of my Europe trip ③
The final part of my honest report on my Europe trip is Portugal!
I went to Lisbon and Porto.
Portugal was another one of my top choices, and I stumbled upon it while looking for countries in Southern Europe. It's next to Spain, the townscapes are beautiful, and it has the ocean! So, I decided on it as a travel destination immediately. By the time I finished my preliminary research, I was already becoming immersed in the world of Portugal.
When I actually went there, it was such a wonderful country!
A year ago, I didn't even know where Portugal was, so the fact that I actually went there and got immersed in its charm... I never know where life's triggers come from, and I think life is interesting.
On top of that, I also wrote down my impressions of visiting the westernmost point of the Eurasian continent.
Now, let's start the Portugal edition!
■ Lisbon - Lisbon -
《One-word impressions》
・Pastel de nata (egg tart) is incredibly delicious
・It truly feels like Southern Europe
・There were the most vacation-like Europeans here
・The city trams are cute! Riding them is fun like an attraction
・There are many hills
・I highly recommend visiting the observation decks during the day
・Sardines are a must-eat! It feels like you're tasting Portugal
・There are many steps on the cobblestone streets, so be careful not to trip
・It has history and a retro feel; I couldn't stop taking photos
・Hotels are cheap
・The oranges are juicy and super delicious
・Orange wine is everywhere
・Cost of living is low
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Lisbon was seriously divine.
I added it to my plan with the attitude of "It's famous and pretty, so why not?", but it was beyond my imagination!
Just being there was fun, and I felt the Southern European vibe the most on this trip.
There were many streetcars running in Lisbon, including the famous Tram 28.
I was curious why there were so many, so I asked Chappy (ChatGPT), and it seems they aren't made for tourism but are authentic, long-standing public transport routes.
It seems there's a proper history behind it: "We made the whole city a complex maze of hills to make it hard for enemies to invade, but since it was hard for us to get around too, we built trams that could navigate the tight turns!"
I'm the type of person who isn't moved at all by things made for tourists, but I felt this tram was incredibly precious. I thought, "I see."
Riding it is fun, like an attraction.
The sound is also retro and cute.
People say "Tram 28 is a den of pickpockets!", but even with my high pickpocket-detection sensors, I didn't see anyone suspicious on board. It's just genuine tourists and locals. Rest assured.
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And, what you absolutely must eat in Lisbon is "Pastel de nata". It's an egg tart.
I was imagining a regular tart, but it was completely different.
It has delicately layered, crispy pastry and is filled with rich, gooey custard cream.
I took one bite and was so excited that I shouted, "What is this!!" and my eyes nearly popped out for real. It was so delicious that I even made a mysterious phone call to my parents' house to tell them, "It's too delicious."
Not only the taste, but the texture and the sound are also fun.
It's seriously "crunchy." I wonder if there is any other crunch in the world that surpasses this.
It has entered my "things to eat before I die" ranking.
I visited several famous shops in Lisbon, and the very first one I tried was shockingly delicious. It seems fun to visit many different shops too!
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Also, there are the famous Portuguese sardines.
I thought I'd take the opportunity to eat some, so I had grilled sardines with salt and balsamic sauce, and it was beyond my imagination! It was very fatty, and it really felt like I was eating Portugal. Thank you, Atlantic Ocean. This is what they mean by the bounty of the sea.
There was no fishy smell, and even I, who am not a fan of blue-backed fish, was able to finish it in a flash.
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They say the view from the observation decks in Lisbon is famous, so I went to about four of them, but I recommend going during the day. My timing was off and I arrived around 7:00 PM; the sky was beautiful before sunset, but the view was somehow a bit blurry, and I found myself wishing, "Give me more blue!!"
Seeing that scenery, I was convinced that the daytime is truly the most spectacular. I personally recommend going during the day because I think the contrast between the deep blue sky, the red bricks, and the azure sea visible in the distance looks best in broad daylight.
I stayed in Lisbon for 1.5 days, but I don't think I would ever get bored even if I stayed for 2 to 3 days.
It was one of my top 3 favorite cities from this Europe trip.
■ Porto -
《One-line impressions》
・The night view from sunset is divine
・The bridge is huge
・The azulejos are incredibly beautiful
・Tawny port wine is too delicious
・Surprisingly small in scale
・More like stairs than slopes
・You have to see the view from the Dom Luís I Bridge! Spectacular!
・Just head to a wine bar at sunset
・It really hits home for people who love Mediterranean Harbor at DisneySea
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I included this because I really wanted to see the scenery of the Douro River and theDom Luís I Bridgewhich is the symbol of Porto.
Ever since I was little, I've loved scenery where there is a town beyond the water, like Mediterranean Harbor at Tokyo DisneySea. It's exactly like that.
Personally, I think Porto shines brightest after the sun goes down.
With a strong determination to 'burn the sunset into my memory since I came all the way to Porto!', I entered a wine bar with a perfect view and stood by on the terrace. I just stared blankly as the sun went down.
The water surface reflecting the lights of the buildings started to sparkle little by little, and it was a beauty I wanted to keep watching forever.
While feeling sentimental, I drank a famous sweet wine from Porto calledTawny Portwhich was truly delicious and moved me.
I didn't originally like wine that much, but my concept of wine was blown away. Every sip was pure happiness!
This is what it means to not want to leave a single drop behind. It goes perfectly with the atmosphere. I felt like I was going to get drunk on the moment itself.
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Azulejos, or blue tiles, are famous in Porto, and since I had some time to kill, I went to a station where they are famous. I wasn't originally that interested in azulejos, but the moment I stepped inside, I was captivated.
The exquisite color balance of the yellow walls and blue azulejos was indescribably beautiful, and I was also moved by the craftsmanship of painting those tiles one by one.
Porto might just be the center, but it was surprisingly small in scale, so I think one day is enough to get around it.
【Bonus】 Cabo da Roca -
《One-line impressions》
・The Atlantic Ocean!
・The exhilaration of being at the westernmost point of the Eurasian continent is incredible
・The vast scenery visible from the bus is also fun; I wanted to stay glued to the window
・The mountain-like thing next to it is also nice
・It's a great place, yet easy to access
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I am the type of person who wants to go to any cape if I find one.
I feel an unconditional sense of romance for words like 'westernmost' or 'northernmost' in particular.
Since I found out that the westernmost cape of the Eurasian continent is in Portugal, I headed there as a matter of course!
The weather was nice, the Atlantic Ocean spread out before my eyes, and...
The feeling of being bathed in that soft Atlantic wind with my whole body was...
While soaking in the exhilaration of 'I am now at the westernmost point of the Eurasian continent!', I also felt a sense of accomplishment, thinking, 'I can't believe I made it this far.'
Buses run regularly, and it's easy to get to from Lisbon, so I recommend it.
🇵🇹 Portugal Summary
Personally, Lisbon suited me better than Porto in terms of atmosphere, and it was such a wonderful city that I want to go back.
There are many tropical fruits like oranges, mangoes, and pineapples, and as a fruit lover, I spent two hours every morning at the hotel breakfast buffet.
I was happy every morning eating lots of fruit. I feel like I got healthier eating tons of juicy, fresh oranges bathed in the southern sun.
Even now, just thinking about Portugal brings the taste of those sweet, juicy oranges to mind.
Europe has layers of history, and I'm drawn to that, but in Portugal, I felt that history especially through the cobblestones and the townscape.
I think it's partly due to historical ties, but I was surprised to find that there are quite a few people in Portugal who can speak a little Japanese. Several people mentioned to me that the Japanese word for thank you, 'arigato,' sounds similar to the Portuguese 'obrigado.' Overall, I also felt a pro-Japanese atmosphere.
Compared to Spain, France, and Germany, which I visited this time, the cost of living was generally lower. I was able to stay in a newly opened, clean hotel for about 15,000 yen, making it a country with a very high level of satisfaction! The value for money is god-tier.
Actually, I've been thinking about living in another country for a short period in the future, and considering the cost of living and the atmosphere of the cities, I felt that Portugal would be the most realistic place to live compared to other European countries.
Portugal is a country I want to visit again.
I highly recommend it!
Conclusion
After visiting 4 countries and 9 cities, I realized that every city has its own unique charm. Each country is built on its own worldview, from the food and atmosphere to the design of the buildings, and although it was only a two-week trip, I was truly able to step into so many different worlds.
Before I left, I was terrified of pickpockets, and while waiting for my flight from Vietnam to Germany, I was intimidated by the Westerners around me who exuded an air of winners, but I am truly glad I went. I encountered breathtaking scenery many times, and there were so many things I could only feel because of who I am right now.
Traveling to Europe alone was a challenge for me, and I feel that, all things considered, this trip is the highlight of this year and my life.
There are many things that can only be gained through experience, and I believe that has value. If you take action, something will come back to you.
I feel like I've been updated again through this European trip.
While cherishing my current sensibilities, I decided to go on more trips to broaden my world.
This turned out to be a longer real-life impression of my Europe trip than I expected, but thank you for reading until the end!
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