Once again lazyness took over me, but on this sunny sunday sitting in Warsaw, I managed to put some of my memories on the net. So, I had one week of vacation on September and I ended up in Portugal that time. Sadily I had only six days, but I think I did as much as it was possible.
LisbonI arrived to Lisbon and stayed there for two night at my friend's Helder place. Those two noghts were also dedicated to quite good amount of beer and wine :) Funny thing for me is that local pubs are so small that people do drink in the street next to pub. They also drink from 0,2 litre size glasses. I was missing my favorite 1l glass :) Anyway, that's pretty nice thing to see - small thin streets full of people having good time. The atmosphere is just great!
It was my first experience that there are some places in the world where 'coffee' means 'espresso'. :)
I also love sightseeing when after one hour of walking you just go to next bar and take one small beer. And sightseeing then continues..
Pigeons are so self confidents here :D You simply sit somewhere in open air restaurant and you start feeling that someone stands on your feet. Guess who? :)
OK, architecture is great! Houses with walls of tesseras.. Yeah, I know it is common for those regions, but for me it is simply spectacular to see!
SintraOne of my days in Lisbon me and Helder went to Sintra, a small town close to Lisbon. Mainly this place is famous because of wonderful stone castle. This was the target for me as well. And I must admit that portuguese has what to show in this area :)
I called this castle the suicidals castle as all the walls where you go are so simply to jump off :) (yeah, I'm a bit affraid of heights, that's why such idea came to my head):
BatalhaBatalha is one of a 'must to see' things in Portugal. There is one o most amazing monasteries around the Europe. Back to Lithuania I was checking one book - 'Most amazing buildings in the world'. This monastery was in the list of top 100 according to the authors. Even being a bit sceptic of such lists, but this time it was true! Just look at those pictures! All this is made of stone! How did they do such elements, such sculptures with medievial tools? That's incredible and fascinating!!! I could spend there all day long, but I had to catch my bus in Leiria going to Vila Real with to changes of a bus in Coimbra and Porto.
Vila RealThe trip to Vila Real was fun! Do I have to mention that english is not that common in Portugal? Coming to Coimbra at 15:30 and on my ticket it is written that 15:30 I already had to be on my bus going to Porto :) Then catching the bus and showing the ticket, driver was saying me something that this is not a ticket :) OK, someone helped me with that and I happily left this place. In Porto bus station there also was great moment with buying sandwith, coffee and a cake in small shop. Then asking for coffee, the sell lady was not asking me for what kind of coffee I want to drink, but she was simply showing me cups: firstly espresso, then latte and finally regular black coffee cup! Who said that languege is always needed? :)
One more thing about coming to Vila Real: my main idea of trip to Portugal was going to work in winery for several days, as this failed because of postpone of wine season, I had no plans what to do. Couchsurfing comes to the first place in such case. In couple of hours I already had hosts in Vila Real. So I went there :)
I stayed at three students place, it was their first experience with CS, but hey! they were great! Don't stop with this idea ;)
However, seems that such small towns as Vila Real are located in most wonderful places - nature is the top thing here! I'm still wondering why local guys are going to the pubs if they could bring couple of bottles of beer and just sit and watch this wonderness instead of staying at houses?
One of the best moments was meeting an old guy who has lots of cats at his place. He took me and Carolina to his yard and began telling stories about the cats.. I adore that guy! :)
ReguaAs I had no opportunity to work in winery, I decided to go to one region which is quite famous because of the wine - Regua :) If you'll be there one day, please, take a train! You'll be going on the flank of the mountains and if you enjoy good views - that hour or two will be something what you won't forget!
I also climbed one mountain in Regua just to get into some grapes yard to eat at least some :) And I did it! After climbing up with big bag on my back in 33 degrees heat, I reached at least one small part of my trip dream - I was sitting between grapes and was tasting it :))))
Changing your clothes and having a bath in public toilet is quite great attraction :)
PortoThis was my final place to see on my trip.. For the first night I stayed at Goncalo's place. This guy made one amazing trip some years ago. He, alone with his motorcycle, made all way from Buenos Aires to Patagonia, then through the Andes to California and finally New York. Trip of 7 months... Perfect!!! I want to do something like that, just maybe shorter way :)
Oldtown of Porto is perfectly for you if you're in love with small streets, stone, stairs, hills and so on. You may get lost there! But that's what you just have to do to find the best places!
Next night I stayed at Tiago and this was great bye-bye night :) Firstly, he told me that someone will come to meet me and this was the biggest surprise. At place agreed and on the time some girl comes to me and says: 'Labas, as Vaiva!' :D Two lithuanians travelling separetely meet at the same CS host :) Anyway, we had some walking around the city and grabbing some beers with some other CSers, then having a dinner and Tiago's friends house, watching some movie in some artists place and finally having the last beer in one alternative pub!
Love to live!
Miaow!
