I am finishing my series on Spain’s western neighbour, Portugal, with a look at its capital. In the future, I hope to return to this great country so I can write more about it and discover more about it. But for now, I just have to live with my memories and pictures and anticipation of another visit.

Both of my visits to Lisbon (Lisboa in Portuguese) began with early morning arrivals, in which I had to find breakfast, which you know could be the most important thing (that or family). I have now managed to reference Arrested Development in all three Portugal entries.

My first visit took me to Lisbon’s Aeroporto da Portela, a short metro or bus ride from the city centre. The second time was by an overnight train from Madrid, which dropped me right at Santa Apólonia, one of Lisbon’s four major train stations and a short distance from the city centre. One of the best things about Lisbon is the transportation. Metro, buses, taxis and a cable car can get you where you need to go, although I do prefer walking myself. You get to know the city better on foot than by any other means of transport. However, to see some of the coolest places, some public transport will be needed.

Lisbon reminds me of San Francisco for three reasons. 1. They have hills (seven to be exact). 2. They have cable cars.

3. They have a bridge (Pont 25 de Abril that crosses the Rio Tejo/Tajo/Tagus)) that could pass for the Golden Gate should the Golden Gate get drunk at Pride and be unable to to show up the next morning. The first time I saw a picture of it, I thought it was the Golden Gate. However, the Golden Gate does not lead to a giant statue of Jesus, Cristo Rei. (In this photo, however, it appears more like the Oakland Bay Bridge. In person, it’s the twin of the Golden Gate, I swear.)

One of the most famous Lisbon sites is the Torre of Belem, an UNESCO Heritage Site and former defense tower. It’s a 5€ entry with narrow stairs, but well worth the entrance fee. This is one of the places you’ll want to catch the cable car to, as the Belem neighbourhood isn’t too close to the centre. The neighbourhood itself is one of my faves as it’s right on the water and is a bit rough around the edges.

My favourite neighbourhood, however, is the Bairro Alto (High) and it’s neighbour, Bairro Baixa (Low). You can walk or take an elevator between the two. The Bairro Alto has the maze of streets that I love about European Cities (and the nightlife), and the Bairro Baixa has the tourist attractions (including the aforementioned elevator, which also has an observation deck to look over the city).  The famous Praça do Comercio and Praça Rossio are located in the Bairro Baixa. The latter is a place where locals like to meet and both offer splendid people-watching opportunities.

A short walk from the Barrio Baixa is the Castelo de São Jorge, or Castle of St. George. This castle is well worth the entrance fee and also well worth walking around the area surrounding it before and after. It attracts a lot of tourists, but for a good reason. A short walk higher offers a view of the entire city. The castle itself is a relic from the medieval times and comes with a 7€ entrance fee. The prices are going up in Portugal, unfortunately. A little bit of research shows that it’s two euros more than when I visited in 2009.

Another bridge, this one with its own identity, is the Vasco de Gama Bridge, which is the longest bridge in Europe at 17.2 kilometres (10.7 miles).  It opened in 1998 and is pretty impressive itself.

Whenever I travel to big cities, I always try to have time for a day trip to a nearby village. I’ve managed to do this both of my trips to Lisbon. In 2009, I went to the fabled city of Sintra, an easy train trip from Lisbon Centre. It’s like the stuff Walt Disney could only dream of. 28 kilometres from Lisbon, this Unesco World Heritage Site is home of several palaces and castles. Walking around this quaint town, I felt as if I were walking through Disneyland, but located in Segovia, Spain. The only things missing was Mickey Mouse and a Roman aqueduct.

My second visit to Lisbon, I went to another village, Cascais, located on the bay of the same name. Once a residence of the Portuguese royals, this village offers a variety of sporting activities, musuems and spectacular views of the bay. It’s definitely worth the 40 minute train ride from the centre.

“Decadante” is the word the Spanish use most often to describe their neighbour. Decadante and decaying. And while there is a bit of that edge around, it should not be a deterrant to visit the country. The Spanish say it with a smile, meaning well. Lisbon gives a sense of the old life but also a sense of modern day Portugese life (yes, there are Starbucks).

Overall, Portugal is one of my favourite places to visit. I can’t wait until visit number three.

The wine known as “port” is famous throughout the world. However, the Portuguese city of Porto (“Porto” in Portuguese and English, and the Spanish are still using “Oporto”, which has never been the actual name), is nowhere near as famous as its wine. We, as the human race, have made a huge mistake. (I might as well continue referencing Arrested Development for the Portugal entries.)

Porto is the second-largest city of Portugal after Lisbon with 238,000 people (over a million in the metropolitan area). It is one of the most enchanting cities I have had the opportunity to visit, and I remember the city (although perhaps not the names) as if I were there yesterday and not five years ago. It is a place I want to return to so I can savour it with more time and better weather, as it was raining one of the two days I was there. That didn’t stop me from exploring as much as I could.

I arrived on a Sunday afternoon the week before Easter. Most things were closed, so I had a nice walking tour of the city and entered the churches that were open to look around. The Douro River snakes through the city, separating the main part from the wineries across the river.  It’s a hilly city, just like its rival to the south, Lisbon. However, it offers an elegance and charm Lisbon does not.

The Igreja dos Clérigos and its towering Torre dominate the cityscape, and it is the tower itself that offer the best views of the city and the surrounding countryside.

The Ponte do Dom Luis I (Bridge of Sir Louis I) is another famous landmark and the most used bridge of the city.

Of course, the wineries and bodegas where they make port are the most famous tourist attraction. Sunday evening I ate at a restaurant looking at the bodegas just opposite the river.

On Monday morning, I walked around the other side of the river where they are located in the drizzle, trying to decide which one to visit. I felt weird, as I was travelling alone (as I tend to do). In the end, I decided that as I lived in Spain, I should pay homage to Osborne, one of Spain’s most famous wine makers. It wasn’t too expensive, and I got a personalized tour from a knowledgeable and friendly Portuguese tour guide. He seemed very interested in Spain, although he gave the tour in English (I’m sure if I went back today, I’d find a Spanish-speaking guide!) At the end of the tour, of course, was the free samples. I forget which sample I preferred, but I knew I had to find lunch soon as all those free samples could make someone a bit tipsy. (There was cheese with that wine though.)

It was also nice to see Porto from the other bank of the river.

The weather cleared, which meant I had time for another stroll through the town and watch the sunset from the river. Sunsets are always free and are always well worth watching whenever you travel.

I haven’t been back since 2009, but I have been wanting to go back for quite some time. It’s a quiet, charming city full of beauty and friendly people.

Portugal has amazed me, and although I live in its rival neighbour, it’s a place I always will return to. I still have a lot of things to discover there, I know. The Portugal series will conclude with a look at its capital, Lisboa (Lisbon), the San Francisco of Europe.

I can’t help but think of Arrested Development every time I think of Portugal. I remember Maeby being bound and determined to go to South America to make her parents notice her, despite George Michael’s warning that the plane ticket said “Portugal”. Later, Gob found the ticket and thought the ticket meant Michael had been learning Spanish for a trip to South America.

The joke that (I hope) the audience was in on is that Portugal is in Europe and does NOT speak Spanish but Portuguese. Wink wink, nudge nudge.

I have been to Portugal twice now, and I find it a nice, refreshing change of pace from the big brother Spain that engulfs it and separates it from the rest of Europe. It’s quite cheap, and the Portuguese are friendly and just as cute as their Spanish neighbours. They unfortunately refused my regift of Cristiano Ronaldo, as I TRIED to return him. However, the rest of Portugal is nothing like CR7, and he gives a bad name to the Portuguese.

The second part of my second trip was to Lagos in the south of Portugal. Lagos is one of the most visited places in the Algarve. I “did case” (hacer caso in Spanish, or listened to the advice of) to a few Portuguese friends of mine who said Lagos was the more beautiful of the two. And beautiful it was.

Lagos, meaning “lakes” in both Spanish and Portuguese, is a small town of 31,000 that attracts a lot of tourists due to it’s proximity to the beach and the Algarve region. Its laid-back lifestyle is quite attractive to those wanting to get away from it all, and the people of this town are accostumed to tourists. Lagos also has a seedy past as it was Europe’s first slave port and was important during those years.

The food was great, and even though it was seafood heavy, I was able to find some delicious chicken. On the second day, I cheated and went to a Spanish restaurant. Don’t tell! One of my biggest pet peeves about myself is my inability to eat seafood. I love trying new foods, but I just can’t deal with seafood or fish.

While the old town and the city walls were quite nice, it was once again God who proved He (or She) is the better architect. The cliffs along the shore and the walk to the lighthouse in the evening for sunset were the best part of this town. The coast is spectacular, and the sunset was beautiful.

On my second day, I was torn between kayaking and going to Cabo Sao Vicente. I ended up going to the Cape as it was the southwestern point of Europe. The bus timetables don’t allow for a lot of time there (and really, there is nothing more than a lighthouse), so I ended up hiking the six kilometres back to the nearest village, Sagres. The cliffs over the Atlantic provided a scenic route, and I worked up an appetite for that Spanish restaurant I found.

My favourite find in Portugal my second time there was the galão, a café con leche (in English, relaxing café con leche) in a tall glass. It’s not the same as a café con leche in a glass, I swear.

I was sad, just like that aforementioned Portuguese Boy Cristiano Ronaldo, when I had to board the bus to Huelva that Saturday morning. There is a lot to be discovered in the Algarve region, and I look forward to my next opportunity to explore it. To come, entries on Lisbon and Oporto…to be continued…WHEN? Stay tuned.