* The people are so friendly. From my cab driver to the reception at my hostel to my tour guide this morning to restaurant proprieters, everyone has been amazing.
* Cobblestones...cobblestones everywhere. Those who know me well know that I despise cobblestones, but will tolerate them in places where they are historic. Like here.
* On that note, this place reminds me of cities in Jerusalem and Palestine in some ways. Different sites transport me to Jerusalem, Hebron, Haifa.
* Wine, cheese, sausage, olives, and bread can (and should?) be eaten for every meal.
* Super walkable city. The Alfama (where I'm staying) is characterized by narrow windy streets, but outside that everything is very navigable. Even within the Alfama, Google Maps has not led me astray!
* Hostels are great. In some ways they really challenge me as an introvert (one of my big goals on this trip, actually), but the structures they have in place for orienting you to a place and meeting people are phenomenal. The one I am at now is particularly excellent at these things!
* My friend Alex once told me that speaking Portuguese is just like speaking Spanish with your mouth full of marbles. How right she was.
I'll try and give an overview of my time in Lisbon once I wrap up here - I had a great day of touring Belem and seeking out great food. For now, I am happily ensconced in my bed at my hostel, drying out my very soggy shoes (it poured today), finishing my book, and heading to bed before a tour of Santri tomorrow. Sweet dreams!
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