22 Hours in Lisbon
Faz Frio Restaurant in Lisbon, Portugal
I almost drowned!
I have a strict vacation policy. Growing up in Philadelphia for 18 years and living in New York City for 12 years, I don’t like to vacation where there is concrete. I have to have a beach nearby as a vacation is an escape from my reality. That being said, Lisbon, Paris, Madrid, London, are all on my list of concrete jungles that I have no desire to visit. HOWEVER, I will gladly layover in one of these beautiful historical cities. I did just that for 22 hours after leaving Ibiza, Spain.
I think it goes without saying that Lisbon was beautiful but it wasn’t the most enjoyable day. Why, you ask? Because I felt like I was drowning in torrential rain all day. I truly felt like I was swimming through the cobblestone streets and hills for 8 hours straight. Of course this is not Lisbon’s fault but being drenched in what felt like 60 degree weather, I was cold, wet, and miserable. The only consolation was the pristine streets. Unlike New York City I was not wading through puddles and streams filled with garbage and other questionable items and liquids. That was refreshing.
Allow me to be more positive. The hotel was breathtaking. The lobby, the restaurant where complimentary breakfast was served, and the rooms were exceptional. My expectations were not met. They were exceeded with the impeccable customer service and incredible attention to detail. Wine & Books Lisboa Hotel was a sight to behold. The hotel hallways, pictured below, stayed pitch black until I stepped off the elevator or out of our room. Immediately after stepping into the hallway, the golden wrapped hallway was illuminated by floor lights on either side of what felt like a golden runway. I felt like royalty! They thoughtfully placed complementary Moscatel de Setubal wine, Kopke port wine, chocolates, and a handwritten note wishing us a pleasant stay on the hotel room desk. The bathroom was luxurious with an all glass shower with gold trimmings and accents all over the room. I could have stayed there forever. .
Now, what does one do on vacation in a foreign country when the rain and wind are so bad that they can’t walk down the street? SHOP! That is what we did all day. We took a taxi to what looked like Lisbon’s downtown area and swiped our cards like were were on a shopping spree. No regrets.
Shopping makes you hungry so a couple hours before our scheduled airport taxi we stopped at Faz Frio, a restaurant that served pretty traditional Portuguese food. And would you like to know what happened after we left the restaurant? The sun came out… Yup! Perfect weather to leave in. (Can you hear the sarcasm coming through my words?)
Would I return to Portugal? Great question! I ABSOLUTELY WILL RETURN! But it will be the sunny island of Madeira.
P.S. Stay away from the famous Portuguese dessert, Pasteis de Nata. By “stay away” I mean eat as many as you possibly can because they are totally worth it. This creamy crème brûlée-esque egg yolk tart concoction is one of the main reasons I will be returning.
