Lisbona

At this moment, I sit in the student lounge researching for one of my many papers (in this case the subject is Norman Architecture in Southern Italy). I hope to finish this particular paper today or tomorrow, while still beginning all the others I have to write. I don't lament, because I enjoy the challenge I have been given, but I also find myself reflecting upon my break only a few weeks ago. Lisbona. Barcellona. Amsterdam. Had I known before, I wouldn't have chosen to go so many places, for by the end I was exhausted. But I am happy, because I now can't think of a better place to have visited first than Lisbon.
Our stay in Lisbon lasted 4 nights and the better part of 5 days. And whilst there, we visited also Sintra and Cascais. If only there had been more time, I would've like to see Belem and Estoril as well, but no matter.
In Lisbon, we sampled the local fare - fish, meat, pastries. The fish is great, though at one restaurant it was served cold, bone-in on a sandwich, for which I was certainly not ready. My suggestion is to try and find a small restaurant if you can, though it is difficult in Lisbon. We were stuck eating a tourist hotspot one night - leading us to pay much more than we wanted (and also running into an apparently common practice of appetizers being laid out in the hopes that you will eat them, being charged after the fact). The historical center of Lisbon is beautiful - much more open than an Italian city, possibly due to the reconstruction after a huge earthquake in the 1700s. Unfortunately the Place do Comercio was under construction during our visit, but was still a grand site. From one point of the sea, one can walk a perfectly straight line through the heart of the city to one of the more impressive sites I have ever seen- O parque do Marques Pumbal. There exists a phenomenal view of the entire descent to the sea, past a grandoise park and through wide streets. Every road leads uphill in Lisbon, but when you experience a view such as that at Marques Pumbal, you understand why.