It’s been two months since my last post so I have been lazy again… Sorry! Just warning you that this is going to be a long post! ☺.
I am finally out of the hotel, it took 3,5 months for the company to give me a room. I have been very annoyed how they are NOT handling things, and the same still continues. I am most likely renting a room on my own very soon. The location is good though, in Arroios, the old part of Lisbon.
Finland celebrated 100 years of independence on December 6th, and all over the world they had events and blue and white lights on sights and historical monuments. Here they lighted the Finnish flag to Belem tower and had a small celebration. They were serving some Finnish snacks and drinks and played music. I spent a couple of hours there with my colleagues and it was a nice event! Here is a photo of that.
A friend from Finland visited me just before xmas, and brought me salmiakki and chocolate! I still have some left. I was very happy… we had a great time, just walked around Lisbon and visited Cascais. For some reason I just love Cascais. Here’s some more photos of Cascais and Lisbon.
First Lisbon
Then Cascais. Yes, had a ride on that wheel, nice view!!
Then another friend from Canada came to Lisbon for two weeks. We actually met in Brasov, I hosted her there! It was great to meet again, we spent xmas eve with my colleagues and then catching up with some red wine 🍻. On New Years Eve we decided to take the train to Setubal, because I hadn’t been there either. If I remember it correctly, the train ticket was 4,5 € one way and it took about an hour, it is south of Lisbon. Setubal is a beautiful place, I should visit again at summer! I noticed they have dolphin watching tours from there and I really want to do one of those, since I like dolphins. It was a bit rainy for a while, so we had lunch then. We just walked around and took photos. Here’s some photos of Setubal. Based on the photos some very interesting people live in Setubal... 😂
The next day we met an expat from the US, she had just moved to Lisbon. Got some lunch, walked around admiring city’s street art. If you are into street art, Lisbon really is a great place for that. You see street art basically everywhere! And it is not only on the walls, the city is full of all kinds of performing artists too. Like the guy playing cello, he was unbelievably good!! Here’s some photos of the art in Lisbon.
And then… I was able to have four days off, and decided to go to Portimao in South Portugal, because I wanted some warmer weather and sunshine! Before that I went to the embassy to vote, we are electing a president in Finland. Unfortunately most likely we won't have a new president, the same dude will continue for another six years. Didn’t vote for him the last time and didn’t vote for him now! In Portimao I booked an apartment in a hotel, just one block from the beach in Praia da Rocha. It was so much warmer there! In the sun you could wear a t-shirt! That area reminded me so much of Costa del Sol in Spain, also very similar architecture. But the seaside is hotels and restaurants, many places are closed in the winter. Tourists wear small tops and shorts and sun hats, and locals have winter jackets 😂. It was quite easy to spot the tourists. And it was weird to hear so many people speaking Finnish! I didn’t really do anything there, just enjoyed the sun and the ocean (no, did not go swimming, are you crazy??). I was planning on going to Lagos on a day trip, but decided to go there for couple of days later. I really wish I could live there in south, it is warmer in the winter and by the ocean… my love number one! Here’s some photos from Portimao.
Very sorry about writing on so many things in the same post, I really should post more often so I could concentrate on one thing in one post! What else… in few weeks I will have a week of and travelling to the Azores then for five days! Ryanair flies daily to Ponta Delgada and return flight with 20 kg checked in baggage cost me only 70 €! Haven’t booked accommodation yet, but I am just going to relax and hike, and hopefully the weather will be great for hiking! A few friends are planning on visiting already at spring. The apartment is still a big issue, but otherwise everything is fine here. My next post is probably from Azores, and that trip I am REALLY looking forward to, everyone has told me to go there because it is so beautiful. Soon I will see it myself ☺.
First Lisbon
Then Cascais. Yes, had a ride on that wheel, nice view!!
Then another friend from Canada came to Lisbon for two weeks. We actually met in Brasov, I hosted her there! It was great to meet again, we spent xmas eve with my colleagues and then catching up with some red wine 🍻. On New Years Eve we decided to take the train to Setubal, because I hadn’t been there either. If I remember it correctly, the train ticket was 4,5 € one way and it took about an hour, it is south of Lisbon. Setubal is a beautiful place, I should visit again at summer! I noticed they have dolphin watching tours from there and I really want to do one of those, since I like dolphins. It was a bit rainy for a while, so we had lunch then. We just walked around and took photos. Here’s some photos of Setubal. Based on the photos some very interesting people live in Setubal... 😂
The next day we met an expat from the US, she had just moved to Lisbon. Got some lunch, walked around admiring city’s street art. If you are into street art, Lisbon really is a great place for that. You see street art basically everywhere! And it is not only on the walls, the city is full of all kinds of performing artists too. Like the guy playing cello, he was unbelievably good!! Here’s some photos of the art in Lisbon.
And then… I was able to have four days off, and decided to go to Portimao in South Portugal, because I wanted some warmer weather and sunshine! Before that I went to the embassy to vote, we are electing a president in Finland. Unfortunately most likely we won't have a new president, the same dude will continue for another six years. Didn’t vote for him the last time and didn’t vote for him now! In Portimao I booked an apartment in a hotel, just one block from the beach in Praia da Rocha. It was so much warmer there! In the sun you could wear a t-shirt! That area reminded me so much of Costa del Sol in Spain, also very similar architecture. But the seaside is hotels and restaurants, many places are closed in the winter. Tourists wear small tops and shorts and sun hats, and locals have winter jackets 😂. It was quite easy to spot the tourists. And it was weird to hear so many people speaking Finnish! I didn’t really do anything there, just enjoyed the sun and the ocean (no, did not go swimming, are you crazy??). I was planning on going to Lagos on a day trip, but decided to go there for couple of days later. I really wish I could live there in south, it is warmer in the winter and by the ocean… my love number one! Here’s some photos from Portimao.
Very sorry about writing on so many things in the same post, I really should post more often so I could concentrate on one thing in one post! What else… in few weeks I will have a week of and travelling to the Azores then for five days! Ryanair flies daily to Ponta Delgada and return flight with 20 kg checked in baggage cost me only 70 €! Haven’t booked accommodation yet, but I am just going to relax and hike, and hopefully the weather will be great for hiking! A few friends are planning on visiting already at spring. The apartment is still a big issue, but otherwise everything is fine here. My next post is probably from Azores, and that trip I am REALLY looking forward to, everyone has told me to go there because it is so beautiful. Soon I will see it myself ☺.
