Ponta Delgada - Cabo da Roca

Again it’s been too long from my last post… no reason for it, just being a slack as usually 😂.

First the travelling! Five weeks ago I spent five days in Ponta Delgada, Azores. The weather was not the best and I also had a flu, and I was really close to cancelling my trip because of that. But the place was absolutely amazing! It was not the high season, so it was quiet and peaceful, exactly how I like it :). My hotel was Comfort Inn, very nice three star hotel in a good location, breakfast was included. My flight there was unfortunately very painful for my ears because of the flu. Literally, I heard NOTHING with my right ear after landing. And also very little with my left ear. I was wondering why the airport was so quiet after landing, and nobody spoke anything when waiting for the baggage to arrive at the belt. Then I realised I just can’t hear. The taxi driver stood about one meter away from me but I had to read his lips what he was asking me. At the hotel I tried to blow my ear open, and I heard a huge BANG, which really is not the sound you want coming from your ear. I thought I destroyed my ears so bad… However, the next morning I had almost zero dizziness! Unbelievable but good!

My plan was to spend some time in Ponta Delgada, and then do some day trips nearby and go hiking. But due to the rainy weather and my flu, I just stayed in Ponta Delgada the whole time. I walked around the city and seaside or course, sat in nice cafes when the sun was shining. Even though it was rainy, it was still warmer than in Lisbon! I enjoyed the place and since the flights there are cheap, it won’t be a problem to go there again, hopefully with better luck in weather and my health to go hiking and see more of the islands.

I didn’t take that many pictures, but here are some of them!

I have spent some time in Sintra, and one thing I really recommend; they have classical concerts every weekend in Pena Palace, and I went to one of them. It was Saturday evening at 21, the ticket costs only 10 € and the concert last about 2 hours! The concert place was one of the rooms in the palace, they put the chairs around. They had a pianist, a baritone and two sopranos, and we sat just a couple of meters away from them. They played Brazilian songs from the 18th and 19th century if I remember it correctly. It was all in Portuguese of course, but still so enjoyable. And because the palace is not open at that time anymore, you can drive up there!

Last weekend I went to Cabo da Roca, which is the most westerly point in mainland Europe. It is very popular destination, and even now there were lots of people. In high season I would not enjoy it… The weather was very windy, but the scenery was so breathtaking! Definitely a place to visit, but in high season I would go there very early in the morning to avoid the huge crowds.

Here are some pics from there, and even a pic of me there! I don’t post many pics of me, because I usually don’t have pics of me! Simple.

Then other news, I rented a room on my own and moved out of the company apartment a month ago. I found a very nice room in Amadora, 10 mins to train station and 11 minutes by train to Entrecampos where I work. If the office moves, it will take about 20 mins longer to get to work, so still it will be ok. The owner is Brazilian, who doesn’t speak much English, but we manage just fine :). She doesn’t live here anymore but visits quite often. I have a roommate, Peruvian woman who speaks English and is just lovely! The owner has a cat (boy), and the room mate also has a cat, a girl who is playing hard to get. It was hilarious to watch those two! Now the boy has moved out and she misses him… but when he visits, she is again being a bitch :D. Anyway, the room is quite spacious, I have enough closets, a double bed and my own balcony! I bought a heater so it is warm at nights too. The rent is 320 € a month and 30 € for utilities. The monthly ticket for transportation is about 43 €. I would save more money in company apartment but then I will just save in some other expenses. I don’t eat out in restaurants that often anymore, but more cook myself. It is so nice to cook when the kitchen is clean and everyone cleans up after themselves…

Travel plans? I hope to take a week off in a month, and planning on going to Morocco then. That would be country nr 42! Then in the end of May one friend from Finland is coming for a visit, and I will also take a couple of days off then. Haven’t planned anything for that yet, but at least Cascais is on the list! I just love that place, that’s why. Then in August-September visit Finland, then it will be over 2 years from my last visit 🙄. Of course I can also do weekend trips, maybe Peniche, or Tomar… we’ll see, as always :).

Street art - Setubal - Portimao

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 ☺.