Marrakech to Lisbon. June 11

Today we left Morocco to head into Europe, Portugal and the Schengen zone all in one! Our 90 days in Schengen began and they couldn't have started in a better place.

Firstly we woke up pretty early for our 9.20am flight to Lisbon. We enjoyed some coffee in a plastic cup at the airport and a croissant and arrived at approximately 11.30am in Lisbon. We had to navigate the metro straight away, trying to get from the airport to the main train station, then from there on a bus to a stop near our place. Unfortunately we had some serious confusion with which bus stop to get off at and also no internet so we just jumped off and winged it through the often narrow and hilly Lisbon streets. But we made it to our place! And it was incredible! Let's just start with the place. So, it was big, with TWO tables for eating!! We also could access a lower roof from out of our window, where we could see over the rooftops of Lisbon to the river. Amazing!

We had planned to catch a walking tour at 2pm so had to quickly run out of the house and navigate our way to this central town square area, that was actually quite easy to get to. By easy, we mean in terms of direction, because when it came to the incredibly slippery polished stone cobbles, climbing the very steeps hills caused many close calls to falling on on our bums. Once there we waited for the tour and in the mean time met a Canadian geologist who works in Nevada, Jasmine, who was also waiting for the tour. We instantly got along with her, she was travelling alone, and it was great to meet someone straight away!

Ash's first ice cream sighting in Europe

Tiled building everywhere and it's super good

The walking tour, as all the ones we've taken, was very good, and we learnt so much that we actually had no idea about. Lisbon and Portugal in general is steeped in history and also culture. Elise also got magnificently pooped on by a pigeon in the 'wavy square' aka Rossio square. We were intently following our guide when out of nowhere a pigeon saw Elise and was like, yes she needs some enhancement. Unfortunately we couldn't get too excited or laugh too much because the guide was doing some important explaining, but it was as glorious a moment as that in York where Ash fell victim.

We learnt that we had booked our time in Lisbon over one of the most important festivals of the year, so good! It was Saint Anthony festival, also known as the Sardine festival. Basically our guide explained that on the Friday night the whole city comes out to party on the streets, drinking beer and sangria, with sardine sizzling on grills. We were so excited but also so confused what this was. Along with Jas and these two other Canadians we had just met on the tour, decided to lock this in for Friday night. In the meantime we made plans to also go on a 'pub crawl' this night.

Babe with cool hat

Looking to the old town Alfama

Wavy square aka poop square

Here is a view of the spot the pigeon got Elise

Jewish synagogue, partially destroyed

Elevator to the lookout (we didn't catch it up)

Much yellow, wow tram

After the tour we went to a lookout over the whole city. We could see right across to the river and out to Alfama, the famous old town, with the only surviving original buildings, twisting through many small streets, and the most prominent location for the sardine fest.

Mint

V nice poop addition to shoes

We had a tasty and much sought after home cooked dinner at our lovely apartment before enjoying our rooftop and heading out to the 'pub crawl'. Now we hadn't considered going on this until our friends Phoebe and Sam told us it was well worth it, so we thought why not?! Ourselves, Jas and the two other Canadians went together, along with 29 lads. For those who don't know, lads are young British men who are pretty much, loud, obnoxious and all round the worst people ever. Seeing these 29 lads on a rugby tour turn up made us all a little concerned about how this night would turn out, but they actually were pretty funny, but still quite outrageous. Namely their ridiculous haircuts that apparently they have to get as rookies?! (Basically the worst haircuts in existence, use your
imagination).

OUR VIEW WOWWWWW

Our window, wine and washing

 

MORE VIEWS YEAH

Who are these freaks?

Babies on buildings

Getting the snaps

On our way home from the final place, ourselves and Jas stopped at this weird food place, and got these amazing warm bread chorizo filled goodnesses followed by a pastry, that was so crispy and sugary and good and we have no idea where this place was. The whole night was worth it just for this pastry.

Xoxo A&E