Smile, You Are in Lisbon

By Victoria DeLaRosa

From the moment we stepped into the city of Lisbon, I felt that the people and community was busy yet quiet and reserved. Most pedestrians were walking at a moderate pace, dressed well, and casually going about their day. I also noticed that there are not much wildlife around except pidgins. No squirrels, insects, etc. I found that the monuments and buildings are things that the Portuguese take pride in and in its history behind them all. I learned a lot during the tours. Learning that Portugal was the 4th most spoken language in the world and the amount of countries Portugal conquered and discovered such as Macao, Japan, South Africa, and Cape Verde. I also learned how important Sailing is for Portugal as well as codfish. Learning about the natural disaster that occurred in Lisbon in 1755, that was Portugal’s worst natural disaster to ever occur, was shocking and seeing the still - standing Church in Belém years and years later as one of the few buildings left not destroyed by the disaster.

I saw a lot of luxury stores in the city of Lisbon, with people shopping. The driving was fast pace but not anywhere near as aggressive as “New York” driving. All of the cars were small. The streets were not dirty at all. What I did not see was any corner stores like we have at our disposal in Connecticut, and there was no Dunkin’ Donuts, all family owned coffee shops. With the exception of a Starbucks, which seemed to be in a “touristy” area. You can see the difference in the small, family owned shops as opposed to a lot of the chain companies and food places we are used to at home. I saw no potholes and vibrant colored homes and the streets are so clean and the people have a clear respect for their surroundings and people around them. 

I felt safe and comfortable being that the crowds were not like the crowds we are used to having in a city area. The way the community seems to feel so natural around one other no matter what they look like is what I enjoyed best. I could not say I felt that same diversity and comfort in Switzerland’s airport, just 3 hours plane ride away, yet very different vibes from one country to another. The buildings and architecture was vibrant and showed the Muslim influence as well as Catholic influence in their buildings.

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