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.

***********************************************************

Welcome to Lisboa: The Historical Capital Everyone Should See

By Liz Mercado

As soon as I arrived in the city of Lisbon, I was amazed, and was trying to take in all of the beautiful scenery. I was in awe of the tall palm trees, and all of the different types of vibrant orange, purple and pink flowers everywhere. The sky was such a beautiful color, and there were no clouds in the sky. When we took our panoramic bus tour of the city, I noticed that Lisbon is a very hilly region, and you can see all the different areas of the city. I loved how all of the houses were painted bright colors with terracotta roofs. They looked like they came straight from the Mediterranean. I also noticed that everywhere we went, the streets were paved with cobblestones. I was also surprised to see how clean the city was. In Connecticut, I’m so used to seeing the streets littered with garbage, being in such a clean city was a new experience for me.

      On the bus tours, I learned some of the history of Lisbon. Our tour guide, Nicholas, told us that in November of 1755, there was a massive earthquake that was so destructive, it made Lisbon crumble. The aftershocks were so powerful that they were felt as far away as Salamanca, where its cathedral has cracks in it.The piece of information that I found most interesting was the fact that Belem, one of the four districts of Lisbon, was founded by Miguel II after he prayed to St. Mary and told her that if Vasco da Gama was successful in his journey, he would dedicate the town to Bethlehem.

In Lisbon, I saw beautiful architecture and structures over 500 years old. I saw many marble sculptures depicting religious and historical events, and the religious sites like the old churches and cathedrals were amazing. I also saw many olive trees and train like trolleys on tracks around the town square- something that I could never have seen in Connecticut. As we were traveling into the city, I could see the statue, Christ the King, (a replica of the Christ the Redeemer statue found in Brazil). Initially, I felt overwhelmed arriving in Lisbon, due to the fact that I have never been outside of the United States before, and I know about 3 words in Portuguese. I was unsure of what to expect in Portugal, but after the gorgeous city took my breath away, I was excited to explore the city and discover what Lisbon has to offer.

******************************************************************