Marihuana seller,bacalao, custard cake and the hilly winding road, what’s up Lisbon?

The morning I woke up for my flight, a little voice in my head wondered, “Should I still go?” Everything seemed to say otherwise. My friend's visa was taking forever to print—she had to make two trips to the Portugal embassy and spent the whole Friday just waiting. It had been raining cats and dogs in my beloved lowlands for days, and with all these little signs pointing the other way, I couldn’t help but wonder... should I go? I’ve never felt this unsure before. But despite it all, off we went. Sometimes, you just have to follow the adventure, no matter how it starts!

Our driver picked us up right on time and took us to our cozy little apartment in the heart of Lisbon. The weather, though, was really giving me a hard time—rain pouring down and everything looking grey and chilly. It was one of those days when you just want to curl up inside. But after a homemade lunch, we decided to battle the elements, hop on the day card (€6.40), and ride the tram to Belem, one of Lisbon’s iconic spots.

Belem

Getting to Belem is super easy—just hop on tram 15e, and in about 25 minutes, you’re there! It’s a beautiful area, and as soon as we got there, we saw the long queues outside the bakeries. I still don’t fully understand the hype around the sweet pastries, but hey, I joined the queue anyway.

These pastries are like egg tarts from Hong Kong—really sweet but delicious. I ended up trying a couple just to be sure if I liked them (or maybe I was just super hungry?). Either way, they were pretty tasty!

Belem definitely has that tourist-friendly vibe, all modern with a sprinkle of charm. And how could I forget the cute Portuguese presidential residence—totally my color, pink! But we decided to take a stroll and make our way to the majestic Jeronimos Monastery, a true gem and a UNESCO World Heritage site. It was built by Saint Jerome many decades ago, and it’s now owned by the state.

There’s so much to see here—it’s one of those places where you just keep discovering hidden treasures. The chapel, in particular, was absolutely mesmerizing. It was one of those moments when you stand there, completely in awe of the history and beauty surrounding you. Definitely a highlight of our day

Right in front of the Jeronimos Monastery, we stumbled upon the Monument of Discoveries, a modern-looking statue built in 1960 to honor Portugal's historic power and spirit. It’s dedicated to the explorers of the past, like Vasco da Gama and his legendary crew. It’s a reminder of Portugal’s age-old influence in the world.

From here, you get a breathtaking view of the long bridge stretching across the river, with the Cristo Rei statue standing tall, watching over the water and the bridge—so powerful and impressive. It felt like one of those moments when you wish you could capture everything in a single, bigger picture, but even without that, it was still absolutely astounding.

I wish i could made a bigger pic of Cristo

Moving forward to the famous Belem Castle with queues of tourist, I just not be bother to go in, really beautiful from the outside though,

We took some gelatos and walked back to the tram and stop for some beers and sourdough bread with cheese and cold cut and an interesting soup, taste like chicken soup with pasta.

After our sightseeing adventure, we headed back to the heart of Lisbon for a very late birthday celebration, and let me tell you, it was so worth the wait! We went full-on Portuguese style—fresh seafood platter, risotto with octopus, and of course, a bottle of delicious Portuguese wine. The flavors were incredible, and honestly, everything was so tasty and surprisingly affordable. It felt like the perfect way to end the day—good food, great wine, and amazing company. Definitely a birthday celebration I’ll always remember!

Sintra—oh, what a magical place! It’s like stepping into a fairy tale. This UNESCO site, perched high on the hills, boasts a castle straight out of a storybook, along with breathtaking gardens that make you feel like you're in a dream. The journey up to the castle was full of stunning views, from the rolling hills to the mesmerizing coastline.

We made a quick stop at Lagoa, and wow, the sea was warm and inviting, with such a beautiful view. It’s one of those places you wish you could linger at forever. If only the rain hadn’t come pouring down like crazy! Still, even with the weather, Sintra’s charm couldn’t be dulled. It’s a place I’d love to return to on a sunnier day!

Ahh, a swim at Lagoa would’ve been the perfect way to unwind, but before we got there, we made a magical stop at Quinta da Regaleira. It’s like stepping straight into a fairy tale palace with gardens so stunning, they almost felt otherworldly. I was in total awe the entire time. Every corner of the place felt like it had its own story to tell—mysterious wells, hidden paths, and architecture that felt like it belonged in a dream. It was one of those moments when you just couldn’t believe such beauty existed in real life. It was truly magical!

Moving forward to our next stop Cabo da Roca, oh my God, I am so in love, I am a sucker to light house, this site so amazing….

Even though the weather was really working against us, we kept going—foggy roads, wind, and rain that felt like it would never end. Our main goal was to visit the Park and National Palace of Pena, and let me tell you, this place gave me goosebumps. I’m not usually easily impressed, but the colors, the charm, the grandeur of it all—it was like a dream! The palace was so beautiful and cheerful, I couldn’t help but imagine my prince waiting for me at the top.

I kept climbing, even though my lungs felt like they might give out and my knees were silently cursing me with every step. The fog was so thick, it felt like it was hiding the palace’s full magic, and the rain was relentless—windy, cold, and wet. But despite all of that, I was so glad I pushed through. It was worth every bit of sacrifice to get there.

We walked, climbed, and even prayed the rain would stop, but in the end, the weather won. We decided to head back to Lisbon, but I’ll carry that magical experience with me forever.

Back in Lisbon, we went for a overrated dinner at a traditional food court, really expensive and didn’t even taste well.

Pic: grilled octopus on mash potatoes bed

Pic: Pork cheek on sweet potatoes mash

After a long, rainy day, we trudged our tired and grumpy selves back to our apartment on top of the hill. Of course, we had to climb another 4 flights of stairs—by this point, I was definitely not a fan of those stairs! I quickly jumped into the shower and decided it was time to call it a night.

The next morning, after breakfast, we moved to a new accommodation… another 5 flights of stairs! Holy crap, I was really starting to hate this place. But, we decided to take it easy that day and hop on the famous Tram 28 to explore the city. Honestly, I didn’t get what all the hype was about. After queuing for 45 minutes, we finally squeezed ourselves onto the tram. If you’re just looking to kill time and have nothing else to do, sure, it’s a nice ride, but I kind of fell asleep halfway through and didn’t really get to enjoy it.

On the bright side, though, we made new friends from Indo land, and they pointed us in the direction of a spot where we could get some delicious homemade noodles. So, even though the tram ride wasn’t all that exciting, it turned out to be a pretty good day in the end!

Pic: The famous tram 28

The climb to the castle

Pic: cheese bacalao with nice Port at the Castle entrance

The castle entrance

Pic : the famous tram 28

Fatima was such a powerful experience. The Sanctuary of Fatima is incredibly popular and holds a deep significance. Since the summer of 1917, it’s been believed that the Virgin Mary appeared to three young shepherds in what is now the town of Fátima, in Portugal’s Centro Region. The spot where this apparition occurred has grown into an immense sanctuary, one of Christianity’s most important pilgrimage sites.

There are two beautiful basilicas, a large square where thousands of devotees gather, and a path that takes you through significant locations related to the apparitions. Standing there, especially as a Catholic, it almost felt like being in the Vatican—there’s something so humbling about it. The Baroque church was stunning, and the solemnity of the place made me feel truly connected.

It was definitely worth the 1.5-hour bus ride and the 3-hour wait for the return bus. Although, I’ll admit, if the rain had stopped for even a moment, I think we would have enjoyed the visit even more. But still, the experience itself was so fulfilling, it made everything feel completely worthwhile.