Ola from Portugal!

We made it! Albeit not without some jetlag...

Thanks to Jeff´s parents for getting us to the airport nice and early! It only took 10 minutes (MAX) to check in, drop baggage, go through security and find our gate... there were no lines and what can we say, we wanted to get going! :) The only thing slowing us down was Jeff getting a full body (naked!) scan because his belt set off the sensors, lol

We each had a drink at the bar across from our gate (beer and mojito) and waited patiently as the hours ticked by.

Fortunately, we got a two-seater spot on the plane (a quite tight plane that is 3 by 3 by 3 for seating until the back!) so we had a little space and some privacy. It was about a 6.5 hour flight and it didn´t feel very long after I took 2 gravols after dinner... I was out. Jeff on the other hand wasn´t and has been pretty jet lagged today.

Going through the airport was easy and after a quick stop at the Tourism desk, we found our bus and hopped on. We got off at our designated stop (huge thanks to Jeff for figuring it all out!) and then found our next bus, or tram as it were, that took us farther on. Now, when the directions say, take the first stop after the tram has stopped climbing, with no street names, it´s a little unnerving but we found it! Without a word of a lie, we didn´t get lost once.

We found our hostel which really is nice! Our room opens up to the patio and beer is cheap (Jeff´s impressed). We had a nap for a few hours before heading out to explore the city. We walked for a few hours, navigating the map and becoming more familiar with our surroundings. It was a hot walk on cobblestone and in the sun!

I´ve got to say, the architecture here is gorgeous, old, rustic, some of it rundown, but still beautiful. I´ve already got some great shots. The only problem is that it all looks the same from street to street so we really had to pay attention and use any landmarks we could find!

We stopped for dinner, well, I stopped for dinner and Jeff watched me eat - he doesn´t have his appetite yet. We paid WAY too much for a meal not worth half of it but it was part of the experience (there you go mom, not cheaping out! lol) but we probably will try not to do that again. It was like schnitzel with fries.

We´ve just navigated our way back to the hostel without getting lost (and trust me, it´d be all to easy to get lost!) and we´re beginning to wind down from a long day of excitement, heat, and travel.

We´ve got some things planned tomorrow, to see the Castle de S. Jorge (St. Jorge´s Castle...?) which isn´t far at all, an easy walk.

Now to relax on the patio with Jeffrey to take in the view, and what a view it is!!

I´ll be back soon with more updates as we encounter them :)