I have loved getting lost in the streets of Lisbon: Miradouro de Santa Luzia, Pastéis de Belem, Praça do Comércio, and Sé de Lisboa have been some of the highlights of my time here so far. One of my favorite spots that I stumbled upon is Lisbon’s Tiles in Alfama! I have loved exploring all of the beautiful handmade ceramics and tiles here and have already bought several dishes for my apartment. I love learning about the rich culture and history in Portugal!
Over the weekend, I was able to take two day-trips from Lisbon- Cascais and Sintra. Being from Miami, my expectations for beaches are quite high, and Cascais certainly met them! The scenery was beautiful, and the water was so refreshing! I was also impressed with how easy it was to get to Cascais. I have loved taking public transportation all around the Lisbon metropolitan area.
Palácio Nacional da Pena in Sintra was unlike anything I had ever seen before! The castle looked straight out of a Disney movie with its grandeur and fun colors. This was an incredible day-trip, and I hope to go back soon to explore some of the other castles and pieces of history in Sintra!
I have loved my time in Lisbon so far, and I am so excited for all that is to come this semester. I am also so excited to work with Spin and enrich my study-abroad experience. The staff at Spin has been so welcoming and I cannot wait to learn more about this incredible organization and do my part in carrying out its mission. I am feeling inspired, optimistic, and ready for the next few months!
