My uncle, who lived in Los Angeles for most of his life, retired and moved to Lisbon during the pandemic. It wasn’t until September 2023 that my mom, boyfriend, and I were able to visit. I’ve mostly traveled throughout the U.S., Canada, and Mexico, but this was my first time to Europe!

One of the most noticeable differences between cultures was the lack of urgency—pedestrians would literally stroll through the streets in front of oncoming traffic while drivers patiently waited. Not a car horn was honked nor swear word uttered. Another thing was the food… it was so fresh and “clean.” I’ve always been lactose-sensitive and have now developed a gluten-sensitivity (oh, the wonders of aging) but while I was there I indulged in bread and other dishes I normally shouldn’t with no side effects. It was so refreshing to detach from the “go, go, go” attitude and mindset of American culture and I really felt a sense of leisure and peace. We had to jam-pack a lot of activity into a short amount of time (we were only there for 5 days) and my uncle was the best tour guide; he’s always been an incredible host. I could go on and on about this trip—it’s one of my favorites to date and I’m looking forward to visiting again. Tchau for now 👋🏽

HOTEL

Pateo Lisbon Lounge Suits

DINING + NIGHTLIFE

LuxFrågil

NERI Restaurante Lisboa

Grau Douro Tapas & Winebar

ACTIVITIES

São Jorge Castle