Lisbon at 60
I went to Lisbon on my own for my 60th birthday. To do that was huge. As well as issues of awkwardness at looking sad and lonely, I had deep fear about doing it solo.
I was also sad because I had bought the tickets for Jeff and I to go together. https://hazeldurbridge.com/i-am-never-going-to-marry-again/
What propelled me to do it anyway was the greater fear that I would succumb to allowing my world to become smaller – that somehow because of my age or other vulnerabilities these things were beyond me now and forever.
Consequently, just going was a triumph. Obviously, I would have enjoyed it more with good company, but the sun shone; I saw lots of lovely things and ate and drank lovely things.
How did I find Lisbon? A city of cobbled streets and trams with the river Tagus running through it.
First of all I should give a heads up to the hotel H10 Duque de Loule
http://www.h10hotels.com/Duque-de-Loulé
White and blue décor, amazing food and the nicest touch of all – a birthday cake and fizz when I got back to my room on my 60th birthday.
Only slightly disconcerting was the fact that the dessert was the same size as the main and what was the froth? Beaten egg white? I have never had spitty looking froth on my food before.
I can walk for hours. The first day I did a route from my guide book around the Baixa-Chiado District and then went to the castle and Mouraria-Alfama district ending up at the cathedral.
The second day I caught the tourist bus out to Belem and visited the mosteiro dos Jeronimos and the tower. I thought the architecture at the monastery some of the most beautiful I have seen in the world.
Late in the afternoon I had wine with a view https://winewithaview.pt/ a great business idea, helped by the services of a talented busking violinist. In the vicinity was a guy travelling with 2 rabbits. If he had a blog, I haven’t been able to find it.
Topped off by a mouth watering dinner at http://oficinadoduque.pt/
The green splodge is mint sorbet.
Would I recommend the city? Yes.
