I want to say that my experience in Lisbon was unique. But this is because it was so odd. I want to talk to other people and hear “Wow, that wasn’t anything like I experienced it!” Lisbon was the first city that I was really on edge while visiting since Shanghai. It just felt like an old shipping town. Like it was once a thriving metropolis, but now the only line you will see is for the unemployment office. Yikes! What a disappointment.
The side walks of Lisbon are made of Mosaic crème and white stones. This reflects the winter sun directly into your eyes with a more intense glare than snow. The place was part torn up for renovation (Europe’s second scourge behind graffiti) and part run down. Not the charming type of run down, but just depressing. The water was dark as San Fransisco and oddly enough there is a bridge that vaguely resembles the golden gate.
When eating at a restaurant, the waiter promptly gives you a special menu that has higher prices carelessly taped on top of the originals. Do they take us for fools? In every city I go to there are usually one of two attitudes that I run into: friendly, and indifferent. I really don’t get rude much, but I got it more than a few times in Lisbon. And where as patrons sitting next to you in Serbia will but into a conversation to find out your life story and proceed to have a meaningful conversation for the next hour, the Portuguese in Lisbon just stare, or make rude noises. They’ve got the attitude like “why the hell are you in my town? Why don’t you speak Portuguese?” Such an exclusive club of Portuguese speakers when you think of it. Portugal………….. Brazil ………… any others?
There is a street were all the restaurants are on and the waiters try and stick menus in your face. After this happening three times I just said “No thanks.” and didn’t even break stride. The waiter flipped out and said “No Gracias is SPANISH! I’M NOT SPANISH. YOU AREN’T IN SPAIN.” A sore subject I’m sure, but not my problem. I laughed and said “Ya, thats why I said NO THANKS, now how do you say COCK SUCKER in Portuguese because I am about to culture your ass!”
Well maybe not that last part. Weren’t the French supposed to be the Jerks? They definitely were not.
Moments later, I was walking across the main square and a big guy made a v line for me. Almost trotting at me, I thought “Oh great, this guy is going to knock me out. Look at the size of him. Should I run now? He’ll probably just run me down and make it more humiliating for me.” Is this what waiters do in Lisbon? Well, here we go…..
Turns our he only wanted to sell me drugs. I had a thought for him “Don’t you know the correct way to sling rocks? Just stand on the corner and whisper the offer as I walk bye. Don’t run at someone unless you want a face full of pepper spray buster! “ Turns out, I left that at home 
I met a few people a while ago who said that Bosnia is full of nice people, but they will try and get every last penny out of you. I didn’t feel this way at all about the Bosnians, but I did feel this was a perfect fit for the Portuguese.
I was so shocked. Portugal was supposed to be such a cool place. I thought that going the extra mile would pay off, and it did.
I packed up and moved onto Porto; the birth place of Port Wine. This was a suggestion of my Ex-room mate from San Diego, Patrick (who I met up with in Sydney and Cairns if you remember). He went there years ago and suggested it to me then. I hadn’t forgotten about it since. Pat was the reason I was in Portugal in the first place. “Dude! Go to Porto. We stayed in this “hostel” that was amazing and turned out to have a freaking bell hop! I went to a restaurant and wanted to celebrate so I thought, screw it, and had a steak dinner and a bottle of wine and paid for my girlfriend as well. The bill….. was 9 euros !”
When I went out to dinner alone in Porto, there was a sign on one of the restaurants that said “we speak English!” I thought “Sold!” I came in and there were meat and fish dinners from 5 euros to 9 euros depending on if it was a half order of whole. I ordered salmon and the guy said “half order of salmon” as if he had decided that that was the correct portion. I thought “oh great. He is going to bring out a tiny piece and then I get a bill for the full portion.” But I was served two large salmon steaks with potatoes, salad, and a smile. I thought “Well, I’ll pay for the full portion if it is that big” But when the bill came out, it was for a half portion! He sold me a water that I didn’t really want but the price was 80 euro cents (while I was expecting something like 3 euros). Porto people are good people.
In Lisbon a waiter will often just bring things out that you didn’t order and then charge you for them. They must be taking lessons from the Romanians!
Porto is the saving grace of Portugal.
Porto is:
That charming city that you always think of when you think of Europe.
Filled with beautiful Churches that look like people actually use (instead of being a tourist attraction).
Full of nice people.
3 times cheaper than Lisbon.
Full of steep and narrow alley ways.
Worth having to sit through Lisbon to get to.
One cool thing about Lisbon was the breakfast culture. There are tons of bars who serve pastries and coffee but instead of sitting at a table to eat them, you typically stand at the bar. I thought this was significant, but don’t know the deeper meaning just yet.
A few fun facts about alexrothaus.com:
I have hit some round numbers and I thought I might share them with you. As of a few days ago, 1000 different people have read my blog. Not 1000 visits, 1000 lives have be touched. Even more impressive still, those thousand people come from exactly 50 different countries !
Freakin sweet !!
Now I leave you with a BUNCH of Pics that I have been meaning to share with you guys !
Thanks for reading !
Scandinavia
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2105682&id=24501923&l=02f541b356
Netherlands and Belgum
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2106290&id=24501923&l=055554c0da
Paris
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2106291&id=24501923&l=afd9012886
Switzerland
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2108131&id=24501923&l=d4511be9fe
Koblenz
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2108141&id=24501923&l=988471729c
Italy
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2108146&id=24501923&l=88f2e57d3d
Slovenia
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2108148&id=24501923&l=e34867a0d8
Bosnia
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2109275&id=24501923&l=aba14902ae
Serbia
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2109277&id=24501923&l=edfe577a9a
Spain
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2109278&id=24501923&l=9dee72d686
Portugal
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2109280&id=24501923&l=45d061dbb4