Last-Minute Lisbon Getaway

Posted 6 days ago by Mike

We recently enjoyed a little four-day getaway to Lisbon. The main purpose of the trip involved seeing our dear friend from Arizona, Martha, and her son, Lucca. Lucca played in the IberCup, an international youth football (soccer) tournament.

We stayed in the Campo Pequeno neighborhood, our first time exploring this part of town and it did not disappoint. The area is flat, unlike the hilly parts of the city, which feel crowded and more touristy. We found plenty of great bars and restaurants, and we noticed very few barking dogs, which seems to be a bigger problem in Braga. We walked on roads without cobblestones and didn’t hear church bells both of which are also issues in Braga. The neighborhood lies close to the airport, but airplane noise doesn’t bother you all the time and stops at night. If we ever moved to Lisbon, this neighborhood would definitely appeal to me.

During the first couple of days, we visited both new and familiar spots. We stumbled upon the Gulbenkian Gardens, where we spent over an hour enjoying the zen-like vibes. It reminded me of a Japanese-style garden—a perfect place to bring a book or have a picnic. Nearby, we discovered Crush Doughnuts, where we shared the crème brûlée donut, which brought back memories of our Portland days where this simple piece of fried dough is elevated to a gourmet delicacy. Naturally, we hit up our two favorite beer bars, Delirium and Gulden Draak. With so many great Belgian beers on draft, I become paralyzed with indecision.

I am a big fan of Laika, a Portland-based stop-animation film company. If you aren’t familiar with stop-animation, watch the making of Guillermo Del Toro’s Pinocchio. I find this art form requires immense patience and creativity. We visited the Laika exhibit at the Lisbon Marianotte Museum, which showcased some of the actual models and sets used during creation of their movies. We can’t wait for the release of their next project.

In Cascais, we cheered for Lucca’s team as they played SC Braga. Lucca scored a goal, leading the Arizona team to victory. It felt a bit strange to root against our Braga club, but watching these skilled kids play brought great enjoyment. It was wonderful to reunite with Martha and Lucca. Kids from all over the world sharing this experience truly warms my heart.

On our final night in Lisbon, we savored an excellent dinner at Restaurante Sangiovese back in the Campo Pequeno neighborhood. I had roasted duck with vegetables, roasted potatoes, and sweet potato puree—one of the best meals I can remember.

On our way home, we stopped for lunch and spent a few hours in the historic town of Óbidos. We felt transported in time as we walked around the castle and along the city walls. After lunch, we visited the Chocolate House, where we shared a decadent treat called tartaleta de chocolate—so rich and absolutely delightful! We truly lucked out with the weather because scattered thunderstorms rolled through the area. It rained heavily when we arrived, and we almost decided to continue home. We waited for a bit, and the rain stopped, allowing the sun to shine. But just as we made it back to the car, another heavy downpour hit, even bringing some hail this time. Whew.

It took me a couple of months to find the time to finish this post. In the meantime, we just returned from a two-week road trip along Spain’s Green Coast. I hope to publish that post soon. Stay tuned. Bye for now!