Portugal Day One: Lisbon on Foot, Lisbon, Portugal

After a grueling six hour layover in Philadelphia, two glasses of wine and a 7-hour overnight flight, we finally landed in Lisbon at 8:30AM Monday morning. The airport was easy enough to navigate, the signs herded us like cattle through hallways to immigration, baggage claim, and finally out to the reception area. The tourism booth was straight ahead, where various tour packages were waiting to be purchased.

We opted for the Lisboa card that would grant us 72 hour access to metro, train and tram lines as well as access to museums, discounts and other attractions. For 39 euro plus 10% off student discount, this is a great option to maximize adventure and mobility within the city.

The metro in Lisbon is located within the airport, making it easier to access the city center upon arrival. Not only was access convenient, but the cleanliness of the subway cars and the platforms blew me away. Caricatures, murals, and artistic pieces lined the walls of the tunnels, giving what would normally be a brutalist, ugly hallway the sentiment of an eclectic art gallery.

We managed to haul all our luggage through the metro and up a few blocks to the holiday inn, our home for the next four days. The deal my mom got on the hotel was great, about $40 per person per night for decent-sized rooms and most importantly, unlimited free wi fi. A nap was in order, the plan to meet in the lobby to begin exploring at 15:00. ...... (follow the instructions below for accessing the rest of this article).