20 June (Wed) – Day 1
Flight a bit delayed but otherwise ok. Talked to a lady named
Lorraine, sitting next to me. Apparently she has a daughter and son in Uni of
Reading and Loughborough respectively. Daughter is doing law, just finished 2nd
year. Son is doing PhD in System engineering or something. She keep talking
what her son did and very proud of her son’s achievement. She is so proud of
her children. I kind of manipulated my speech to keep heaping praises to her
children, because I think that’s what she wants to hear.
She is on an all-girls trip. Very typical British loh. These British
tourists all flocking to Portugal, like expatriate. Exploiting the cheap
accommodation and food.
I got asked a bit more question at the Portuguese custom. Probably
because the officer afraid I jump airplane. Faro nice airport, small. I
managed to catch the 2115 bus 15 just in time. The hostel 1878 is ok, very
comfortable. Maybe because the position of my bed, I struggle to get Wifi from
where I’m sleeping. The weather is ok. 18 celcius is ok with just t-shirt,
surprisingly.
I walked through a night life area of the Faro town, just to get
instant noodle because I super hungry.
I cooked the instant noodle. Ate with the receptionist. I brought
more stuff than usual for this trip.
21 June (Thur) – Day 2
Went to do and see all the touristic sites in Faro old town. Managed
to finish the sights by 11.30am
By far the highlight is to go to the local market and buy groceries
for lunch and dinner. I love their fresh fish market. Cooked something like
potato dumpling or something for lunch. Then I went to the beach. I’m surprised how open they are regarding
toplessness. I’m the only Chinese person around. Watched the world cup match
between France and Peru at a local restaurant at the beach. Cooked dinner and
then do nothing.
22 June (Fri) – Day 3
Went to Lisbon from Faro Took a bus to airport to wait for blablacar
Ricardo. Ate Portugal egg tart at bus station. Waited for Ricardo at airport
gas station. Ricardo can’t really speak English. In the car met a Finnish woman
who is divorced. She got 3 children. 2 son 1 daughter. All working in Finland.
She travelled around Europe because she is retired, has pension and nothing to
do. She has been travelling around Spain and Portugal. She speaks Finnish,
Russian, German, English and Spanish. Also met a gentleman from the car who
helped me to get a metro ticket when in Lisbon. He’s born in Brazil, worked in
Iceland. He’s been to Bristol. He said if got time please go to cascais. He
said he love Edinburgh. Then I finally found my way to the Airbnb place. It’s
freaking hilly in Lisbon. And the Airbnb place is not near metro station.
There’s a bus stop but the bus is not frequent. Whilst waiting for João, I
watched Nigeria World Cup match with Sadeek, who kindly let me into the place.
The Airbnb place is shared with two other long term tenants from Africa. At
night they snore very loud, can’t sleep. Not a pleasant experience. Very hot as
well, and smelly place. The bathroom and kitchen is dirty, so I didn’t feel
like staying in the place. I went out immediately after meeting with João.
Lisbon is hot when I was there. I put on sunscreen. I went out around 7pm.
Surprisingly I managed to do most sights in the night. I managed to go to Santa
luzia viewing point, very nice. Then walked or rather climbed pathetically to
Sao Jorge castle. Oh I used the famous old fashioned tram. Not my first time as
I’ve done it in Budapest. So crowded and overrated. Then I went to seaside. Got
a nice square. Just watched the final minutes of Serbia vs Switzerland which is
projected on a big screen in the city square. Saw some enthusiastic Swiss fans
who are so happy that Switzerland won the match. Took some pictures along the
esplanade. The transportation using bus is not the best as I’ve spend a
significant time waiting for bus. Then I went to the area under the famous
suspension bridge. Very classy area with lots of restaurants. Then I went to
downtown area to have McDonald dinner because I’m on budget and I don’t feel
like cooking in the Airbnb place.
23 June (sat) – Day 4
Went up to an elevated area to have a good view of Lisbon city. Very
nice area. Then went to Belem and took those touristic pictures of monuments.
It’s freaking hot. It’s the Saint John festival and there’s beer and sardines.
And also decorations are everywhere, very nice. Guess I’m lucky to come to
Portugal at midsummer. Took a ferry across to the other side of Lisbon. Then
took a bus to the beach in Costa da caparica. It’s funny. Lisbon is hot and
sunny, but just the other side of Lisbon it’s cloudy, windy and cool. This area
is full of nice trees, suitable for picnic. I thought the beach will be hot and
sunny, but it’s super cold. I didn’t stay long at the beach. Went back to
Lisbon. Too bad the ferry doesn’t have a viewing deck. Then I went to alfama
area. Very nice old place with lots of pearls ready for the Saint John
festival. Also the flea market, very nice. The Lisbon cathedral is nice.
Because I didn’t sleep much yesterday night due to loud snoring, I went back
around 7pm after dinner at kebab place. I was freaking tired. I think I’ve
walked 18 km today. The shittiest thing is that there’s no bus going to my
accommodation place. So I had to walk uphill all the way back. Super tired. If
I have more energy, I would have stay longer at city square or alfama area
because the festival is going on and there’s lots of dancing. Too bad. I was
very very tired.
24 June (Sun) – Day 5
I woke up 4am, to catch 2 buses to the train station where blablacar
Pedro picked me up around 7.30am to go to Porto. I slept most of the journey.
Back was painful because of my fishing sleeping position. Got andante tour 3
ticket at main train station in Porto. Check in time was 3pm. I reached Porto
around 10.30am. I’m carrying a heavy bag. Porto is super hilly. I walked like
mad and very tired. I went to Sao Bento area. Looked at the church nearby, very
nice. The Mac Donald’s in this area is very beautiful, in fact one of the
prettiest macdonald in the world haha. To kill time, I spent like 2 hours in
the macdonald. Checked into the hostel. Okay so I brought my laptop for this
trip just for the sole purpose of sorting out CCF SU development plan document.
Glad it’s done. I’ve also recorded a short video for teacher Zoe Chong to encourage
BK students. It’s very awkward but haha oh well. At last, I get to explore
Porto. Damn Porto is very pretty, I love Porto more than Lisbon. Probably
because the weather in Porto is cooling and cloudy, also the place I stay is
more comfortable and very near to metro station. The cathedral, bridge and the
riverside area is very beautiful. Bright some groceries to cook in the hostel.
Met a Russian guy called Max from Russia
for east. This is the first time I met someone from Russian Far East. Very
interesting guy. He hates Putin. He just came from France. It’s his first time
in Europe. Helped him with google translate app. Then I slept. The bathroom and
kitchen is small. But ok la. It’s far better than the place in Lisbon. Because
I cheapskate hahaha that’s why I didn’t enjoy Lisbon accommodation. Oh and I
met two Christian girls who cooked in the kitchen. They said prayer before
eating. I was ashamed of myself. Am I living the Christian life ? I’m happy to
be in Porto to forget about the world, the upcoming shitty experience. It’s a
nice escape. I just need some time to relax and not think about life.
25 June (Mon) – Day 6
I woke up nice and sunshine. Breakfast by the hostel is similar to
the one in Faro. Bread, ham, some corn flakes and coffee. Very standard. I then
went to the Sao Bento train station. The train station is very beautiful, the
walls are decorated with pictures of Portugal’s transportation history. Then I
went to the livroria bookstore, but sadly it’s not opened yet and there’s a
very long queue like wth. So I went to Guimaraes earlier than expected at 1020.
Lol I think I made a mistake of going to Guimaraes today. Like wtf what should
be the highlight of the day – cable car, was closed today for maintenance. So
disappointed!! So I tried brainlessly to climb up the hill, but halfway I was
dishearten because some residential dogs barked relentless at me. At the end I
must’ve walked/climbed like 5km without achieving anything. There’s no bus or
uber to the top of the hill, wth man. Then I walked along the old town of
Guimaraes, up to the castle. This town is definitely beautiful. The flower
garden lining up to a church is very beautiful. It’s quite deserted loh when I
go there. I decided not to go into the castle although I’ve allocated $$ for it.
This is because it’s basically a square box. So, with no $$ spent on
attractions, somehow I stumbled upon a restaurant which has EUR 5 menu. Wow
what a bargain. With EUR 5, I got bread, soup, orange juice, rice & pork
with clamps. Wow so cheap, it’s definitely the highlight of my day in
Guimaraes!! I smartass go and eat some bread before deciding to go for lunch at
a restaurant. By 3pm, after I finished the lunch, I was very full, couldn’t
even finish the pork. This fullness
forced my shit to go to the anus. So I took a dump at the train station. Overall
I didn’t do much at Guimaraes. I think the main let down was that the cable car
is not working today, sad man.
Heading back to Porto, I went to the other side of Porto across the
river to the wine cellar area. If I’m a big fan of wine, I’ll be super excited.
But since I’m not, I’m not that excited, too bad. But this area is very
touristic and beautiful. Just to make good use of my transport card, I took
metro and bus to a beautiful garden. Too bad it’s closing at 9pm. When I got
there it’s already 8.20pm. So I rushed everything. Not much to do and since I’m
dead tired I didn’t explore 100% of the place. Besides the main building is
under maintenance so can’t go in anyway if I went there in the day. Then I went
to a supermarket in a shopping center to buy sardines and instant noodle. Nice
dinner. Since I was very full from lunch, I ate my dinner around 11pm! lol.
Nice dinner, nobody is using the kitchen, nice. Throughout the day I was all
worrying about my life. I’m glad I have this escape.
26 June (Tue) – Day 7
Woke up around 9am because I can. Ate breakfast slowly then checked
out around 10.30am. Left my luggage at the hostel, very friendly staff who
allowed me to do that. Actually I have nothing planned for today. I think I’ve
seen enough of Porto and should’ve fly off back to UK yesterday night. But oh
well. I should’ve think of day trip from Porto. Since I have nothing to do in
Porto, my “kill-time” mode is turned on. First I went to the Livroria Lello
bookstore. Apparently I need to pay €5 and no bags allowed. So being a
cheapskate and seeing the long queue, I decided not to go. Not going to this
bookstore is like not being in Porto at all. Oh well. Then I went to buy some
souvenirs. I went to a souvenir shop which is owned by not a Bangladeshi! Very
rare indeed. Most souvenir shops are operated by Bangladeshi people haha.
Anyhow this Portuguese owner’s souvenir shop prices are cheaper. So I spent €5
to buy 3 postcards, 2 cork bookmark, 1 fridge magnet and 1 keychain for family
members, as requested. Then I went to the Clerigos church to attend a free
organ concert for 30min. Not bad. Then I went to take buses just to make good
use of my Andante Tour 3 transport card. The Porto wine museum is closed. Sad.
Porto is hilly, so I walked up the hill to the palace garden. Ate lunch there (5
croissants). Then I went back to downtown. Doing nothing. Then I bought an
orange juice from Trindade shopping center. Then I killed time at a nearby
Catholic Church. Somehow at 4pm there’s a 30min service. I basically attended a
church service by accident, experiencing Portuguese Catholic Church service.
Lol. Then I went to ate some Portuguese pastry. I get to try the
fish-covered-cheese and a bun with fried pork. It’s all €3. I love Porto. I
think Portugal is famous for its pastry. I finally tried the Portuguese food on
my last day in Portugal. I officially exceeded my £300 budget, for a tea time.
Not bad. Then I start heading to airport. Flight delayed 1 hour. Reach Bristol
bus station around 1.20am. Waited for 1 hour for bus. Shit man. Wish I have a
car. Reached home 3am. Shit. At least there’s bus, thank God.
