Lisbon Part 2: Cascais & Belem

Once we laid our eyes on Bairro Alto on our first day in Lisbon, it was pretty hard to leave—the relaxed atmosphere, the small café-lined streets and colorful buildings had us eating dinner there every single night. We hit a local spot recommended by the shop owner down the street—Casa da India—which ironically is not an Indian place at all but a Portuguese grill. Any place where you’re sure that you’re the only foreigners in there and where you wait for a table for 30 minutes while sipping 1 EUR beers must be a good place! We were not disappointed—the guy behind the counter slathers marinade on grilled chicken, beef, bacon, seafood, shrimp and well just about anything that you can grill. We ordered a huge jug of sangria and a mixed plate of grilled meats which came with fluffy rice and crisp French fries----mmmmmmm mmm mmm.

The next day we thought we better venture away from Bairro Alto so we escaped to Cascais, a seaside town only a 40-minute train ride from Lisbon, and the train just so happens to go right along the water. We grabbed a harbor-side table and while Christian and my brother-in-law went to check out the yachts, my sis and I ordered some vinho verde and did some wedding planning :). Not a bad atmosphere to chat with my maid of honor about wedding stuff!

On our last night in Bairro Alto..errrr I mean Lisbon…we found a tiny café around the corner from our cute apartment. Shame on me for not jotting down the name because this was our best meal over the weekend! My sis and I ordered shrimp skewers but my brother-in-law’s bifteka Portguesa, steak topped with bacon and gravy, was so salty and so good! Let’s not forget that we started off with bread and homemade garlic butter and fresh gazpacho…I LOVE gazpacho! Upon finishing our 2^nd bottle of wine, the four of us decided that Lisbon was definitely one of the best cities in Europe! The lifestyle, the delicious food, street parties and cheap sangria and the sky is so ridiculously blue! We didn’t want to leave…but my sis and her husband were off to Rome and Christian and I were off to Croatia the next day sooooo…we were cool with it ;). 

I'm linking up with Bailey today for her travel party link-up! 'Travel' and 'party' just sound too good together, no? :) 

Lisbon: Part 1

Oh Lisbon...gorgeous Lisbon! A picture perfect Portuguese town painted in blues and whites and yellows and as you can probably tell, we loved it. With my sister and brother-in-law in tow, the four of us found our way to the cute Air BnB apartment we rented in Bairro Alto. The building was in a beautiful part of the old town which was ever so conveniently around the corner from nightly street parties and sidewalk cafes and yet still quiet with the outside adorned in vibrant pink.

Instead of making a plan we opted to wander around the city instead--feasting on bifanas (typical Portuguese pork sandwiches), arroz con mariscos (seafood rice similar to paella) and washing it all down with Portuguese vinho verde (green wine). Ultimately we ventured up to Castelo de Sao Jorge. It seemed like we spent hours admiring the view and walking through the castle...but the best thing about Southern Europe is that long days means late dinners so we were in no hurry :). Once we got back to Bairro Alto, we wined and dined until well past midnight on Portuguese pork and clams and yet another bottle of vinho verde. 

And well...once we stepped outside of the restaurant...full on STREET PARTY...and a half liter of sangria was only 2 EUR!! It's no surprise that we took full advantage of those sangrias...and totally fell in love with Lisbon. Day 1 = TOO much of a success! Oh boy...I'm just getting started on you, Lisbon!

Back from the Sunshine & An Interview with To and From Magazine!

We are back from 10 wonderful days in the sun! Our first few days were spent pigging out on grilled 'frango piri-piri' and sangria in Lisbon, Portugal, with my twin sis and her hubby then we island-hopped our way down the Croatian coastline--which was absolutely incredible. Lisbon quickly climbed our list as one of the absolute best cities in Europe and we almost instantly agreed that Croatia was the most beautiful place we've ever been--seriously. 

I'm excited to post some pretty pics in the next few weeks and cannot speak more highly of Lisbon and Croatia! 

But I'm also really excited for another reason--a few weeks ago I had the honor of being interviewed by Diana over at To & From Mag! I was totally floored when she asked to feature Let's Be Adventurers :).

Check out the article here. Thanks Diana!

Here are a few iPhone pics from our sunny days in Lisbon and Croatia...

The Bairro Alto street where our apartment was (above) and the beautiful view over Lisbon from Castelo de Sao Jorge (below).

A giant map and ode to Christopher Columbus :)

Delicious dinner of grilled chicken at a local spot in the heart of Bairro Alto, Lisbon

Sippin' on gigantic sangria with my twin sis at a Bairro Alto street party on our last night in Lisbon...then cruising over the Croatian coastline

One word: HVAR!

The most beautiful Croatian island: Mljet!

A grape-vine covered terrace at our hostel/pension in Dubrovnik--in love!

Jewel of the Adriatic :)