Santa Maria Dos Olivais

With plans for big days, we set alarms for 7:30, ready to hang out Helena for a day towards Sintra. Yet all is never set in stone. We ended up sleeping in till 12 (we have not been sleeping at all...) and Helena ended up being sick or unwell, so we didn't get to go. But that's OK, Ethan loves the ocean and fish, so we ended up in the oceanarium! Wow, it was amazing. There were so many fish and interesting exhibits. There was one with penguins that had no glass or wall between us, and one was sitting right on the end, I could have petted him if I wanted! Then, right after, there was one with birds, which were being fed right in front of us. The lady would throw food in the air, and the bird would honestly be flying a couple inches from our heads. It's just so strange because I feel like back home, you would never be able to be right beside the animals. Maybe North Americans are really assholes. But afterward, we finally risked the public transportation to head to the lisbon castle. It went quite smoothly, but man, the bus was LOADED with people. Ended up stopping for a 4.80 euro sandwich and coffee (how is it so cheap!) On our way up to the castle, we decided to use the e scooters. Then, to realize certain areas you can not park the scooters... so we had to go back to where we started. But we did get to stop for some crazy views! I did almost fall off the viewpoint, but luckily, I was there to catch myself! After all this, when we finally got to the castle, it was too late... so for the third time this trip, I arrived late for something. But that's OK, there is so much to see, and honestly, I have had so much fun just being present in this crazy new world, having a coffee or just walking around is treat alone. We even found this little secret gem of a rooftop bar with fabulous views and vibes. There is nothing better than watching the city with a bottle of wine. It's a great way to close out the day. Until you realize you never had dinner when you finally reach the hostel and the only place open was this hole in a way. The kitchen was closed, but they said they would make their meat of the day, with no idea what it was, wondering if it is even a good idea to eat here we dug in. And wow, it is so far one of my favorite meals for sure! That was the best way to finish the day.Read more