Spring Break in February
- Jess Boehner
- Feb 27, 2023
- 7 min read
Updated: Mar 13, 2023
Lisbon, Portugal (2/24 - 2/27)
Deciding on which places to travel to during my semester in Italy isn’t easy. I have to collaborate with my friends, factor in the weather, check my budget, and prioritize destinations I am most interested in. When my friends proposed the idea of Lisbon, Portugal for spring break, I was a little disinterested. I had never thought about going to Portugal and honestly could not tell you one fact about the country. Though, as we began the planning, I became more impartial toward the idea. I wanted to spend spring break with my friends and I was hearing nothing but good things about Lisbon. After spending a long weekend there, I have concluded that it's my new favorite destination. I know I seem to say that about each place I travel to, but I guess that’s a good thing.
On Friday morning, the five of us girls took off for the airport to begin our 10-day spring break. We met up with four of our guy friends who were also headed to Lisbon for the weekend. As we prepared for landing, the sun shined through the windows and put a smile on my face. There’s nothing like vacationing in a new city that's beaming with sunshine.
We arrived at our Airbnb and were greeted by our fellow Barca besties. It worked out perfectly that they were planning on traveling to Portugal this weekend too so we were able to all stay together. Our place was located directly behind the Panteao Nacional de Santa Engracia. It was on top of a few quaint restaurants and coffee shops. Each window had its own view of the ocean.
As usual, we were running late for our first excursion. We dropped our bags, threw on a change of clothes, and walked to the port to board our boat cruise.
Spirits were high as we cruised down the bay. Since most of us are from the west coast, we were grateful to be on the water. The bar gave out a free complimentary drink to all of the passengers — which, of course, just led to more and more trips to the bar.
As the sun set, we passed under the 25 de Abril bridge. Just picture the Golden Gate Bridge, but not in San Francisco. It was cool to have a little reminder of home on a completely different continent. On a hill next to the bridge is the Cristo Rei Christ Statue.
Now, picture the famous statue in Rio de Janeiro, but not in Brazil. The statue represents Portugal’s gratitude for avoiding the horrors of World War II.
About halfway through the cruise, the boat turned into a party. People from all different countries and of all different ages were dancing and singing to the music. The DJ was taking song requests, and the bartender poured shot after shot. As I looked around the boat, everyone was having a good time — even the random strangers that got stuck with us.
Everything after the boat felt like a fever dream. We walked into town until the streets turned pink. “Pink
Street,” is a trendy hangout spot for drinks, food, and clubs. It hasn’t always been the hot spot, however. It used to be a place for criminals, prostitutes, and sailors. In the early 2010s, Pink Street began its remodel in hopes
We ate at a funky restaurant that was packed when we arrived and even more packed when we left. I had a mojito and a fresh salmon salad.
The crew then split up after dinner, with some going home and some going to the bars. I took it easy Friday night in order to make the most of my Saturday.
After a decent night's rest in the top bunk, I peered out the window to see our view. I was shocked to see a massive flea market extending down the entire street. There are lots of markets in Florence, so it is fun to compare what each country has to offer.
Avery and I let the rest of the girls sleep while we headed out to get some coffee. Things were a little more lively as we got to the center of the city. It was clear more tourists were staying there and were all eager to start their day. We ordered Starbucks– shocker. The barista who helped us was the sweetest lady ever, and she even drew hearts on our cups. My interaction with her made me begin to realize how kind the Portuguese are. That hospitality was consistent throughout our entire stay.
After walking through the square, we strolled along the waterfront in hopes to find something that would catch our eye. We spotted three buildings that were shipping crates turned into restaurant stands. One menu was classic Portuguese, another was tapas and meats, and the final was brunch. Avery and I sat in two beach chairs and sipped on spritzes. As the day went on, our friends slowly made their way down to join us. By 4:00 pm, we had lined an entire row of lawn chairs.
That evening we had a reservation at SEEN. SEEN is a restaurant on the top floor of the Tivoli Hotel in central Lisbon. With a view overlooking the city and a dark ambiance, SEEN definitely had a more sophisticated aura compared to the other places we have eaten. I ordered my first Pornstar martini. A Pornstar martini is made from a mix of vanilla and passion fruit flavors with a hint of sparkling wine. Some of the Barca girls had tried it in Amsterdam a few weeks ago and insisted I try it. All of us love sushi so our table was packed with a variety of scrumptious rolls. Also on their menu was “Truffle mashed potatoes.” Truffle is on every menu in Europe so I’ve learned to embrace it instead of trying to escape it. The mashed potatoes were fluffy and melted in my mouth.
A lot of the restaurants we visit have been recommended by the Boulder kids who studied abroad in previous years. It is so nice to have some guidance and even more fun to compare our different experiences.
The rest of the night consisted of barhopping, dancing, and meeting up with friends. We also attended Elrow– a popular Lisbon music concert. I’ll be honest, when I say “we,” I mean not me. I found out that furries attended this event and paint was being thrown around. It reminded me of San Jose’s Furricon and the Color Run so I decided it was not my scene. However, my friends said they had an amazing time as they came home with face paint and funny stories.
When I woke up Sunday morning I had no idea that I was about to have one of the best days of my entire life. Avery and I were anxious to start the day so we headed over to the beach before the rest of the group. We ate breakfast outside of a little shack in Costa de Caprica. As we sat there shivering and refreshing the weather app every sixty seconds, we began to regret agreeing to today’s outing. The sun was nowhere in sight and the wind made everything feel ten times colder. We also aren’t that great at dressing according to the weather…. Soon enough, the rest arrived and we were at a bar taking shots of courage at 11:30 AM. It was time to hang loose in Lisbon, Portugal.
We walked up to NZS Surf House and were ready to be suited up. Some of the group thought we should have a guide come out with us to give pointers, but the rest of us hot-heads thought that was a waste of five dollars. We ended up having a guide come with us, and let me tell you, that was the best five dollars I have ever spent.
I noticed the water was shockingly comfortable as I ran straight in with my board. Luckily we all had wet suits on which definitely helped mask the chill. I also think that being somewhere new, learning something new, with my best friends, allowed me to forget about the cold.
Surfing was a lot harder than I expected. I drank a decent amount of saltwater and got smacked around by about fifteen waves until I finally got up. After riding the wave for only a few seconds, I felt a huge sense of pride rush over me. As silly as it sounds, I was extremely proud of myself for not giving up. Surfing in Lisbon is going to be something I brag about for the rest of my life.
Everyone was starving when our lunch reservation rolled around. We ate at IRMAO, a bohemian beach club along the water. We were surrounded by clouds, but I bet that during the sunny months, IRMAO is a very popular spot. My mojito was so pretty I almost didn’t want to drink it — almost. I ordered a lentil salad that I also loved because it was different from anything I have eaten while abroad.
After lunch, we turned into zombies. We all went home to rest up for our early flights in the morning. Even after a shower and a nap, the smile on my face remained. Adventures like these are the reason I came to Europe. Creating these memories is what this semester is for. In the midst of all this fun though, I miss my sister. I know she would love a boat cruise and a day of surfing. I am so used to traveling with her and sharing these experiences together so it feels weird that she is not by my side. I can’t wait for her to come to visit in April!
Traveling with an open mind allows for the best experiences. I had an incredible time in Lisbon and can’t wait to go back in the future.
The first leg of spring break is complete. Next stop: Mallorca, Spain
SEEN Restaurant: tivolihotels.com
IRMAO beach club: https://praia-irmao.com
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