I got here and then met up with some people I had coordinated with via CouchSurfing for a protest that people were doing against the right-wing government here in Portugal. I have never been part of a protest so it was pretty cool and apparently at the end of the day more than half a million people marched. Below is a iPhone pic of it.
We left the march after a bit and walked downtown to see the area and then along the water. Then we sat at a super cool waterside bar where everyone was outside on the ground sitting on beanbags! Then we went to dinner at a local-ish place that was pretty delicious and after that a tiny little live music bar that was cool and chill. After that we walked around the famed Bairro Alto area which is nuts! There are no open container laws so it is just tons of people filling the streets, drinking, hanging out and having fun. I wish there was stuff like that in NYC! Then we walked to this garden area that overlooked the city and hung out outside for a bit and now I am home ready for some well-deserves sleep.
One thing to be said, I love love love my new friends. They are interesting, kind, funny and just awesome. I think ACT did a great job of helping me really get to know some Euros well, which I'm so glad I did before this trip. A bit about my friends:
-A from Lisbon. The first one to respond and just always positive, always willing to help, passionate about the cause and super interested in NYC.
-H from Lisbon. So proud of his city and so committed to making sure we have the best experience possible. I wouldn't have had even close to as awesome of a day without him.
-G from South Africa. Super smart with a super interesting story, and someone who is genuinely interested in others and making friends.
-J from Sweden. By far the friendliest Swede I have ever met and shares my dry, sarcastic sense of humor.
-H from Madrid. So sweet, and just one of the most easygoing people while also being really interesting.
I also have to say how great this city is. It is right on the water, super clean, wide streets, lots of sunshine, and super friendly people. It reminds me in different ways of both Wellington and Boston, which makes it an easy add to the short list of "I'd-move-here-in-a-heartbeat-if-all-my-friends-and-fam-were-here" cities. Lisbon, I heart you, xoxo.
Ok off to bed to make sure I have enough energy for tomorrow. This time no making political statements, just regular sightseeing. How blah ;)
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