Hit List Spain

Tan (or burn): beaches of the Costa del Sol. Hey, at least you won't be the only one: these beautiful beaches are packed with lobster red British ex-pats. Bring sunscreen. You might make some new friends if you share!

Photograph: Ronda. This white village nestled in between a gorge is a photowhore's paradise.

Listen: Spanish accents. A bit tough to understand with prominent lisp, Spain's Spanish is still sonorous.

Sip: sangria, especially on terraces, porches, outside pools, and really anywhere outside. As you're enjoying Spanish style late dinners (or maybe even breakfast and lunches), get your fill of this fruity drink!

Swim (with the fishes!): Barcelona's Aquarium. The Aquarium boasts a huge fish tanks visitors can walk through, complete with sharks, sting rays, eels, and turtles! Oh my!

Raid: Zara. Spain's famous chain, Zara seems to have stores on every corner. A better quality H&M, Zara's best to hit to in July and August when sales make the prices comparable to H&M.

Tour: Madrid's Moorish and royal quarters. Get a guidebook and follow the suggested itinerary. It's truly the best way to immerse yourself in Madrid's storied history.

Portugal Hit List

Devour: pasteis de nata, the traditional Lisbon pastry. Get the original at Antigua Confeitaria de Belém. Make sure to douse it in cinnamon.

Groove: Lux, Lisbon's most stylish nightclub. For lounging, get a drink and grab a couch upstairs, If you're in the mood to dance the night away (I really can't figure out when Lux actually closes), head downstairs.

Sleep (please, don't snore!): Oasis Backpacker's Mansion. Right in the ever-hippening neighborhood of Santa Catarina, Oasis certainly merits its ratings as one of Europe's top hostels. Euro inspired Ikea chic, cheap Portuguese meals and a bevy of well travelled guests make it an incredible deal for 15 euro a night.

Hike: Castelo de São Jorge. Once you climb up to the top of Lisbon's castle, you'll be rewarded with 360* views of the city.

Roadtrip: Sintra. The most picturesque village in Portugal, Sintra boasts castles and pastries galore. 

Window shop: Bairro Alto's stores at night. This neighborhood is certainly not asleep at night and neither are its shops! 

Hop on: 28 tram. For 1.40 euro, the Lisbon Metro takes you on a tour of the city's winding streets as the 28 swerves past many major attractions. 

Haggle: Thieves' Market. Clothes, bags, shoes, jewelry, antiques, books, and CDs... what isn't for sale at this market?!

Adios Lisbon

Eager to make the most of my last day (and unable to sleep thanks to nearby snoring Germans, I woke up early and took the train to the coastal town of Cascais (Cash-cay). I was going to rent one of the free municipal bikes but I lazily just wandered aimlessly, read at a cafe and cooled off my poor burnt feet in the Atlantic. I've been so excited to eat some of the Senegalese/Cape Verdean good in Lisbon but I stupidly saved my treat for Sunday. Every one of the tiny restaurants I miraculously found was closed. Disappointed and starving, I scarfed down a brie and bacon baguette and packed and napped. It was a quiet, sangria-filled last night at the Oasis.

I attempt to make a steal at the Thieves' Market

I slept in late this morning but got up in time for Lisbon's infamous Thieves' Market. With the Aussies and Canadians, I took the trusty 28 tram to the huge, boisterous market. Staying true to its name, this place seriously is full of stolen goods - mostly 90s tee shirts. I found a silver chain that can be wound in a million different ways. We tried to find the tile museum, but instead wandered around in the impossible heat for four hours. Miraculously, we found our way home. Lisbon grocery stores are unbelievably cheap: I got wine, fruit, and, of course, Coca Cola Light, for under two euros. After dinner, everyone hung out on the patio for a bit. We went to the Bairro Alto later. It would have been nothing more than a fun evening out except... Hungry, we somehow found a bakery in a seemingly abandoned building. There was a bouncer outside, which seemed weird, and when we gathered outside to devour pastries, we realized that two of the girls were stuck inside. In Lisbon, it's illegal to sell bread after midnight and the cops were outside the bakery. So the poor girls were held hostage inside a bakery. All for the sake of a (delicious) pastry.

A long walk in the heat

After a refreshing two hours of sleep, I woke up and left the hostel at nine, bound for Belem. Undetered by the fact that Belem doesn't make all of my maps, I thought I would have a nice morning walk to get one of the famous Lisboa custard tarts. I am now intimately familiar with industrial Lisbon.

Two days (hours) later, when I finally arrived at Antigua Confereteria de Lisboa, I found a huge cafe packed with people. After intimidating a group of Japanese tourists, I found a table and had the best pastry ever: a warm custard tart, covered in powdered sugar and cinnamon. Delicious.

Next up was the medieval monastery, possibly one of the most beautiful buildings in Lisbon. I took the tram to the Museu National de Antigua, Portugal's national museum and wandered around. Off to the Tile Museum now!

Castles

I woke up early today to head to Sintra, the ancient town 40 minutes north of Lisbon. I was extremely excited because Sinta is home to several castles, and as I dream of someday becoming royalty, I love castles.

The town is charming, full of windy, cobblestone streets. I wandered around for a bit before heading into the first castle, which was one of the first castles of Portuguese royalty. The other castle I really wanted to see is at the top of the mountain and is an old Muslim ruin. I hiked up the hill (not easy when wearing sandals on cobblestone) and explored the old ruins, which give a 360* view of the surrounding area.

After reading outside for a bit, relaxing from my hike, I took the train back to Lisbon. I walked through the city to the ancient Castle ruins and then saw Se Cathedral.

I had traditional Portuguese chicken in chili sauce (piri piri) for dinner then went out with the hostelites. We went to one of the clubs along the wharf called Lux, full of the trendiest Portuguese and not properly attired American/Canadian/Australian bunch. The Portuguese stay out as late - the club hadn't even closed yet when we left at 5:30am!

Lisboa

It is hot. Very hot. Sitting in a pleather chair in an internet cafe with computers from 1999 doesn't help with the heat...



After arriving in Lisbon at about nine, I attempted to follow the hostel's directions. Unfortunately, I got off the bus approxiamately twenty minutes before I should have and then got lost in the metro system (why why why are the tracks on the wrong side of the platform?!). I finally found the Oasis Backpacker's Mansion in the bustling Bairro Alto quarter. It sits at the bottom of a windy little street off the main boulevard in its neighborhood. The yellow outside matches the Ikea inspired inside. It is by far the chicest hostel I've ever stayed in.



I left the hostel and wandered around the city for a couple of hours. The 28 tram line goes all around the city and after mistakenly getting off several times, I got a fabulous ride through the city for what should have been €1.40. Lisbon is hilly and charming and very much an Old World country. The sidewalk is all cobblestone, which is slippery but beautiful. If the old Portuguese ladies can do it, I can!

This afternoon, I was too hot to do anything but nap. I met several other people who were feeling the same way! Tonight is dinner cooked by a Portuguese mom and then going out in the Bairro Alto with the hostel.