Portugal: Tour D'Horizon

a experiência é mãe da ciência

By Christina Nguyen

December 28^th, 2017

Month 3

Lisbon is rich in history, beauty, and good vibes. The sun shines 290 days of the year, and the temperature rarely drops below 60 degrees Fahrenheit. The topography allows for a range of climates which define the traditions, and ways of life. The relationship with the sea is clearly seen through the abundance of sardines, cod, and other delicious seafood. It was a wonderful month of experiencing the landscape, tasting the gastronomy, and being immersed in a lively community. Here is the run down on month 3...

The village of Furnas on Sao Miguel Island.

Experiences

The Fun Stuff

Living solo in a lovely 2-bed/2-bath apartment that I fully decorated in Christmas lights, and a tree.
Working out of WIP Lisboa, a RY design inspired space
Visiting the coast of Portugal, and going to the most Western point of Europe by Jeep.
Taking 2 Portuguese cooking classes focusing on their signature dish...cod!
Painting tiles, and learning about the history of Azulejos.
Hosting a holiday party with the Misses of Mangata at my apartment.
Listening to Fado music in Alfama.
Riding bikes in Trafaria, and Costa de Caparica.
Visiting the Oceanarium de Lisboa which is the largest aquarium in Europe.
Eating cereal with a scoop of ice cream on top for breakfast at Pop Cereal Cafe.
Exploring the castles, and palaces in the magnificent village of Sintra.
Celebrating the holidays in the Azores, an archipelago in the mid-Atlantic.
Ringing in 2018 with Xavier, my wonderful boyfriend who traveled halfway across the world to see me <3

The Not As Fun Stuff

Climbing the City of Seven Hills everyday.
Having church bells ring every 30 minutes daily outside of your apartment.
Getting food poisoning for the first time since starting my travels (it was bound to happen).

Palaces in Sintra with Robert, fellow RYer

Stories

Throughout our Remote Year world travels we are working with local charities to positively impact the communities welcoming us to their respective cities. This month we had the opportunity to team up with La Tinha, a non-profit that works with underprivileged children to share the experience of using recycled materials, and sardine cans to build “pinhole” cameras. The kids used their new cameras to take photos around their community, then La Tinha prints their film to bring their work to life, and share it with their families. This is a fantastic opportunity to introduce children to the art of photography, empower them to see the art in waste, and spread the word on the importance of sustainability.

I led the charge on fundraising alongside a few fellow RY'ers. In just the first 12 days of fundraising we exceeded our donation goal by almost 45%! With these funds we were able to purchase supplies to conduct a workshop for the kids at their daycare. We helped them build their cameras, and spent the afternoon in the communities showing them how to take pictures, and use their new cameras. At the end of the month we held an exhibition at our farewell party, and this month we used this as an opportunity to display their work.

Through the generous gifts from our donors we were able to take the extra funds to purchase La Tinha a printer which is a cost-effective solution for printing photos, and will be used for all future projects. Working with our experience manager Goncalo, Diego, and the La Tinha team allowed me to get insight into the artists, and photography scene in Lisbon. This was a very inspiring, and humbling experience. I'm wildly impressed with the art scene in Lisbon.

Learning about depth of field and focus.

Making cameras out of waste & sardine cans.

The Remote Year Lisbon Positive Impact Team with the La Tinha team.

Camera making workshop for the kids. Photo by Danika Stelton

Out taking photos with new cameras. Photo by Danika Stelton

CONNECTIONS

Situated across the Tagus River is a little village called Costa de Caparica. It is a territory with receding oceans, and represents the largest continuous beach in Portugal, but if you don't look close enough you might just miss this hidden gem.

One early Saturday morning I hopped on a ferry with friends destined for a bike ride on a sunny day through a fishing village. We were greeted by a local, Joana, who was waiting for us at the port of Trafaria. We rode through dirt roads, alleyways connecting homes, and dodged countless stray animals while going through hidden passageways about 10km south. We made various stops catching a few minutes of a local soccer team practicing, saw some unique street art, and passed by some rough areas that didn't have access to water. We ended at a colorful, and beautifully painted street called Avenue 25 de Abril. As we walked our bikes down the street neighbors were coming out of their homes, and sticking their heads out of the window to say hello. Every person in the neighborhood knew Joana. Her warm energy was an invitation for all.

At the very end of the block stood Margarida, and Cristina, two sisters who had an ear-to-ear smile when we arrived. The table was set in their living room, and the aroma of fresh home cooked food was in the air. This is when I realized this is where we were going to be having lunch. At first the conversation was limited as language barriers prevented us from getting into details. But it's amazing what being open and sharing a meal together can do to build connection. We spent several hours in their home meeting every family member including the matriarch, and patriarch of the family, Isidoro, and Ercilia, who are 2nd generation fisherman. By the end of the day there must have been over 20 people packed into this living room sharing photos, stories, memories, and finding common connections & interests. I felt so incredibly welcomed in their home, and was offered an invitation back for a future gathering. Deep down I knew that they genuinely meant it. Unfortunately we had to catch our ferry back to Lisbon before sun down so our day had come to an end. Each family member sent us off with a big hug, and wished us the best in the rest of our travels.

The sunset bike ride back to the ferry was a memorable moment. My heart felt incredibly full, and it was in that flash that I knew I was exactly where I needed to be. The people of Portugal made this experience extra special. Everyone is very warm, and friendly. They are relaxed, and their way of life shows this. They work hard to enjoy life, and have shown me that I can too.

Greeting locals as we biked around the city.

Portuguese fisherman + the Alaskan fisherman

Matriarch of the family. Photo by Fabien Rousselot.

My roomie from Prague, Griffin. Photo by Fabien Rousselot

Owning the unknown

Lisbon is a city armored with Gothic grit, and glamour. Its picture perfect panorama of cobbled alleyways, colorful tiles, ancient ruins, and white-domed cathedrals is captivating. But underneath that layer of elegance is a recipe that was crafted over centuries.

In 1755 Portugal suffered what was possibly the most destructive event it its history, a magnitude 8.7 earthquake. 40 minutes later a tsunami engulfed the harbor, while in other areas a large fire quickly erupted, and raged for the following five days. It was estimated that upwards of 50,000 casualties resulted in this catastrophe. 85% of Lisbon was destroyed, and the city had to be completely reconstructed. Lisbon was redefined in the aesthetics of a style true to the Age of Enlightenment. Underneath what you see today is a character defined by renewal, and rebirth. If you haven't been to Portugal you must come see for yourself what people say about "The Light." Lisbon has a light shining so bright it is impossible to miss. It was the perfect city to end 2017 on.