Thursday, 23 April 2026 - Exploring Lisbon
After a simple but perfect breakfast of croissants with butter and jam from the supermarket, we set out for a full day exploring Lisbon. Our walk began along Rua Augusta, where the street is lined with restaurants and outdoor seating with a variety of food - lucky we had breakfast.
At the end of the street stands the impressive Arco da Rua Augusta, which opens into the vast Praça do Comércio. The square stretches out toward the river and is home to the grand equestrian statue of King José I, giving the whole space a sense of history and scale.
From there, we began the steady climb uphill to the Igreja de Santo António de Lisboa, the birthplace of Saint Anthony. Not far away, we visited Lisbon Cathedral, where we received our first stamp in our pilgrim credencial—a small but meaningful milestone.
By then, we were ready for a treat, so we stopped for ice cream before heading downhill toward the Tagus River, where cruise ships quietly lined the waterfront. We eventually looped back to Praça do Comércio and made our way uphill again to a restaurant we had spotted earlier. Lunch came with a view over Rossio Square. Alison bravely tried Lisbon’s famous sardines—an experience she’s unlikely to repeat.
Curious about a busy building nearby, we wandered up the hill to investigate and discovered it was a metro station. At least the escalator ride down was a welcome break from all the climbing.
We spent the afternoon strolling along Avenida da Liberdade, where we came across lively markets, before heading back to the hotel for a much-needed nap. Jet lag was catching up with us, and without Julie’s alarm, we might have slept straight through to midnight.
Later, with Alison resting, the rest of us headed back toward the river. We considered taking the tourist tram ride but gave up waiting and instead decided to settle at a riverside restaurant with a glass of wine and watch the sunset over the water. Unfortunately it was closed. As the wind picked up, we made our way back—nearly walking past a shop selling roasted nuts and caramelized seeds, but not quite. Trail mix supplies: secured.
Dinner was simple—just a slice of pizza, a pastel de nata, and a cup of tea back at the hotel. After a full day of walking, climbing, and exploring, bed came easily.
After a simple but perfect breakfast of croissants with butter and jam from the supermarket, we set out for a full day exploring Lisbon. Our walk began along Rua Augusta, where the street is lined with restaurants and outdoor seating with a variety of food - lucky we had breakfast.
At the end of the street stands the impressive Arco da Rua Augusta, which opens into the vast Praça do Comércio. The square stretches out toward the river and is home to the grand equestrian statue of King José I, giving the whole space a sense of history and scale.
From there, we began the steady climb uphill to the Igreja de Santo António de Lisboa, the birthplace of Saint Anthony. Not far away, we visited Lisbon Cathedral, where we received our first stamp in our pilgrim credencial—a small but meaningful milestone.
By then, we were ready for a treat, so we stopped for ice cream before heading downhill toward the Tagus River, where cruise ships quietly lined the waterfront. We eventually looped back to Praça do Comércio and made our way uphill again to a restaurant we had spotted earlier. Lunch came with a view over Rossio Square. Alison bravely tried Lisbon’s famous sardines—an experience she’s unlikely to repeat.
Curious about a busy building nearby, we wandered up the hill to investigate and discovered it was a metro station. At least the escalator ride down was a welcome break from all the climbing.
We spent the afternoon strolling along Avenida da Liberdade, where we came across lively markets, before heading back to the hotel for a much-needed nap. Jet lag was catching up with us, and without Julie’s alarm, we might have slept straight through to midnight.
Later, with Alison resting, the rest of us headed back toward the river. We considered taking the tourist tram ride but gave up waiting and instead decided to settle at a riverside restaurant with a glass of wine and watch the sunset over the water. Unfortunately it was closed. As the wind picked up, we made our way back—nearly walking past a shop selling roasted nuts and caramelized seeds, but not quite. Trail mix supplies: secured.
Dinner was simple—just a slice of pizza, a pastel de nata, and a cup of tea back at the hotel. After a full day of walking, climbing, and exploring, bed came easily.
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