More Than Just a Trip (Lisbon, Portugal)

The first weekend of March, my CIEE group and I started off the month right by taking a trip to Lisbon, Portugal. The capital that is full of bright colors, art, and sunshine is often described as “Europe’s San Francisco” due to its many similar features, such as the Vasco De Gama Bridge (that looks exactly like the Golden Gate Bridge).

The moment we entered the city by crossing the iconic red bridge, we were all stunned by the glistening blue water and the orange-roofed city that seemed like the image of a postcard in-real-life. As soon as we got off the bus, my friends and I were immediately attracted to the river-front area where many cafés and benches were filled with happy people enjoying the scenery just as much as us. All around there were many young people on electric scooters, bands playing joyful music on the sidewalks, people selling hand-made jewelry, and people taking selfies at every corner. To take it all in, I enjoyed a cup of fresh-squeezed lemonade with my friends and sat by the river, letting our feet dangle while watching the sail boats float by in the gentle, warm wind.

On our tours, we walked up and down the steep streets and admired and learned about all the important landmarks and interesting history of Lisbon. In our free time, however, my friends and I got to discover the place for our selves and made Lisbon home to our many memories and adventures. We got to eat typical foods of Portugal, see some funny street-performers, ride electric scooters, dance, go shopping, and most importantly, just enjoy where we were in each other’s company.

I think it’s safe to say for all of us, that this trip was well-timed and well-deserved because we all needed a little break from our now-normal, amazing, but busy lives in Spain. For both us who started the program in January 2019, and for those who started in September 2018, this trip allowed us to build really close bonds with each other, laugh way too much, and make unforgettable, incredible memories.