Reunited and it feels so good!

Day 32. Well I suppose that would have been the case had I been able to sleep on the train. The train ride to Portugal was ridiculous shaky and wobbly and shook the train cars so much it was impossible to get any sleep. So I just laid in bed feeling very restless until the morning came and before I knew it I was in Portugal. I left Madrid in such a rush that I didn’t really have time to get proper instructions on how to get to the hostel I was going to be staying in (Whitney made the reservations). So all I had was an address and some streets it was close too. But I wasn’t too worried about it and after consulting a map I just started walking in the direction I thought it would be in. Apparently Portugal is very hilly because I had to climb a million steps and many a steep hill until I asked for directions and realized that what goes up must come down (which apparently includes me). Of course I was walking in the wrong direction yet again. So I turned around and after a bit of walking I eventually knew I must be getting close…but was still pretty lost. Luckily, I heard a familiar voice calling to me from across a huge roundabout. Yay Whitney!!! We ran into each other’s arms and embraced as trumpets sounded and fireworks exploded… or that might have been the changing of the traffic light and the sound of car horns, but I couldn’t tell nor did I care. I was so excited to see her!!! I remember talking with her back at my parent’s house before either of us had left for Europe (even before I had left for Colorado) about how amazing it would be to meet up in Europe and here we were! She showed me to the hostel which I would have NEVER found on my own (it was inside a shop) and it was definitely a relief to put down my bags. The hostel we are staying in is very nice, and they had pancakes for breakfast!! Oh my goodness pancakes!! I have had cereal (with weird milk) or toast (with cheap jam and bread) for breakfast for so long it was amazing to get in and see juice and pancakes. Yummy!! We settled into our room and then took a quick shower before starting the day (they have RAIN shower heads here, what!? So awesome!). We both had a million things to say to each other so it was fun catching up and swapping stories, videos, and many laughs. We set out and did some window shopping as we walked towards the water. I was approached by a street vendor and I finally caved. I bought sunglasses… and then it rained. Haha, but I got a nice pair for very cheap and really did need them. Mother Nature has been so amazing to me so far I figured buying sunglasses after a month of sun would only show my appreciation. The weather was warm but it rained lightly off and on with spots of sun throughout the day. I still wore shorts though, and loved every minute of it. We walked down to the waterfront and saw the Brazil-like Jesus statue and the very San Francisco-like bridge that was across the water and had some fun on the beach together. Then we walked through the city and took a tram up a huge hill and found a nice bakery for a lunchtime snack. We walked to a nice park with an amazing view of the city and continued to catch up and Whit gave me loads of tips for Italy. We ate some of our delicious pastries and mango loaf and took some pictures of the impressive view. We decided that Portugal is kind of like the Mexico of Europe. It’s a little dirty and kind of sketchy in places, but the buildings look so old and authentic and it’s all very very cheap! But it’s so great being here with Whitney!! I have been travelling on my own for so long being able to be with one of my best friends was absolutely wonderful and I kept thinking how crazy it was that we were here together! After our lunch we walked back towards the city center and made our way to the only lift in Portugal. We did a little more window shopping and then stopped by the hostel for a bit. I got to skype for a while and Whitney had a nice siesta, and then we made our way to Castelo de S. Jorge (The Castle of Lisbon).  It was so cool! I swear I must have been a knight or a ranger in a previous life (actually probably I was just a dragon), I just love medieval and fantasy everything! We were able to explore the castle with so much freedom, I loved it! We were there as the sun was setting and there was peacocks running around making noises that sounded like pterodactyls in the trees, it was all very cool. We found this secret place on the rooftop with ruins all around and broken columns and danced together in our merriment. After the castle we walked to the super market and got supplies for dinner. We donned our master chef hats and prepared delicious meal! Zucchini and asparagus in a homemade garlic sauce over pasta with strawberry drinks and juice and another Kindor Beuno bar for dessert (They are so good! Thanks Adriana!!!). After dinner Whitney sang along to the guitar as people played music. And later this amazingly talented girl from Portugal sang and played guitar to Adele (I swear she will be famous someday). Whitney and I sang along with her and had a good time hanging out with people in the hostel. Today was great but I am very tired from not sleeping so I am calling it an early-ish night. Such a good day with WHIT!!

Day 33. Good morning!! I slept so soundly last night, boom I was out... and apparently hogged the bed because I was so excited to be sleeping next to Whitney, haha, my bad. Every Saturday in Lisbon there is a big Flea market. And it’s a legit flea market. We got up and took the metro to the flea market with a new friend, Janelle from Canada. We walked around the market and we all got scarves, I get some new earrings and the girls some other trinkets all for SO CHEAP!  After walking around for a while we made our way to the cathedral and had a quick look inside before taking the metro back to the hostel to drop off some of the things we got. We grabbed a quick snack and then headed off to the Oceanario de Lisboa (Lisbon Aquarium). It’s the largest public aquarium in Europe with a main aquarium symbolizing a Global Ocean, with about a hundred species from all four oceans and then four other marine habitats surrounding the central tank. They also had a sea turtle exhibit going on which was awesome. There was a room you could go in and sit in while the sea turtles would swim straight towards you and then right over your head, and glass you could walk on while they swam underneath your feet. Whoa cool! After the aquarium we were starving! So we got some food and then went shopping for a bit in the mall. I found a colorful shirt that wasn’t stripped that I liked, and it even matched Whitney's new pants. It was also very cheap and Whitney bought it for me as my Christmas present (Thanks Whit!!!). After window shopping for a bit longer we made our way back to the hostel via the metro. There was another “jam” session going on when we got back (more singing and guitar playing), and one of the workers at the hostel is from Naples and was making pizza. HOLY good pizza. It was incredibly delicious. We talked with the workers at the hostel and some of the people staying here and enjoyed the evening. More singing in the evening before heading to bed. They were so good together and Whitney an I (More Whitney though, I didn't really know all the songs they were playing, but it was still fun) sang along as they played guitar and a drum. Today was Whitney’s last day and it has been so amazing seeing a familiar face and exploring Europe together. She has to leave super early in the morning and I am sad to see her go, but am so lucky that we got to meet up and have had so much fun! (She wanted to stay so bad she was even looking up flights for another day or two here). Tomorrow I am going to explore castles and palaces in Sintra and see the westernmost point in Europe and some nice Portugal beaches. Come on mother nature, be my best friend and let’s cross our fingers for the sun!
P.s. I don't know if its the food or the water here but my stomach just has not been agreeing with something that has been going in it. Portugal has been great, but I am excited to not have to be on my constant guard and have my stomach agree with me again.