• June 10th, 2014
• Lisbon: Lisbon Amazing Hostels, Alfama, €15 for a dorm 

I had a few weeks free and was desperate to walk again so here I am in Lisbon. I’m starting the Portuguese Camino tomorrow from Lisbon to Santiago de Compostela, approx 613km give or take a few detours and the odd moment of being lost!

I flew into Lisbon this morning and made my way to the cathedral in the Alfama district to buy my pilgrim’s passport and receive my first stamp. I had booked a hostel close to the cathedral (Lisbon Amazing Hostel) as this is the starting point for the camino and I was hoping to bump into others who might be starting their walk tomorrow as well. No luck! Apparently hardly anyone walks this first half of the Portuguese camino from Lisbon to Porto – most people start in Porto and walk the 238km to Santiago. How very different to the camino I walked last year from St Jean Pied de Port – 500 people started walking on the same day!

My pilgrim’s passport from Lisbon Cathedral

Lisbon Cathedral

So after getting my pilgrim’s passport and checking into the hostel, I went out sightseeing. I’ve been to Lisbon a couple of times already and I absolutely love the city. I took the bus to the tile museum which was interesting, then wandered around Baixa and Chiado before taking the tram out to Belem and queued for 20 minutes to buy some Pasteis de natas (Portuguese custard tarts), they’re the best in the world, literally!

Tile museum, Lisbon

Tile museum, Lisbon

Tile museum, Lisbon

Lisbon trams

Santa Justa lift

Jeronimos Monastery, Belem

Jeronimos Monastery, Belem

Jeronimos Monastery, Belem

The famous Pastel de Nata in Belem from Pasteis de Belem

When I got back to the Alfama area where the hostel is, there was a real party atmosphere in the streets because today is “Portugal Day” a national holiday. The smell of barbecued sardines was everywhere, they love their sardines here and I’m glad I’m not around this weekend for their sardine fiesta! (I hate sardines – their taste and smell!)

I’ve got an early morning tomorrow because it’s a long day in hot weather – the length is purely dictated by the lack of accommodation along this part.

Here’s hoping I make it to Santiago 🙂

Cheers!

Sardines

Fiesta time!