Last Fall. Home

Lisbon before covid-19

TIPS for Lisbon

After living in Lisbon, Portugal for 8 months now - people refer to me as local. Which is cool and it’s nice that people see me as this way though I don’t feel local just yet. Mostly probably due to my problems while speaking in Portuguese. Here are some things I think are useful to consider before entering the country for an holiday or for a more permanent stay. The list could be continued on and on but managed to narrow it down to these facts. 

HIGH HEELS

Have probably heard of it but the city is covered with cobblestones and not very well if I may say so. They’re also slippery especially when it rains. If you’re all about the heels I’d recommend wedge shoes or heel that is thick and gives support. Wearing flats is still the best option though.

PORTUGUESE AREN’T SPANISH

Portuguese are introverts. So they won’t come and chat up with you like their social neighbours across the boarder. They will help, they are interested but usually it demans reaching out - from you. Especially in Lisbon people are more reserved than elsewhere in the country I hear. Folks are also very good English speakers here so don’t worry about not knowing enough of Portuguese. Even though making an effort in people’s native is always recommendable.

The difference between Spanish and Portuguese goes also for the language and culture in general. Don’t expect things to be identical despite of the large number of things being quite similar.

PORTUGAL ISN’T JUST SUNSHINE

Lisbon and Portugal does stand on the edge of Europe, next to the Atlantic that brings winds, cold ones and rains. Winter days may be +10 degrees but the nights get low as +2 or even lower. And the houses aren’t heated. So trust me it’s chilly. Also spring time March-April is supposed to be rainy though temperatures are up.

Not my pic! (Moomin)

DON’T PAY TO SEE THE CITY VIEW

The city has great miradouras, lookouts where you can admire the city view towards the river, see the famous churches, castle and landmarks. Enjoy the sunset and have a drink without paying the entry fees. The elevator of Santa Justa, the arch of Rua Augusta and the castle are nice to visit once or perhaps even twice but I prefer the the miradouras which are also the locals favorite.

EMBRACE THE HISTORY

Since Lisbon is the second oldest capital in Europe after Athens make an effort to know the main events in time that made Lisbon the city as we see today. Portugal as a country has a long, proud but not easy history for anyone who’s more interested.

GET LOST

There’s no better city to get lost in but Lisbon. Especially Alfama, the old part and Bairro Alto – the party district which opens up totally different way during day light. Take the most narrow street, celebrate the richness of details and colours around you. Go slowly and pay attention as many cool bars and cafes have no signs outside so these are the spots that only locals know about!

PASTEL DE NATA

The original pastry being almost 200 years old from the district of Bélem where the monks at the Jéronimos Monastery started the whole thing just to get their leftover eggyolks for use. In 1834 the recipe was sold to a local bakery which still exists today in the same spot. Only five men know the secret recipe and they never travel together in case of accidents etc so that there will always be someone to carry on the legacy and tradition.

Traditionally served hot from the oven and with sugar and cinnamon - you can buy them from almost every grocery store and bakery but the number one spot is still and will always be at Bélem. And trust me, they have earned their reputation. Make a stop while sightseeing and don’t be scared of the lines outside since they do have a quick service! If the trip to Bélem is too difficult to squeeze in, Manteigaria at Bairro Alto is the next best thing!

USE THE TRAMS

The old ones which you cannot find anymore in every city. They don’t go as far hop-and-off busses or tuk-tuks but within a normal ticket price you cover the classic Lisbon streets, plenty of sights and save your legs from walking. It’s not completely touristic because the locals still use them as normal transportation to get to work and about!

DON’T STAY IN THE CENTRE

In my opinion Lisbon does not have city center. The biggest shopping mall, sights and services exist different parts of the town. Touristic center can be narrowed down to Alfama, Baixa and Bairro Alto districts. But there are plenty of hotels, restaurants, museums and sights outside of these areas so no need to get stuck in downtown! Lisbon is totally walkable also and has tram, metro, local train and bus systems to make moving around easy.

LISBON HAS A BOHEMIAN SOUL

If you bother to get to know Lisbon culture and history at all you’ll probably notice that every street, square and statue are not named after politicians but famous artists who made an impact. Some kings and famous historical figures might make an exception here though. This fact is highlighted by the street art, the status of fado music and music in general in here, the diversity of the buildings and local enterprises. Clearly there’s so much space to creativity here! Not everything works as it should and if they do it’s usually with the slow motion I’ve been talking about but there’s an irresistible charm in the local lifestyle.

And who will have the courage if not me?

Hello there!

So in case someone has missed my enthusiastic posts on FB or Twitter about leaving to Montréal, Canada I'm glad to inform you about it now. So that’s where I’ll be going, next week actually, and that’s what this blog is all about! My working holiday visa (through the SWAP organization) is for 12 months but I’m doing my practical training while I’m there which will probably last untill the end of this year. After that I WISH, HOPE and PRAY to find a decent job so that I won’t have to come home before the summer 2014.  

I’ve been asked about if I speak French. I probably wouldn’t go if I didn’t. I’ve studied the language now roughly a decade or so but I’ve never been in ANY French speaking territory before. But I feel like the hours spent in the classrooms have totally passed me by and now it’s time to get out there and see what I’ve learnt. If nothing. But I will learn this language - even though it would be the last thing I do!

So still a few days to go, before my departure and things are looking good. I’m emptying my flat which still feels like an endless process (you can’t imagine this amount of stuff I have!) but otherwise everything is well organized for the journey. Or at this point I still think they are. It’s a good thing my parents aren’t together anymore so I’ve got two places to squeeze my stuff into. I might need them one day so it would be a pity to sell them all..

Still no job though but I’ve made a list of potential employers which I will be approaching once I get there. I’d like to work in a hotel, big enough where I could work in different positions but event organizing interests me as well. Luckily there are plenty to choose from. The industry of tourism in Montréal is waaaay bigger than what I’m used to at back home.

Another thing people have been asking me is, am I nervous or scared to go. Yes and no. In a way  I feel like I’ve got nothing to lose here so if I die there, I’ll die happy or trying to be at least. Just in case I have prepared myself for the worst: even though all of this went terribly wrong, I wouldn't find a job or learn the language or whatever. Then I just fly back home and re-arrange the things again.

Going to Canada and especially to Québec has been my dream for as long as I can remember and not just to visit there as a tourist but to really, really, really live there. To explore the nation in a deeper level.

This is definetely the craziest thing and in the same time the most natural thing I’ve ever done in my life. And it is such a liberating feeling! I’ve never been more happy or excited about anything else! Of course I have fears… millions of things can go wrong but I’m not ready to give up on this, just because it’s new and unknown for me. I REFUSE to be the one who’ll be sitting in her rocking chair as a 60-year-old and regretting all the chances she missed.

Who will have the courage if not me?    

I don't ask for anything more than what I already have

Great news!! I've nailed a trainee job! Two actually!

The first is Gallery Gora, an art gallery in downtown of Mtl which does all kind of event planning from wedding to corporative events. http://www.gallerygora.com/

Already done a couple of shifts there and I’m really loving it! It’s just what I’ve always wanted and been studing for all these years. Reminded me of the work I used to do at Sibeliushall, the local congress center of my hometown, a few years ago when I was an intern there. Preparing the spaces, detailing and customer service and that sort of thing. Unfortunately they cannot offer me full time position.

(Gallery Gora)

But luckily I found a hostel in Plateau, which is this super-cool French area nearby, where I’ll be starting on Sunday. My main working area will be at the reception but the manager was willing to show me some management stuff as well. I’m super-excited about that too!

http://www.hostelmontreal.com/plateau/index.php/en/

In both places I'll be working for free but I don't really mind. In my experience you can get better job opportunities when you're flexible with the salary. And I do get a free meal in both places which is cool. And thanks to my savings and Finnish Social Insurance institution I'll be financially fine. 

So far my future here in Montreal is safe until Christmas and after that I have to get a real job in which I’d get actually paid for.. but with this networking I’m not worried about finding a job in January.

(Gallery Gora, office)

I'm so happy and relieved after all the weeks of looking for a suitable trainee job and the fear of not finding it here. Also I didn’t expect to find an event related job. How lucky am I! I’m gaining so much many-sided working experience with these next few months! And it’s not like I’ll be working like crazy. It’s only like 30h/week or so. Having two jobs needs just a bit of organization with the shifts, that’s all.

I know that millions of things can still go wrong but at this very moment I don’t ask for anything more than what I have cause all of this, living up here and these professional opportunities are everything that I've always dreamed of. 

Treasures of Lisbon streets! 

Some shots from my weekend trip in Nazaré a while back. This where the surfers come usually for the biggest waves during the winter season. 

I visited Palace of Queluz last January which is one of the best kept secrets in Sintra / Lisbon located literally between the the fairytale town of Sintra and the portuguese capital. This is the most beautiful room I’ve ever been visited. And the best part was that I was the only person there! 

I’m still in summer... 

Took some shots of winter scenery when in home for Xmas. Finally I can appreciate the peace and quiet 

More Suomenlinna, the sea fortress, UNESCO World Heritage Site