Lisbon

Lisbon- an alluring destination for a long weekend. It has a bit of everything as it inspires creativity, culture, and lots to amuse the senses.

It's a short flight from Casablanca, just over an hour to get there, so unfortunately, we had one of the longer travel days as our flight was delayed for over two hours. Arriving and dining at midnight made for a later night than expected, but it was worth it. The only hiccup was not reaching out to the girls to inform them that we weren't on the Fenicular that killed 17 people., many of them foreigners (sorry girls). It was a devastating accident and left many in mourning.

We stayed in the Chiado region, which I highly recommend- Cameo Boutique Hotel, overlooking the square and the Museum of Archaeology. It's in a very peaceful setting as our room looked out at the abandoned church, and we had a terrace view of the cross. From there, we ventured up and down the rolling hills, ate at a Michelin-star restaurant, rented bikes, walked and walked many steps, and bounced from here to there, taking in the magic of the city, history, and food culture.

One highlight was our tuk-tuk with Christina of the artistic graffiti art in different districts throughout Lisbon. I also ventured out on a backstreet food tour without Mike, sampling food from some of the most established small vendors, and learning about the origins of recipes, mixed with historical influences. Devour tour- I highly recommend.

Lisbon is a hub of beatnik creativity- every street offers something different, and it's a place (similar to Istanbul) where you can find hidden gems off the beaten path. While this was our second visit, we hope to return someday. Lisbon is a city that gives vs. takes- as we left feeling more awakened, renewed, and nourished.

Woke up to the horns at 8 am every morning outside our window-