WHAT WENT DOWN IN PORTUGAL

I had multiple glasses of wine in Portland and somehow ending up booking a trip with my brother to Portugal on the Uber ride home.

Here’s what went down in Portugal. A week and a half of relaxation, vegetables, reflection, chaotic energy, and nude beaches.

The story starts with Cory getting a mystery sickness in NYC that led us to believe he had covid and we would not be going on said Portugal trip, him miraculously making a recovery and testing negative multiple times, and a crying baby sitting behind us on the overnight flight there. Alright, now we’re in Portugal, story continues:

-Made it to Lisbon and checked-in at the hostel. We were greeted with shots of cherry liquor and escorted to our room where we then slept for multiple hours mid-day.

-Woke up, walked around the neighborhood and got drinks on a rooftop. Stumbled into a cool skate shop and bought shirts. Went vintage shopping and both bought button downs for that night lol. Went to a mansion that was converted into bar, observed cool people smoking and discussing their days for multiple hours. Went to dinner at Damas and sat on the street with wine as we waited and finally ate at 11:51 pm. We couldn’t read the menu so if you asked me what we ate I would not be able to tell you. Walked back to the hostel at night with was very “dimly lit European city at night” vibes.

-Next morning, woke up and had breakfast at 12:27PM, confusing the restaurant when all we asked for was coffee and an egg pastry. It was delicious. Walked to the art museum, at this point it is very hot and sweaty. Walk to lunch and accidentally learn that it’s inside a shopping mall. Had the best mini Coke’s of our life. Continued walking around and went to a cute wine bar, had a lot of “funky” wines. Struggled to find a dinner spot and ended up eating french fries at a weird sports bar lol.

-Woke up and got our rental car, met up with Lily and Garret. Drove to da Comporta and had lunch on the beach. Decided to go swimming and Cory couldn’t reverse the car in the parking lot, led to some stress and drama lol. Swam in the best beach I have ever been to, ended up late to Cocoon and in the middle of the first yoga class. Unpacked in our room and joined.

-For the next week, we were at a yoga retreat with Sky Ting at Cocoon Portugal, doing yoga 4 hours a day, having communal meals during the day, and exploring beaches when doing either of the first two. Some highlights to mention throughout the week:

-Scary large spiders showing up in our room.

-Carrying a bag with a tequila bottle down 400 stairs down to a beach only to turnaround and walk up the stairs with said bag.

-Meeting Boo and Maurissa. Having some heartfelt talks at night after dinner while getting eaten by mosquitos.

-Walking the perimeter of the land with Cory, laying in hammocks.

-Seeing Cory achieve his dream of a headstand.

-Going to Lagos and jumping off of a catamaran- sitting on the blowup in the middle of the ocean watching people run across a floaty for a free beer.

-Lagos with Boo/Maurissa. Getting a pitcher of sangria and admiring the town.

-The meals. Eating my yogurt and granola and fresh fruit every morning.

-Going out to dinner by the beach and ending up crying with strangers over feelings and Casal Garcia.

-Going back home and star gazing on my towel on the property. (chocolate)

-Flying back to NYC in the morning, flight getting delayed, eating funny airport food with Cory, making it back, sleeping for a few hours, going back to airport/flying Iowa for Keegan’s birthday party.

The end. Loved you Portugal, thank you.

With love and farm-grown tomatoes,

Lindsey.