It has been a gorgeous day with a lot of sunshine. I walked up and down, got lost and found my way again.
I love Portugal
The second day in Lisbon and I realise – I love Portugal. I have slept like a baby, and even though my windows have been open, the city noise was hardly noticeable. There was no set alarm that I had to wake up to, nor was there a single appointment for the day, except a date I had with me. Andreas from the reception asked me this morning, while I was sitting with my second cup of coffee, what I had planned for today? I said; „Nothing.“, Absolut nothing. And so he suggested, that I should visit the seven hills of Lisbon. I have heard of them and visited already some, on my earlier stays in Lisbon. This time, I would simply walk them all.
It has been a gorgeous day with a lot of sunshine. I walked up and down, got lost and found my way again. This time, I had every single viewpoint for myself. None else would share it with me. Only at some other „Mirador“ did I meet a couple, which did a photo of me, looking out across the city. Here and there I stopped, sat under a tree in a park or had a beer in one of the many bars, which were begging for clients. But all have been wonderful and did it with a humble and friendly intention.
This gets me to a point, which I keep realising over and over again. Since I have been walking the Caminos, it has never been just walking some stretch of post signed streets or pathways but instead, also walking through towns and cities. It is beautiful to walk a city – not taking the tram or a taxi or the bus or even a bicycle. Nothing, you just use your legs and feet. That’s all. I enjoy exploring a town this way and if clock-time comes knocking, pretending that I should hurry up, as it is time to eat or what have you, I just smile and set on to make the next step. Everything just goes so much slower and it reminds me that even when we live in an apparent busy city, we can slow down by simply taking one step at a time. And not just that. We can be aware of every step, instead of just noticing how many kilometres or steps we may have done in a day. Can you see the difference? It is not even important to look at it but to realise the going, realise what is with you this moment, moment by moment.
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Thank you for sharing this with us, Sven!
Your text and photos are very motivating and inspiring…
What a colorful city Lissabon is. Besides its creativity which you catched with you camera in a fantastic way, it is touchy for its beauty 🙂
Have a wonderful time and keep smiling all over !
Many Tanks Carmen.
Yes Lisbon is an amazing city and does not hold back its beauty. Right now it seems even more wonderful, as perhaps only 10% of tourists are flooding the city. 🙂