September 2007 Archives

Last day in Lisbon - lovely place. We got up quite early for Sat. prepared things and start our adventure.

From the center, we start to climb the hill, the city is build on hills, houses on the hill, people live on the hill, even have tram to go up the hill... Around the hill, we reached the castle, very old castle, there we had very good view for the city, red roofs and white houses - typical Portuguese buildings.

Down the hill we went to the monastery and bethlehem tower. All are historical places and quite interesting...

The trip was short, but we really enjoyed it, the weather, food, wine...

Bye bye lisbon, one day I will be back again!

The next two days mainly myself, I got a map (even I am not very good at reading maps, I will still get lost sometimes by holding the map), I know how to get to the city by subway, I have money (in case I have to get a taxi if I get lost)...

Safely arrived at the city center, weather is still warm and good. Walking around first, they have a walking street with shops (like the beijing wangfujing). Found a sightseeing bus place, they have two lines, I choose one to the east part of lisbon.

Start the bus tour to the east, lots of buildings, so different than the north part of the Europeans, since Lisbon is almost the end of Europe, so culture here mixed quite much, many black people from south america or from africa come here, also I found lots of chinese shops and restaurants. But one thing I did not like is that there are so many beggers on the streets, the social welfares are not very good here,lower tax and income could be the reason.

The second day I take the other route for the sightseeing bus, so I think I completely see almost all the lisbon part.

I like the city, not only the weather, also the food, culture, people...

(to be continued)

Finally to a warmer place, I do not really like to be in a cold weather so quick. ( from 35 degrees to 14 degrees).

12th, Sep. after about seven hours flight (because we have to change plane), we arrived at Lisbon, a very warm place ( 28 degrees)! Warm and humid is the first feeling, but the traffic was really horrible(compare to Finnish or other north part European ones), taxi driver drove quite crazy but safe, we arrived at the hotel safe and sound.

Throw away all the thick heavy clothes, we could just wear t-shirt and shorts to go out enjoy the warm sunshine. Not far by subway we arrived at the city center, lots of squares here, I think I will not figure out which one is which...

Hungry! since there is still two hours difference between here and Finland. Looking for restaurant at six o'clock here is really a difficult thing, no restaurant will open until seven o'clock, since people here will start to eat at about eight. (Compare to Finland we have to go somewhere at five otherwise it will close at seven) So different culture again!

Because of the plane travel, we were really tired and hungry, even the waiter in the restaurant think we are so strange to eat so early, we still ordered food and enjoyed them very much!

(to be continued)

In Finland for a week now, not much things changed, I think it will not change so fast as in China any way. After five months away, I am back in Finland again now.

Very cold for me, since I came from a 35 degrees place to a 15 degrees place, luckily I caught a cold, but after I took some medicine feeling much better now.

Met friends, happy to see that they are happy with their lives, and always has something good happened in their lives... The air is clear here even it is very cold, actually I would not mind too much to live here if it is not too cold...

Two days later I will go to Lisbon, where will be warm and sunshine. I think I need that! So I will write more about that trip later.