I remember the moment I first realized that I was going to love my time in Portugal.  I arrived on a Thursday afternoon after traveling for nearly 24 hours and being up many more hours than that.  My friend picked me up at the airport and had arranged a dinner meet and greet at a bar down in the Baixa, somewhere near Rua Augusta and Rua de São Nicolau.

Honestly, I was struggling to keep up with everyone since I was beyond exhausted but when we walked out into the dark evening and I looked up a the Christmas lights on all the old buildings, it was the first time I felt awe-struck.  

I’m from a pretty modern city.  Ottawa has had it’s share of older buildings, and sadly most of the charming ones were torn down in the 50’s or 60’s for a bland modern look, so my first taste of one of the oldest capital’s in Europe was simply… awe-inspiring.