Living the life of an ERASMUS student (all be it a fake one) and Architecture Student does not leave room for much else. However I have somehow managed to go to Berlin and Vienna in that time. Stories yet to be told as I'm so far behind in this blogging it is ridiculous.
I thought I would tell you about Portugal - it seems like so long ago now. I don't even no if I remember what we did. Oh no that's right - crazy Roadtrip up the coast, which meant Jae driving on the wrong side of the road, lots of fun and slightly stressful moments ensued.
I am still rather amazed at how he convinced me that it was a good idea. Maybe it's because he always so self-assured. After agreeing to his roadtrip idea (I mean roadtrip through Portugal - it sounds awesome) and booking the car, Jae gave me the guide book to read - Getting Around: "Portugal is renowned for it's insane drivers - it is highly unrecommended to drive here". It turns out Jae also thought that Portugal was a very small country, which had one highway up and down the coast. Lesson 1: Jae may sound like he knows what he's on about, but its not necessarily true.
We set out from the airport with me trying to ignore my gut instinct which was to jump out of the car, navigate using iPhone dearest (battery:50%) and constantly shouting "Righthand side"! Jae soon discovered that Portugal is indeed not a small country with one highway (and yet he still insisted that we didn't need a map) and I thought - why did we opt out of insurance?!
Recommendations for driving in Portugal:
1. Don't drive in Portugal unless you are into extreme sports and an adrenelin rush
2. Get a GPS system
3. Even though you can drive through the toll booths your not meant to. To avoid paying 20euro straight up please take a ticket and don't do what we did - "Whats this? Oh look you can drive straight through. Sweeeeeet. I wonder why that is? This is the third one we have passed maybe we should suss this shit out? *Talk to the man.* Uh, we don't have a ticket, we got lost and are naive NZ tourists. That will be 20.70 Euro (=$40). Why? It just is."
4. Always carry cash on you. Sometimes your card may not work.
5. The highway might be expensive but navigating the back roads is not worth it = lots of big trucks and no sign posts
6. Make sure you are going in the right direction. You can't turn off very often.
After going in the wrong direction and getting lost several times we made it to destination one (Alveiro) just after night fall and in time to go to the sweetest bar ever. It was set out a la Apartment Bar in Wellington but with a hip bohemian vibe and more rooms - no bed. There were also 2 little shops selling tees and CDS and extremely cheap beer! If you go through - take a trip through the Canal too. We couldn't but it looked really lovely.
We got the driving thing down pat by the second day. Co-pilot sussed out the map and driver sussed out which side of the road to drive on. The next stop was Barcelos, an awesome market (one of the biggest in Europe) which had everything from cheap knock off clothes to wild geese to farming supplies to souvenirs. In the evening we arrived in Porto which had to be my favourite city. The hostel (Rivoli Cinema Hostel) was the best hostel I have stayed at - themed rooms (we had Pulp Fiction), Wii, flat screen tv, ROOF TOP GARDEN - apparently they have BBQs there in summer and a paddling pool and really nice staff. Who's keen?
We did a quick trip to this amazing little book shop with the most elaborate staircase you will ever see and then on to La Casa de Musica, which blew both our minds I think. Wavy glass - super cool. Make sure you do a trip to the various Port Houses - very tasty and free.
Favourite quote was from Jae: Alex don't be silly, Port isn't from Porto.
Sintra was my second favourite place. We spent the day exploring old castles and amazing gardens. Probably the most interesting was the Quinta de Regaleira, a gothic garden with grottos and a maze of underground tunnels which come out in unexpected places. It was so magical and mysterious. I felt like a child exploring the unknown.
We and the car made it back to Lisbon, thank god! There the most spectacular thing the Fado concert, we discovered in the back streets of the Old Alfama. By chance we stumbled upon this small restaurant, with a family quartet of guitarists and various singers. It was the kind of music that sends shivers down your spine.
Writing this has made me think about Germany vs. Spanish/Portguese culture. I've been here for 6 weeks now (OMG)! I've have noticed that there is so much more passion and openess in the south compared to the more reserved nature of Germanic society. Ideally I like the southern culture better - the passion, the emotion, the way they lay themselves bare (they have no fear of judgement), however Germans are so similar to the English that I am and I feel that I associate a lot more with their cultural norms. It's interesting looking at your ideals and reality. Once you live in another culture some part of you is changed forever making you neither one or the other.
Sorry for this rambling post, which is way too long. If you get to this point, I will reward you with a postcard. If you understand what I am on about, I will send you two!
I'm off to Dusseldorf on an architectural field trip tomorrow so I'll put up pictures when I get back! Hello, peter zumthor, Tado Ando and many others! Inspire me with your amazingness.
Love to you all. I miss you so much!
A.
PS - Laura, Im so jealous! It looks so picturesque. Is it bad that I thought of the sister hood of the travelling pants just now?
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