Today, we made our drive back to Lisbon for our flight tomorrow, with a planned stopover in Sintra—a bit of a misstep in our planning. The palaces had been closed for the past three days due to the wildfires, so today, with everything reopened, the town was absolutely packed. All the tickets were sold out, and navigating the roads was nearly impossible.
We ended up doing a drive-by tour of the castles, admiring their beauty from a distance. They are truly stunning, and it’s easy to see why they attract so many people. However, the impact on the local residents was evident, with signs everywhere voicing frustration over the relentless traffic overwhelming their small town. It’s clear something will need to be done to manage the chaos, as the current situation seems unsustainable.
By the afternoon, we arrived in Lisbon and checked into a place near the 25th of April Bridge, which was formerly known as the Salazar Bridge. It’s often compared to the Golden Gate in San Francisco, with its similar design and scale. Staying in a different neighborhood than our last visit gave us a fresh perspective on the city, which was a nice change.
We spent the evening at LX Factory, a vibrant hub of eateries, street art, and quirky shops. I found a much better bookshop here than the one in Porto, and the whole place had an energetic, creative vibe that we all loved.
As the day came to a close, we watched the 25th of April Bridge light up against the evening sky, enjoying the view as we said our goodbyes to Portugal. It was an unexpected but wonderful stop.
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