Arriving in Portugal

My story began when i was accepted in an internship program in the most amazing and beautiful european country Portugal. Localised in the in southwestern Europe and borded by the north atlantic ocean, it includes other islands such as the Açores and Madeira. My experience was specifically in the North of the country a city called Braga in Universidade do Minho. To be able to reach Braga, i had to take a plane to the capital of the country Lisbon at first, then the fastest and more securised way to cross all the cost from south to north with the view of very amazing landscapes was the train.

Approching to this magical land by the plane, the view from the window was awesome, the sky clouds separated and vanished giving place to the most beautiful view ever : The statue of Santuário de Cristo Rei in front of the longest river in the iberian peninsula  called '' the Tage '' with many boats destined for tourism or trade and centered by the marvellous red bridge very ressembling to California bridge '' Pont 25 Abril '', this is Lisbon !

Arriving in Lisbon, my actual plan was to spend a night in the city then take a train to Braga since the train last approximately three hours and a half also the most great hostel is situated in Praça do Comércio that was an emblematic site of the capital.

The funny story is that i was counting on having a taxi from the airport until the hostel, (this is an advice that i would recommand for everyone, you must check the local news before departing to any country), but the taxi drivers were actually doing a stike and did not accept to work like usual days while i was alone, not knowing portuguese language, and having two heavy baggages, so in this case the plan B must always take place in these situations which is take the undergroud metro and search for the place of the hostel alone...

The station of underground metro gives a map for the whole city with very precise informations, exact times... that is when you must transform into a real adventurer and localise yourself in a totally unknown city while it was night almost 23h00 and being totally confused..

After changing the metro line two times and arriving to the station of campo pequeno where is localised a big theatre of the bullring of Lisbon designed to be used for various events and hosts a live concerts with very famous singers, a real astonishing building with beautiful architecture, i met four french poeple visiting also the city for the first time, that were suprised to see a girl alone trying to find the right way without even an internet connexion, the solution was to find a local portuguese girl that helped me finally to establish the way to the hostel by the internet connexion in the phone. Arriving to the hostel i was thinking what an adventure !! This stay seems to open many great adventures and experiences for me to live ! many unforgettable stories that would help other poeple in their next stay in this country, enrich their knowledge and give them more motivation to live as well such an incredible journey...

The praca do comercio was the first monument i could distinguish in that first night of arrival, a very big square with yellow walls, an old aspect but rather very well conserved throught the years and a single statue in the center of the square, an arc of tiumph showing also an architecture so details that it left me speechless by its mst amazing design showing litterature, sciences, arts, and that made me think about the centuries the city passed and how it was before years. I went by night to discover the bridge calling me from outside to check it out that was when i saw the most amazing view ever, the bridge illuminated by its magical lights and the statue also decorating with the light, the river was exactly like a beach so much it was large and i could enjoy that romantic view. I could also discover other attractions such as the Belem Tour, the military plane near the fortress that testifies about an old period of wars, it was may be smashed there and conserved in that same state for years and years.

Photo gallery