London and Lisbon is for Lovers

My tour took me overseas to London, and it was so nice to be back. Despite the wind and rain I’ll take it over a heatwave, an airline strike, and a cancelled flight that left me stranded in London for the first time over a year ago. I didn’t get to enjoy the blue skies over this beautiful city this trip, but with my days booked with only lunch and dinner dates cuddled inside made the weather a little more bearable. Usually I get a mix of different length dates when I tour, but I’m so happy to say my dates were only spent eating my way through this delicious city. 

There’s no doubt that I love this city: restaurants on every corner, diverse and multicultural people, businesses are still awake past midnight, no skyscrapers, relatively clean, and of course a fantastic metro. I met two Londoners on holiday in Lisbon who asked why I would ever want to visit London, so I guess it’s not for everyone, even the natives. I love being in environments where things are always moving and changing. It makes me feel the most alive knowing there are so many different stories happening around me. I was surprised that it only took me six hours from Boston (the same time to travel to the west coast), so I definitely see another London trip in the near future. 

Next I was on to Lisbon a city I didn’t know much about other than the fact a bunch of tech nomads had settled here. It was mostly raining when I was there, but I did get a few sunny moments to soak in some vitamin D that my New England body was deeply craving after a long winter. In a way it reminded me a bit like SF with the cable cars, massive hills, and coastal views, but ten times prettier. I loved the colored buildings and all the different tiles. I took a few photos of the designs, but there has to be at least a few hundred different patterns scattered throughout the city. I ate a years worth of pastel de nata, which is the original to the Chinese cousin, dan tan, I’m most familiar with, but I have zero regrets. I got some free Portugeuse lessons, met some of the sweetest people, and I couldn’t have asked for more.

Oh, and I spotted the ginger giant, James, from Sorted Food waiting in line for a very popular pizza place one night. I don’t fangirl for many people, but the guys from Sorted Food I do. I was hoping to run into them while in London, but to no avail. I got too nervous to ask for a picture, and now I deeply regret it!

Thank you London and abrigado Lisbon for an amazing tour. I love meeting new people and traveling the world, so thank you for taking the time to show me your city. 

xo Isa