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A 2-month Backpacker’s Plan for Europe
When I first started planning my European trip, I wondered how I would fit everything I wanted to see into two months. The very real truth is that it is impossible. Europe is massive and each country is so different from its neighbor that you need to spend some actual time at each spot! For each country I went to, I visited the major cities and left the smaller ones on the “next time I’m here” plan. From towering mountains to iconic man-made metal structures, Europe has it all. Euros and Zlotys, kabobs on the street and crepes cafes, each country in Europe offers a new experience. I had just…
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Train Ride out of Lisbon, Anyone?
You already know that Portugal is a sunny paradise. Warm temperatures, friendly locals, and cheap spirits. However, Lisbon, Portugal, also offers train routes that can literally take you anywhere! Well maybe not anywhere, Mars is a pretty long ways off. So, after a few days in central Lisbon, I wondered what else I could see. I found my answer in three different destinations, each only a short train ride away. As the saying goes, “When in Portugal..” Carcavelos: The Local Residents’ Beach of Choice This was perhaps the most tricky destination to get to because it involved taking TWO trains. We missed our connection train by 30 seconds. In case you…
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Lisbon, Portugal: Castles to My Left & Castles to my Right
A Surplus of Steps that Will Make You Sweat Unlike Lagos, Lisbon is not a beach lover’s dream destination, although you can take a train to one. Instead, Lisbon offers the chance to explore castles. In fact, if you looked to your left you would see a castle. Turn to your right and there it is, ANOTHER CASTLE. However, they also offer cheap spirits and an excellent sangria. If you combine castles, sangrias, and all the steps you’ll walk up and down, it is a perfect day. Day 1: My first few hours in Portugal were not as glorious as one might imagine. Suffering crippling jet lag and need of…
