Europe is an interesting place to visit as a fat person – but that shouldn’t stop you, and it certainly didn’t stop me. Recently, my sister, Soreh, and I went on a sister trip that spanned ten days, three countries and many amazing experiences and restaurants.
While I was traveling, I counted 19 people who seemed to be older than me, only one of them was older than me. But again, that didn’t stop me. I wore several different bikinis, went hiking, and even got a massage at a five-star place.
All in all, this is a trip we’ll be talking about for decades to come, full of all the things that make a trip great. So, come with me when we visit Lisbon.
Lisbon
I’ve been to seven European countries, and Portugal stands out among them all as the country with the best food. Whether we were eating traditionally prepared salt fish and pastel de nata (custard tarts), fusion dishes combining Japanese and Portuguese flavors, or completely different dishes prepared from local ingredients, the food is they were very good. The city’s airport was small, built before many tourists entered the country, causing chaos when flying, but few problems when flying. If you are planning a trip to Portugal and want to visit Lisbon, I would spend a few days in the city, then head to other places, like Sinatra or Porto, a short train ride away.
Where to stay in Lisbon:
1908 Hotel — The 1908 hotel was definitely the boutique hotel of my dreams. Retaining the impressive architecture of the original building, the interior has been completely renovated and modernized, with some of the best features of the original building remaining. The rooms are spacious, they don’t have a European style bathroom, which was a definite plus. Our Ubers averaged five to seven dollars, so the place was amazing! And while the hotel is great, it’s the staff that take it to another level. They always greet you with joy and warmth, are happy to answer any questions and give suggestions on anything related to Lisbon. The hotel’s restaurant, Infame, also offers a lobby bar with snacks and drinks. The salmon ceviche was the best I’ve had anywhere in the world, and the duck croquettes were a great filling before heading off to enjoy the afternoon.
Squish factor: Although it’s big enough, the shower doesn’t have a place to lift your leg for a shower. In addition, although this is not related to the size, the door stop on the floor is almost invisible, especially at night. Read also : The survey finds that 1 in 3 people in the DC region face insecure food. Be careful or you will end up in a lot of pain.
Where to eat in Lisbon:
Boubou’s – From the outside, Boubou doesn’t look like much, but don’t let that fool you. In addition to the small dining room, the restaurant has a spacious undercover garden. You will be surrounded by large banana trees in a relaxed, exotic setting. The menu consists of local Portuguese ingredients, which change every week, depending on what is freshest. To see also : To Continually Improve Health Equality for New Yorkers Living With and At Risk Of Hiv, State Department Of Health Announces New Solicitation Request (RFA). My brother and I went with the tasting menu, which has international flavors and raised vegetarian options. You must order the sweet potato in tiger milk with kaffir lime ceviche. It was just good, although the rabbit croquette was a nice late night bite.
Potato Ceviche at Boubou’s (Soreh Milchtein)
Squish factor: Although the food and environment were top-notch, the accommodation left me miserable. Most of them had armchairs, so I opted for a bench, which was somehow worse than swinging on an armchair.
Cavalariça Lisboa – Dim and romantic, Cavalariça Lisboa has an unmistakably romantic feel. Once home to a shop that sold electric cars, today a giant white unicorn hangs on the wall, bringing joy to the restaurant. Start your meal with olive oil (or aged butter) and chewy focaccia before tucking into the shared plates – or leave your meal to the pros by ordering the tasting menu. You will definitely want to try the soft, rich Alentejo pork and pineapple skewer with cilantro, which has a great flavor. This chocolate and banana dessert brings back nostalgic memories of banana bread in style.
Ofício – Lunch at Oficio was my favorite meal of the whole trip, not just in Lisbon. Walking into the restaurant feels like an experience in itself. Light and airy, you’ll want to take a deep breath to soak it all in before sitting down. While sitting down, you are presented with a menu that looks like someone is developing it, with text, and arrows.
And what a delicious meal, from the mushroom with caramel chicken (which was so unique and delicious!)
Oficio Fish Taco (Soreh Milchreis)
Oficio offers modern Portuguese cuisine made with local ingredients, highlighted by Mexican flavors. Now I eat good fish food, especially when the fish is raw. A fresh croaker wrapped in a lettuce leaf deserves a prize. It’s just perfection. Don’t skip the oysters, stuffed spider crab, or fried leeks.
Squish factor: Seats have arms, but some bench seats are available. However, I was able to sit comfortably in the armchair for lunch.
Sala de Corte – Have you ever been to a steakhouse and felt it was too old school or crowded? Then, you’ll love Sala de Corte, Lisbon’s quietest, most relaxed steakhouse. The first thing you’ll see when you enter the restaurant is an old refrigerator with every steak imaginable. The light is dim, and the sound of conversation and laughter emerges. The list is relatively simple. We ordered the beef tartar, and although it was amazing, I wouldn’t order it as the first bite from the chef is also beef tartar. Definitely splurge on the steak, the star of the show, as it should be. The porterhouse was cooked to rare perfection, with one of the best crusts I’ve ever tasted. Just perfect. Dessert – a fresh hazelnut dessert with a hint of variety, topped with salted caramel ice cream – was nothing to sneeze at.
Squish factor: Ask for a table with bench seats when you make a reservation, as all the seats have recliners.
What to do in Lisbon:
Devour Tastes and Traditions Food Tour — I was very excited to go on another food tour while in Lisbon. The Devour Tastes and Traditions Tour was designed to allow you to taste traditional Portuguese cuisine and learn more about history, culture and traditions. Bring a water bottle with you! Among the many tastings, we entered a small shop that sold salt cod on one side and cured pork on the other (among other things). Here we had the pleasure of tasting Jamon Iberico, a soft, smooth, prosciutto-like pork. It is made from black Iberico pork, fed with acorns. I’ve wanted to try this for a long time, and it sure did. To see also : Food deserts are affecting New Jersey residents amid efforts to alleviate the crisis. Another small shop, Ginja Sem Rival, has been selling sour cherry liqueur since 1890. You will be served a glass full of liquor, with a sour cherry floating at the bottom. It’s a bubbly alcohol – and very mouthwatering. Take a bottle home, it’s only a few euros and worth every penny.
Squish factor: This trip has a lot of hiking: more than most food tours I’ve done, with lots of steep hills, and steep hills on the way down again. There were also not many seats in the various stands.
Anantara Spa at TIvoli hotel Avenida Liberdade — Every vacation needs pampering, and for me, that means the resort is perfect. While in Lisbon, my sister and I enjoyed a massage and a little facial at the Anantara Spa, inside the Tivoli Avenida Liberdade Hotel. The service and staff, from the front desk to the massage therapists, were amazing and friendly. From the moment you enter the spa, you feel at peace and relaxed. The massage was 10/10. After changing, the service began with washing and exfoliating our feet, before stepping onto the massage table for the treatment. The room temperature can be adjusted on request, and the massage tables are pre-heated. I was running hot, so I asked them to turn it off. I probably would have skipped the mini-facial, as it was more of a cleansing and moisturizing tool than anything else. After the massage, we were escorted to the lounge, and enjoyed a glass of champagne before returning to the world.
Squish factor: As expected, the dress didn’t fit me at all. My size-12 sister got a dress that was too small, so I’ll bring mine. Additionally, the provided booties and plastic underwear were inappropriate. When the service started with washing the feet, I wore only my dress, which I took off when I put it on the table. I left my underwear on during the massage.
A photo of the author and her sister in one of the viewing areas (Chaya Milchtein)
Car Tour of Lisbon — I’ve taken private tours before, but this private tour from Viator took private tours to a whole new level. We were picked up from our hotel by a well-dressed driver in a comfortable, air-conditioned sedan, before planning a game drive. Although the itinerary was set when we booked, the beauty of a private tour is that you can change it. We stopped at Pastéis de Belém, two different viewpoints to take in the light of Lisbon from above, and learned a lot about the city. Our driver and tour guide joined us at many of the stops, which was great!
