Archipelago of the Azores

I'm so excited to show you guys the highlight of our Spain/Portugal trip: Azores! Hands down the most idyllic place I have ever visited: sparkling blue ocean, lush rolling hills, hydrangea-dotted bushes and so peaceful that you can hear the rustle of the leaves and chants of the birds. They say that the grass is always greener on somebody else's lawn but if you live in Azores, your grass is forever green (and dotted with cute cows)!   

  

 As soon as we got settled in our Airbnb, Adrienne and I marched to the tourist information center in downtown Ponta Delgada. The clerk provided us a bus schedule and with little directives, we hopped onto a bus to Furnas.  I'm sure that if I took a nap on the bus and woke up all groggy, I would have thought that I had died and gone to heaven because this island is too beautiful!   Furnas is well-known for its iron-filled hot springs and gorgeous gardens. We visited Poça da Dona Beija and dipped in their baths until our finger nails were stained orange. 

Everything about this place is eerily beautiful. At one point, the clouds were so low that we walked straight into one. Adrienne whispering to me that it reminded her of Silent Hill.

The next day, Adrienne and I set out to visit the Lagoa das Sete Cidades, two lakes (one green and one blue) situated in the middle of a dormant volcanic crater. Legend has it that there lived a bad-tempered king with his beautiful daughter in a Kingdom in the Western Sea. The king was very strict and never allowed the princess to go outside the castle's confines. The princess longed for the outside world so when her father took his afternoon naps, she would sneak out into the local hills and valleys. One day, she heard a song that captured her attention. The princess followed the music which led her to a young shepherd playing his flute. From that point onward, she would always visit the hill and listen to the shepherd play his song.  It wasn't long before she got caught by the shepherd who instantly fell in love with her. They would meet in secret every time and stare in each other's eyes lovingly. Eventually the shepherd couldn't bear to be separated from the Princess therefore he asked for her hand in marriage.

When the King found out, he was outraged and ordered the Princess to cut all ties with the boy. Distraught by her father's orders, the Princess met with the shepherd to say goodbye one last time. They held each other and cried all afternoon. They cried so much that their tears formed two lakes: one green (for the Princess's eyes were green) and one blue (for the shepherd's eyes were blue).  AWWWW -MELTS AWAY-

What truly melted our hearts was the adorable free-spirited dog (we named him Natas) who spent a full afternoon following us. He was so playful and loved running after cars and sniffing tourists. Natas loved a good view and would lead us to the best viewing spots. We were so sad to leave Natas behind but that dog is an adventurer and belongs to the island. 

Diamond in the Rough

One thing about Spain and Portugal is that people really enjoy their night life. It doesn't matter whether you are young or old, everyone loves a good party. Many nights in Lisbon, Adrienne and I were unable to fall asleep because the locals down the street were hosting a full blown karaoke show down: old men singing to their hearts' content into the wee hours of the night. We realized soon that you should always bring earplugs when you travel. 

Despite those sleepless nights, we managed to see a lot during the day. We day tripped to Sintra (an hour away from Lisbon), visited the Belem tower, browsed through the Thieves Market, ate a lot of Pastéis de Nata (Portuguese custard tarts) and worked out those leg muscles 'cause Lisbon is as hilly as it can get.  Our favourite part was definitely Sintra. With its lush exotic gardens and pastel colored castles, Sintra looked like it popped out from a fairy tale story. We spent the majority of our time visiting Pena Palace and the magical gardens of the Quinta da Regaleira. Definitely a must-go even if your time in Lisbon is limited.  Portugal used to be a world power in the Renaissance period. Compared to other European capitals, Lisbon looks dilapidated after decades of economic and political struggle. Behind the graffiti facade, broken tiles and vacant buildings, you could could still see the city's former glory shimmering through. 

For some reason, every meal we had in Lisbon was really good (and cheap too). From our finds on Yelp to the obscure restaurant next to our Airbnb. Here's a list of some places you should try:

Nova Pompalina - Their suckling pig sandwich is the most popular item on the menu but what we enjoyed the most are their unique smoothie blends. 

Pão Pão, Queijo Queijo - If you are looking for huge plates for dirt cheap, this is the place to go when you visit Belem. The cooks are generous with their servings and don't skimp on anything. You want chicken? Here, have the entire rooster.   

Bonjardim - Really flavorful peri peri chicken. They have a spicy sauce that is equivalent to crack when you swab it on your chicken. As a former food scientist, I'd like to point out that the sauce container was probably unsanitary but heck, I'll risk food poisoning for some of that chicken leg. 

Time Out Mercado da Ribeira - Hipster foodie heaven pretty much sums up this market hall. Located near the marina, this market used to be one of the most famous Fish markets in Europe. Now, it is a hub of Lisbon's most iconic eateries.

Adrienne made an omelette using the panini press because we didn't know how to properly turn on the electric stove. It worked really well and wasn't messy at all! Panini-pressed omelette will be added to my limited cooking repertoire now.