Tues. Nov. 17 – Tues. Dec. 1 *Glasgow

 

Day 208 Tues. Nov.17 – Day 222 Tues. Dec. 2

I flew back to Glasgow to stay with my friend Tommy again.

Thanks again Tommy for everything!

As you know if you have been reading this blog, I was here back in May for two weeks. This visit back was my time to wind down from my travels and finish this blog, as you would also know. Needless to say I spent most of my days inside working away on my computer.

After 7 months of travel, and 21 countries, I have learnt a lot about myself, about travelling and of course about each different country. From the history to the culture and the people. I also had the opportunity to work for a short while. I have enjoyed it very much and I have the travel bug, that I don’t think will ever go away ;)

Regardless of staying in hostels where I was always around people, and maybe it was noisy or not the cleanest places, I survived and became a better person (I think). If it wasn’t for hostels, I don’t think I would have been able to afford this trip as I am sure a lot of other travels would agree. The great things about them are that you always get a chance to meet other people and they often have all the information you need for the places you are visiting from sightseeing to transportation options, etc.

On that note, I know there are many different guide books out there and they are very handy to have, and hey most of the hostels had copies of them for you to look through. I have taken the time to skim through a few to get some valid information for a destination. But for the most part I have truly made this trip my own. From place to place I have made my own adventures, and did not use a guide book which has helped and maybe hindered (but very little). I go to some countries very green and naive, but that is part of the enjoyment is learning what I can when I get there. Travelling to me is suppose to be fun and about making new adventures and exploring. I usually get lost at least once in each new city, that can offer a lot, from avoiding getting lost again to getting some great photos. Being a tourist is not always fun when everyone around you seems to be doing the same thing, (while holding onto their guide books). I like to take the time to sit back and really watch the local life, to me that makes for some good memories as much as sight seeing does.

Sure I have had some challenges on my travels one of which is ‘Language’, but thankfully English is universal language, so most places they did speak it. Otherwise, I made it through from playing charades, or doing my best to translate what I was asking, or moving on to find someone that did speak English. And often times just figuring it out myself.

I’m so happy that I have done this trip and that I saw all the wonderful countries that I did. I’m very thankfully to have met some great people whom I have shared some of my travels with, and created new friendships.                                                             I’m glad that I did what I wanted, the way I wanted and was travelled spontaneously. I have had great moments and maybe some trying times but overall, it has been one of the best experiences of my life, one I will not forget.

I hope you all enjoyed following me throughout this adventure! It’s a great thing that I did this blog as now I have it to keep and look back on years from now.

Well, that is the end of it all….no more blog and no more Europe :( I am truly going to miss my adventures, and traveling from place to place. But, I am looking forward to seeing my family and friends.   For those of you still out there traveling around, have fun….be safe and Happy Travels!

*** JJsuperstar ***

Sat. Oct. 31 – Mon. Nov.16 *Lagos, Lisbon, Sintra, Porto – Portugal

 

So, last entry I left Morocco and flew back to Seville. My plan was to get up early and catch the early bus to Lagos, but I slept in :( That is fine, I was able to catch the later bus. I spent the morning and afternoon with my new friend John, figuring out his travel plans since he did not have his bag, (remember it was lost on the flight from Morocco) we went to the train station to check things out, and then I suggested flying with Ryanair again, but getting a free flight out of it. Anyways, we walked around a bit, chilled out at the hostel and then I ended up taking the 4:30pm bus to Lagos.

I booked to stay in Lagos for just a few nights, but once I got there that changed. I had some time so I extended my stay. So, on that note, I am changing up my entry for Portugal. I am going to put all the days of Lagos together and just give you a brief of my time there, and add my pics. To be honest, I really didn’t do too much, just relaxed, chilled in the sun and partied a little bit with all the new people I met :)

Also, for Lisbon I will do the same, it was only a couple of days and one was a half day trip to Sintra. As for Porto, I had two very rainy days there and I can’t get my pics off my camera card, so I have nothing to show for there, sorry.

Okay on with it……my last post of my travel adventures…

Day 191 Sat. Oct. 31 – Day 203 Thur. Nov. 12   *Lagos

So I arrived late on Halloween night. I checked in to the ‘Monkey House Hostel’ (a recommendation from a friend and it was cheap)  I met the receptionist Joao

Great guy, very friendly and helpful. I went to my room which was a 4 bed co-ed dorm.

this is actually my second room but they are basically the same :)

There is also a t.v room and computers, free wifi, and a patio with some couches and also the self catering kitchen is. 

I was impressed that a bunch of the other guests dressed up and went out for Halloween. However, for my first night, I encountered something I hadn’t all along my travels, staying in hostels, and that is….roommates having sex – yup I said it, I went to go in my room and grab something and to my horrifying surprise there they were on the bottom bunk having sex, not impressed to say the least. Oh well, some people can’t accept the small sacrifices you have to make while staying in hostels. I was also woken up by another roommate who was completely drunk and banging into everything, Nice! That one I can accept, as it is nothing new staying in hostels. So, that was my first night, and needless to say I moved rooms the next day.

This hostel is very cool, and comfortable, they give you what they call ‘monkey money’ everyday to use at the Monkey bar down the road for a free cocktail or the Monkey Diner next door for a free drink with your 5 EUR meal. Such great deals and free offers, I love it!

 

The weather here was fantastic for the most part, we had a few cool days and nights, one or two rain showers that really didn’t last, so I got some time on the beach, which was great! Worked on my tan and read a couple of books, was wonderful!

 

The usual link - Lagos(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lagos,_Portugal)

Lagos is a nice quaint little city, it reminded me a little of Bermuda. I realize while I was there it was a lot quieter then it usually is, especially in the high summer season, so good that I came when I did. I know there is a whole lot of history surrounding Portugal but I didn’t go looking for any of it while I was there. :(                           I took a few walks through the pedestrian streets, checked out some of the shops and just wandered aimlessly

There are many different restaurants, bars, cafes and diners all around and the prices are really good here, well at least this time of year.

So, like I said for the most part I would go to the beach during the day and at night I would either head over to the Monkey bar or just chill out at the hostel with Paulo (very cool guy) who worked the night shift.

Here are some pics of all the people I met, some are staff at the bar and others just travellers passing through

this is Erin from Australia

 

Tim (fellow Canadian) he works at the bar

Davin ( U.S) also works at the bar

Tash and James (both Aussies) Tash celebrated her bday here :)

hear no evil, see no evil, speak no evil ;)

this is Steve-o the town stray, he walks into the bars to check things out, everyone knows him and that is Chantal on the left (Aussie) she is staying in Lagos to work – very cool!

Mark, Hamish, Jake and Talus (Aussies)

 

Dan (English) works at the bar

 

here there is from left to right, Flo, ? , Erin, me, Mindy (they are posing as cats)

 

Cheers!

Will (Irish) and Tim again, both work at the bar

Sophie (Kiwi) she also celebrated her bday here

?, Sophie and Tash again

   

this Raffikki,the hostel’s pet, and she was my buddy :)

There ya go….we had some fun nights!

I had some delicious meals while I was in Lagos, and like I mentioned very cheap and great portions.

So, I ended up staying in Lagos for about 2 weeks, I just felt very relaxed and comfortable there. Also, it was very affordable… I almost considered staying ;) But, it was time to move along, next to Lisbon

Day 204 Fri. Nov. 13 – Day 205 Sat. Nov. 14   *Lisbon

we will get it out of the way (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lisbon)

Okay, so I got into Lisbon on the Friday at about 2:30pm, and found my hostel ‘Smile Hostel’

I was in a 7 bed co-ed room and I was the first to check in. I put my things away, got a map from the reception and took a walk around

this is Santa Justa historic elevator

I ate and went back to the hostel. I asked the reception about the free walking tour but she didn’t know anything about it. I also asked about Sintra, and she highly recommended it.

The next day I went to go meet for the walking tour and no one showed up, unfortunately as I was looking forward to learning some Portuguese history. I walked down to the train station to go visit Sintra, but here are some more pics of Lisbon (there was a Santa Claus parade on and one of the Department Stores had a big presentation as well – kinda early but was neat to see)

Got on the train and off to Sintra (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sintra) It was only a short 45 min ride, and I walked along to find the city center, and from there I took a bus up to the National Park with the Pena Palace (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pena_Palace)

pics on the way

   

and now the Palace

 

these are a few things off in the distance within the Park area

I left back on the train to Lisbon and I took another walk around before heading back to the hostel

That is it for Lisbon, I realize there is so much more here, but I only had so much time. The weather here was a lot chillier then Lagos, which I expected so I never headed down to see the beach at all… I will just have to head back to Portugal again some time. So moving along to Porto.

Day 206 Sun. Nov. 15 – Day 207 Mon. Nov. 16   *Porto

Well, as I mentioned I have no pics to show for Porto unfortunately and not to mention that there really wasn’t that many. I came in on a rainy day and the whole 2 days I was there it rained nonstop, but the day I flew out, it was clear skies, oh well, again have to come back sometime.  I stayed at the ‘Black and White Hostel’, as you can imagine it was decorated very nicely all in those colours :) I spent the first day inside just watching videos on my puter and at one point I did brave the rain to find food and got completely drenched. The second day, I did decide to brave it, it seemed a bit clear in the morning, so I headed to the city center, and I got some pics, and just wandered around, and then the rain came pouring down again, and I was soaked to the bone. So, in my room I had all kinds of clothes hanging from my bed, was terrible and with the chill in the air, they didn’t seem to be drying at all. So, needless to say my time in Porto was not so wonderful, but I did get to see some of it.

Tomorrow is time to fly back to Glasgow and visit Tommy.

I am sorry that my last entry is so short and simple but I hope you still enjoyed it.