Lisbon

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It’s unfortunate we had only 12 hours in Lisbon. It’s definitely a city I could have spent a week in. We spent the morning searching for internet, getting our bearings on the city and eating delicious soup and spaghetti. In the afternoon, we headed to Castelo Sao Jorge which is a beautiful castle. I really have no idea of the history of the castle, which is a shame, but the building was very well kept and it overlooked much of the city. We spent a couple of hours walking the castle grounds, taking lots of pictures and enjoying our last day in port. It’s funny how much this place reminded me of San Francisco. We docked right beneath a huge redish bridge, just like the Golden Gate. There were cable cars all around that maneuvered the steep and winding hills, and even the houses were piled one on top of another just like San Francisco. There was even a little area that reminded me of the wharf, although Cape Town still takes the prize on that one.

In the afternoon an alumni event was being held at an Irish pub close to the boat. We showed up not knowing they were serving free beer for two hours. TSS has made a lot of stupid decisions…like disembarking in Amsterdam…but I’m not sure anything compares to serving free beer for two hours before getting on the boat at our last port. Let’s think about this for a minute. For four months 150 college aged students have had a 4 drink limit every single day. We’ve had to pay $3 for a crappy beer or glass of cheap wine. Then suddenly in our last port, when being late to the boat or showing up absolutely trashed has no consequences, you give us FREE beer for two hours?? Stupid, stupid stupid. I’ve never seen binge drinking like this. 60 students drank seven kegs of beer. SEVEN. At the end of the two hours people we going up and ordering 20 beers and taking it back to the table to consume. I’m pretty sure when 50 people were an hour late getting back to the boat, when people were so drunk they were throwing chairs off the side of the boat and people were passed out in the bathrooms, TSS realized their mistake. I don’t care how intercultural or mature a group of students are…we’re in our 20’s and you’re giving us unlimited free beer…good things are not going to happen.

I’m pretty sure that sums up Lisbon. From the little I saw, it’s a beautiful town…and the beer isn’t bad either (ha!).

Everything on the boat is wrapping up. Classrooms are being taken down, suitcases are coming out of storage and everyone is exchanging pictures and contact information. There’s been a strange vibe on the boat the last few days…sadness of saying goodbye, uncertainty of the future and excitement for travel in Europe all rolled into one. We’ve had our last learning circle meetings, our last IRC meetings and soon we’ll be having our last meals and our last goodbyes. I think I’m glad to be leaving…it’s been a great trip, but I’m ready to get off here and start my real life. Of course I will miss my friends and having everything done for me, but it will be good to feel like I’m in charge of my life again.

It’s still hard to believe it’s been 4 months. Sometimes it feels like yesterday I boarded that plane to Hong Kong…

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Comments

[TC]

MEGS: It was a quick trip, wasn't it. Glad you didn't get thrown off with one of the chairs. Peace out. Love LuLuJr

[Mom]

Irish Pubs
They seem to be the common element in every port...Irish Pubs...gotta love 'em! Miss you...see you soon! xoxo