To be truthful, Lisbon, Portugal was never really on my radar. When it looked like we had a week to spare on our 4-month tour of Europe, it sounded like a good idea. We’d see a new country (bonus points for it being a little less traveled than most in Western Europe), maybe pick up a few words of Portugese, and have ourselves a good ol’ time. The reality was none of these things, and that made me sad. By the time the day came for us to move on for Switzerland, I was more than ready. I know others will strongly disagree with me, but what can I say? It just wasn’t for me.

1. Portugese is NOT easy. Granted, I knew that, and the fault is on me. Regardless, this was one I couldn’t even pick up a little bit of. And that made me feel rather daft.

2. I couldn’t get into Fado, or stay up late enough to make it to one of the hidden, local spots to get a taste live.

3. It rained 89% of the time we were in Lisbon. Sideways drops + dark skies = hours stuck inside and slim chances for sightseeing.

4. We stayed in the Alfama, on the top of a hill. In theory, renting a place in a historic district with maze-like, cobbled streets, and hidden alleyways, reveled by photographers and travelers was great. The reality was we were a 40 minute hike from everywhere and burned off the calorie equivalent of a large pizza to get from A to B. Wiser choice would have been to stay in the Baixa Chiado and walk to the older parts for fun. Oh yeah, and when it rained, cobblestones become greased up bananas just begging to be slipped on.

5. Bacalhau. Many rave about the seafood, but I was hard pressed to find a beautiful filet of local catch. Canned, dried, and salted seemed the norm. And silly me, I’m not big on shellfish, either.

6. Parts of the city need some serious TLC. Some call that a good ‘patina’ but I argue it’s in need of some local loving and good old fashioned elbow grease.

7. A decent grocery store is hard to come by. For the average traveler, this may not be a big deal, but we like to cook and live where we travel (meaning not eating out all the time). Finding some basic goods from one or many stores was a challenge.

8. The Tuesday and Saturday flea market in the Alfama leaves something to be desired. Missed the artisan products and unique goods, replaced by so-so wares, recycled clothing, and other random junk.

9. Public transportation is lousy, though that sunshiny Tram 28 is a fun way to see the old town.

10. Restaurant hours are cray! It’s a culture of late-night eaters. I get it. But 8 o’clock opening time? And a reservation required? Yikes.

There were a few redeeming qualities, though, so I won’t say the visit was a completely disappointing one.

1. Three words: pasteis de nata. Warm, petit tarts, sprinkled with a little cinnamon and sugar. Oh, yeah. In Portugal, custard pastries are king.

2. Caught a glimpse of some pretty awesome street art. The art scene here is growing and starting to get some much deserved attention.

3. Sintra is a little over an hour away, and a perfect day trip destination with the most beautiful, Cinderella-meets-Little-Mermaid castle you ever did see; it’s bright, colorful, and decorated with exquisite seashells and a marine theme.

4. On a clear, blue day (we were lucky to get one!), Lisbon can be quite lovely. It’s hard to deny some of the architectural points that are unique to Lisbon and stand pretty. [enter bright colors and terracotta rooftops]

Alright, alright. I know it sounds like I’ve been hitting the hatorade pretty heavy, but keep in mind this was just my experience. If the skies were always blue, we stayed in a different neighborhood, and I came in the summertime… my overall take on Lisbon might have been much different. Taking the good with the bad, it’s not nearly the worst place I’ve been – far from it. Still, I don’t know I’ll be making plans to go back to Portugal anytime soon, especially with neighboring Spain right there. Sangria, tapas, and flamenco… that’s where you’ll find me.

The post 10 Reasons Why Lisbon, Portugal Is Not For Me appeared first on Camera & Carry On.

Whenever I’m in a new city and the weekend is near, I open Google and search for keywords like, “farmers’ market, food, best, fresh, and local,” in the area. My obsession with food markets goes beyond my love of free samples (and if you know me, you can vouch for just how excited I get about a half teaspoon of apricot jelly on a tiny crostini or thimble-sized swig of vino); if it’s complimentary, I’m game.

The world is full of these markets, and more often than not, edible bounty is not the only thing there is to look forward to. Local craftsmen and artisans, from textile magicians to vintage dishware collectors, cozy up alongside olive oil bottlers and currywurst carts. Not only is my appetite for food fed, but my desire to experience a slice of life and culture of wherever it is I am. Vivid color, intoxicating scents, laughter and conversation — these are the things that satisfy the soul and keep the shutter of my Nikon in action.

A few of my favorites from here and there…

Mercado de San Miguel, Madrid

When I think of the Mercado de San Miguel, my mouth begins to water as my mind drifts back to drunken happy afternoons with a sangria in one hand and chorizo sandwich, custard pastry, croquette, patatas fritas, or other small and ridiculously tasty bite in the other. This gem is open daily and offers a slightly more ‘refined’ food market experience, with permanent stalls that churn out international cuisine for just about every palate.

Borough Market, London

With just about everything your empty belly could desire, going to the Borough Market is undoubtedly one of the best things to do on a Saturday in the Queen’s city. If the wafting smells from dough-giants like Pieminister don’t pull you in, perhaps a boost to some of your own cooking with exotic accouterments from Spice Mountain is more your thing. I, however, could not manage a visit without an expertly grilled brat from The German Deli Ltd. Seriously good.

Marché aux Fleurs Cours Saleya, Nice

This charming, French market is a must when in or around Nice. A perfect example of food-meets-goods, there are lovely soaps, flowers (it is the Marché aux Fleurs after all), and art for sale in addition to beautiful, wholesome foods. One tip, though: don’t touch the fruit! I made the mistake of handling a few peaches without permission from a not-so-nice madame. Needless to say, I didn’t walk away with fuzzy fruits that day, but that didn’t ruin the experience. It’s a gorgeous market and a great place to fill up on some gourmet goodies.

Saturday (Wui Lai) Market, Chiang Mai

A Chiang Mai staple, locals and tourists collide in this veritable food paradise known as the Wui Lai Market. Expect total sensory overload: muay thai promoters blasting fight music, young ladies selling ‘one-of-a-kind’ wooden figurines, mango sticky rice, and active cooks behind bubbling cauldrons of deliciousness. A note to the wise: go early, and don’t pass up on something that looks good, as the street fair goes on forever and you’ll never find your way back to that obscure noodle stand later on.

Burg Square Market, Bruges

By pure luck, I stumbled upon this quaint market in Bruges. Granted, the central location meant I’d come across it at some point or another, but considering it’s a Wednesday (not Weekend) market, I was glad to be in town during the week. And boy, what a treat it was to find the clementine guy, having fun with customers and passing out an endless supply of sweet and juicy wedges. Once I had my citrus fill, I balanced things out with a day (or two) of chocolate tasting because, ya know, Belgian chocolate…

Smorgasburg, Brooklyn

Every weekend, foodies from the 5 boroughs make their way to Williamsburg (Saturdays) and the Brooklyn Bridge Park Pier 5 (Sundays) to eat, drink, and be merry. And why wouldn’t they? Fed by some of New York’s best and brightest culinary crew, the Smorgasburg is a great way to enjoy a lazy day in the city and fill up on some seriously crave-worthy eats. The only caveat? Some items might set you back a pretty penny (e.g. $8 for three, teensie corn fritters), but there’s still a bargain to be found. Survey the land before throwing down cash to make sure you’ve got just what your nose and tummy agree on. (Read about my visit to the Smorgasburg here!)

Now, who’s hungry?

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