Easy access to Europe is one of the many benefits of living in Ireland as a Victory Scholar. The Dublin (or Belfast) Airport is just a few hour flight away from any major city in the EU. Future Scholars – you will quickly realize that Ryanair is your best friend! Round trip plane tickets to Amsterdam, London, Prague, etc. for less than 50 euros. I find that living in Sligo my bus to and from Dublin is often more expensive than my plane tickets to EU cities – absolutely crackers (as they’d say here). This Christmas my Dad, Mom, and brother visited from Philadelphia and we all took advantage of the cheap airline prices to explore the southwest coast of Portugal during the week off from National League basketball. I’m writing this on the plane home from Portugal, a city that I will definitely revisit. It’s a place that should be on every Scholars’ radar for a few days getaway from rainy, dark, Ireland. Here’s why:
Even in the dead of winter, Portugal weather was sunny and 60 degrees every day (no, I still don’t know what that is in Celsius). After experiencing rain and clouds nearly every day in Northwest Ireland, feeling the hot sun on my face is something I never thought I’d miss so much. If you go during warmer months the beach culture in Portugal is some of the best in Europe and you’ll have access to remote areas all along the Atlantic Coast.
Natural beach in Setùbal
2. Cheap
Portugal is one of the cheapest countries in the EU, and WAY cheaper than anywhere in Ireland. A pint in Sligo will cost me €4 – €5 (and €6 – €7 in Dublin), but in Portugal they are €1 – €2. We saw liter bottles of wine in the supermarket for €1.50. In most of the restaurants we ate at ordering a glass of wine or a beer was cheaper than ordering water. I recently returned from Amsterdam, a notably expensive city, and Portugal was much more enjoyable because ordering dessert, taking an extra tour, or taxiing somewhere instead of busing doesn’t break the bank.
3. Seafood
The majority of our vacation was along the coast of Portugal but throughout the country there is incredible seafood. Each city you’ll visit will have markets each morning with freshly caught fish at affordable prices. Even the supermarkets get fresh seafood every day. Nearly every dinner we had involved some sort of shrimp, cod, or (my favorite) cuttlefish. It’s actually very hard to find chicken in Portugal because so many meals include food from the ocean. Coming from Ireland which is heavily red meat (although Shells in Sligo makes an incredible Fish & Chips), this change to the diet was quite refreshing
4. Lisbon
The capital city of Lisbon quickly rose to the top of my list of favorite cities in the world. Built on hills, the city’s streets wind and snake in ways that I’ve never seen before. Only around major squares do two lane roads exist. Many side streets are just wide enough for one car to fit, and the prettiest areas of the city are only accessible by foot. Each little street has its own culture, filled with restaurants, outdoor seating, and native Fado music. The ocean is walkable from the city centre, and the famous Tram 28 will take you on a loop to all the major destinations. Lisbon is notably old and has a rich history dating back hundreds of years. Just a forty minute train ride outside of Lisbon you will find towns like Sintra, a UNESCO world heritage site that apparently was the inspiration behind Disney World. There is no shortage of things to do and people to meet. Being there for two days was not enough to even scratch the surface.
Children performing in Alfama Square (Old City)
Legendary Palace de Peña in Sintra
