Oct 12
I’ve confirmed a key difference between a hostel and an alberge. Beyond the fact that Alberges are exclusively for pilgrims, there is a code of etiquette that you just don’t find at larger hostels in cities.
In the Albergue, we’re on a common quest, having walked long hours. Everyone goes to bed early and tries to be as quiet as possible in the common sleeping areas.
In my hostel last night, when I returned from dinner around 8:30, the light was out in my 8-person room and curtains were pulled across two of the lower bunks, likely indicating someone trying to sleep. I crawled into my bunk, pulled the curtains and – with AirPods- listened to the radio broadcast of the Ducks game (sad).
About 10pm, the room lights were flicked on, the hostel host brought in two more guests who proceeded to talk, rustle about and turn the lights on and off for the next 30 minutes. This would have NEVER happened in an Alberge.
Today I take the train back to where my trip started in Lisbon. After being flumoxed by public transit ticketing on my first visit, I’ve decided to purchase a 48-hour all-access card that works on trains, metro, busses, trolleys and funiculars (not currently running due to a fatal accident last month). The 48 hours works out perfectly for the time between when my train arrives on Lisbon today and when I can check into my near-airport hotel Tuesday afternoon.
The six-car train pulled into the station 15 minutes before departure. Several hundred people with luggage quickly boarded and we pulled out exactly on time. The train is very comfortable with tons of legroom, wifi and power ports.
The overhead display shows the time, outside temperature and our speed – which has reached up to 218kmph (135mph).
I got into Lisbon and bought the 48-hour pass. I now feel like I have the keys to the city.
I took two different Metro subways to reach my hostel, which is just 150 meters from the nearest station. I dropped off my pack and walked a few blocks to the waterfront. I’m sitting in the beer garden of the Museu da Cerveja (Beer Muesum) watching a Euro Cup soccer match on the big screen. As soon as I finish my beer, I’m going to hop on the first tram that comes along and go explore the city.
Following my beer, I decided to just randomly hop on a ride and explore. I went to the nearest Metro station and hopped on a Azul Line train. A few stops up, I recognized a name from my first days in Lisbon.
I hopped off thinking I would be in the neighborhood I stayed in last month. To my surprise, when I got to the surface, I was inside a very modern shopping mall. I went outside the mall and realized my mistake. I had been here before, but this was the shopping district I went to looking for the sporting goods store when I needed to replace my pocket knife.
By this time, my phone battery was getting low, so I shut it off and decided to find my way back to the hostel just by using the transit maps. Two stops over on the Vermelha Line and five down the Verde and I emerged by the square in my neighborhood.
There was a craft fair going on in the square, so I wandered through the booths. I then bought a t-shirt so I could launder all the entire collection I had been wearing.
Walking back to my hostel, I encountered a film crew shooting a scene in a shop just across the street. I don’t know what is was for, but just judging by the amount of equipment and number a trucks, it was no small budget effort.
After getting a little charge on my phone, I headed out to dinner. I’ve so emersed myself in the local cuisine that I’ve been really ready for something lighter with more vegetables. I found a Vietnamese cafe and enjoyed a tasty meal.
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