lisbon

On Friday, we returned the rental car in Porto and took a train to Lisbon. We're staying at another airbnb: a fourth-floor apartment above a leather repair shop, with creaky wooden floors and big windows that let a nice breeze through.

Hilariously, we've managed to accidentally arrive during Lisbon's busiest four-day weekend: Friday was Dia de Portugal, the national holiday, and Monday is Dia de Santo António. Saint Anthony is "highly respected and worshipped in Lisbon and treated as a true patron of the city", so of course everyone's been out partying on the streets at night in his honour, and the city's been packed with tourists.

We spent most of yesterday wandering around town, dodging the crowds and enjoying some perfect weather. We saw more churches and incredible architecture, but the highlight was the cloisters behind the Igreja de São Vicente de Fora — including a 16th-century cistern, beautful inlaid marble walls, creepy tomb rooms (see the statue below), old bishop robes and mitres, an inexplicable room with a collection of seashells on display, a tile art exhibition... and the roof had some great views of the city.

Oh and we also ate some of the best ice cream we've ever had.