I have arrived. I can hardly believe it.
The past 14 days have been intense, exciting, cold – and full of experiences I haven’t even begun to process. I am incredibly tired and yet wide awake. I feel alive, and for someone who was diagnosed with burnout not too long ago, that is anything but a given.
So here I am, sitting by the harbor. Staring across the Tagus, from one side to the other, then back at a boat graveyard in front of me. The crémant goes down smoothly.
It’s good here, but I can’t stay. Water is running low, and there’s no toilet anywhere in sight.
The next morning, I drive further into the city. After some searching, I find a spot – at least for now – a fiercely contested parking space right under the “Ponte 25 de Abril” bridge in Alcântara.
As a camper, you don’t want to attract attention from the locals. So I do my best to stay under the radar. My VW bus is small enough to help with that – nothing too conspicuous. By the time I step out, I’m already boxed in. But that’s okay. I have nowhere to be.
I want to settle in. At least for a month or two. I don’t need much, and once again, my openness plays in my favor.
Not far from my van, I find a fountain where I can refill my drinking water and there is a beautiful free public bath nearby. I discover a cozy café where espresso costs just €0.80 – and tastes amazing. Around the corner from my parking spot, there’s a library with Wi-Fi – perfect for writing these lines.
For now, I try to rest a little, to truly arrive.
Not that I have much of a choice – I’m waiting for a response from the cultural office. Yesterday, I applied for a license to play street music.
Playing without one can get expensive: fines range from €200 to €4000.
P.S.: I still don’t have a license for busking in Lisbon – but of course, I gave it a shot anyway, this time at LX Factory. With perfect weather and a curious crowd, I set everything up, excited for a nice little concert in front of some trendy people.
But this overly hip place clearly has no sense of humor. Within minutes, I’m chased off by a not-so-friendly security giant. He treats me like dirt and gives me exactly five minutes to pack up and leave.
A cool place – as long as you’re spending money.
