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But under the imposing gaze of the Sanctuary of Christ the King from the overlooking hill , I began to feel guilty .
After the tour , I walked up the cobbled streets of the old Alfama district towards the hostel I had booked . Purple flowers blossomed in baskets that hung from the walls of a white church on which three men could be seen painting a mural . A tram clanged to sound its arrival as I continued through winding streets where laundry hung off the balconies of houses with pastel tile patterns . Fado music could be heard through kitchen windows as old women sat smoking on wooden chairs , chatting with their neighbours and passing curious looks at those who were not local . Upon arrival at my hostel , I realized it was more of a party scene and not the quiet accommodation I ’ d been hoping for . I tossed and turned in itchy bed sheets as the music from an outdoor barbecue continued late into the night . I began to experience that conflicting feeling of wanting to be alone but not wanting to feel lonely . It was then that I decided to text Alida with a proposal to meet the next day . Her suggestion was that we catch a train to Sintra and explore its various palaces and parks .
Early the next morning , I watched the sun rise over a sea of orange rooftops before walking to Rossio train station . A hop-on tourist bus at Sintra train station took us along steep , narrow roads and past lush forests to Cabo da Roca , the westernmost point of continental Europe . After admiring the never-ending ocean views from the coast , we headed back to Sintra town to explore its famous palaces , including the Castelo dos Mouros and Palácio Nacional da Pena .
Alida and I had different preferences for how we got around places and spent our time . However , as the day went on , I began to realize how grateful I was that I had met Alida and changed my mind about hanging out with her . The time together gave me a different kind of experience that I might not have had by myself . In particular , it encouraged me to be less frugal – to spend money on admission fees instead of admiring buildings from afar , to have a sit-down lunch at a buffet instead of a sandwich from a deli , to treat myself a little more .
On my final evening in Portugal , Alida and I walked down to the riverside in Lisbon and watched the rich gold moon shine down on the calm water . There was a peaceful ambience in the warm air as I walked back to my hostel under the soft light of street lamps , feeling completely safe . But there was also a mild sadness in my steps as I pondered saying goodbye to my new friend the next morning . The feeling was combined with gratitude for a valuable lesson learned of being more flexible to new companionship during my travels .
As restrictions in British Columbia lift and socializing becomes an accepted activity , I ’ m reminded of the time with Alida in Lisbon . I ’ m reminded how nice it is to not only reconnect with friends , but also connect with strangers . I ’ m reminded that there is more that unites us than divides us . With restrictions continuing to ease , I hope people will become more receptive to strangers and the possibilities of new friendships both locally and overseas .
Iceland