The day before and on New Year 2025

We decided to explore in the other direction from our accommodation and found the touristy bougie part of Lisbon with more and more tourists. Too many people on narrow footpaths helped us to decide to go back to the Timeout Markets instead and find some nice local food.

The Timeout Marketplace was crowded so we ended up deciding to eat at one of the side restaurants which did not disappoint. Scott chose the Octopus and I had the Rabbit!

We then escaped the crowd and found a mini Xmas market to enjoy. We lingered here in the sun, enjoying the music and people watching.

Heading back home for a relax, refresh and nap before the New Year booking we found another hole in the wall selling shots of cherry liqueur.

It was still 9 hours until we hit midnight … NYE had already passed in Australia.

We made our way to O Corrido – Casa de Fado restaurant and enjoyed the set menu and Fado songs.

New years day

Check out was at 11 am and we had to collect the car from Sixt at 12:30 so we had time to kill. We packed up , walked down to the square and found a table at the Nicola Cafe. Coffee, eggs. salmon and a Portuguese tart were consumed. We then caught an UBER to the car hire office to pick up our convertible Fiat 500.

First stop was Nazare, the place where some of the tallest waves can be seen. It is a surf mecca with lots of campers and holiday homes amid narrow winding streets. Lots of people here too from all parts of the world.

We decided to find somewhere on the drive to Porto to stop and eat as it was crazy busy in Nazare.

The drive to Porto took about 2 hours and the little Fiat was perfect for the narrow streets we encountered here as we made our was to the hotel.

Once settled we made our way out to find somewhere for dinner. The wind was making the temperature much colder and we were trying to find somewhere warm. Without bookings and since this was a public holiday, there were limited choices. We found a restaurant on the riverside and could only get a table outside but they did provide some heating and Blankets.