What’s The Deal With Lisbon?

My sister just sent me an ad showing a popular brand of nail polish, OPI, that has a new collection called  ‘Lisbon’. Which made me wonder....what’s the deal with Lisbon that it is all of a sudden so popular? And, for that matter, what am I doing here?

Before I tell you all the things that seem to be right with Lisbon, I shall try to answer that question . I think the thing with Lisbon, and Portugal for that matter is...it is not what is right here. It is what is wrong elsewhere.

Portugal and Lisbon offer a kinder gentler place that is affordable in a world that is increasingly difficult to handle and afford.

To start, the people here are genuinely nice, kind, and generous .Here is an example:
When we first arrived in Cascais, this delightful fishing village turned resort about half an hour outside Lisbon, we stayed in a lovely hotel before we found a house to rent. The house was only a few blocks from the hotel and the hotel manager lent us her car to move our luggage since wheeling our duffle bags uphill on cobblestones seemed daunting and it was too close for a taxi. That it was a hair raising car ride on one way narrow cobblestone streets using stick shift is another story but it was just so nice of her to offer.

Practically the same thing happened here in Lisbon (we are going back and forth a lot since they are so close). We want to leave most of our luggage here before heading to Porto for a few days. The luggage check place is a short distance but uphill. The nice desk clerk offered to wheel the bag for us. We didn’t let him and hired an Uber instead but that was just so nice and generous for him to offer.

Not only it Lisbon a kinder, gentler place (like Canada),but it feels safe in a world that feels increasingly unsafe. I have not heard of any bombings or terrorist attacks here, have you? Now Franklin and I are not unduly concerned about these things but many others are and this can add to Lisbon's popularity.

I compared Portugal to Canada a minute ago but Portugal would let us move if we want while Canada was not so willing last year when I tried to immigrate (you can read I feel you wish in my blog from last June).

And it is not expensive. We have both been coming to Europe since the late 1960s when one spent less than $5 a day but basically since the mid 1970s it’s been pretty expensive. It isn’t cheap here but the prices are reasonable, although real estate is high (because Lisbon and Portugal are the flavor of the  month).

There is more  that I could add here. The lovely architecture, the well dressed and groomed people wearing elegant, real clothes, not sportswear from Nike or Patagonia. Real shoes. Charming cobblestone steeets and sidewalks. But again. I don’t think Lisbon is ‘Flavor Of The Month’ because it is so great here. It is just everywhere else-or a lot of other places-are not so good right  now.

Lest you think I am talking specifically about the USA not being so great right now, I might mention that we just had dinner with two young men from Manchester, England. The elder (aged 29) moved to Lisbon because he was concerned about what he called ‘feral’ children in Britain causing chaos snd violence in his country. And, yes, of course, Brexit.  All four of us searching for a kinder, gentler place. And thinking that we found one.