I almost canceled my Portugal trip (which I booked 10 months ago) but for some reason couldn’t bring myself to do it. The next 3 months each have a trip in it (March, April and May) and I felt like that might be a bit much but I ended up deciding to keep it. With everything going on, I wasn’t too nervous about flying out of DCA as I hadn’t heard it was crazy there on the news with TSA (BWI however is another story). Once at the airport I was through security in 7 minutes.

I got a great flight deal for this trip on Virgin Atlantic/Delta. My ticket only included a carry-on and personal item and while boarding at DCA on the layover to Boston the agent made the announcement of needing to check the remainder of bags. Normally I don’t mind this but I had a quick flight to Porto that I needed to catch on TAP Air Portugal about an hour and a half after I land in Lisbon. Having to check a bag now is going to decrease my chances of an already tight connecting flight there.

Once in Boston they had a shuttle transport myself and others to a different concourse for international departures (the shuttle was like a people mover at Dulles). I made it to my gate and ate the food I brought with me and charged my phone (which is good because I am still doing no cheese while on lent and most of the airplane food options had cheese in/on it). The flight to Lisbon from Boston was exactly 6 hours and I slept and watched Sarah’s Oil and a documentary on Alabama’s Prisons (the plane was packed but thankfully I had an aisle seat).

We landed in Lisbon about 25 minutes early which I was thankful for because this would allow me some extra time to sift through the airport (I wasn’t trying to miss my flight). I’d been to Lisbon’s airport before on a layover to and from Morocco with my mom years ago and I remembered that I don’t like that airport. The signage is horrible as far as directions are concerned and I also remembered why I don’t like TAP Air Portugal. Surprisingly getting through passport control didn’t take long and neither did getting my bag or going back through security again (it left me with about 30 minutes before boarding time).

I checked the board multiple times as I wanted to make sure I had the right gate which kept saying “24” so I went there and sat. There were a few other people at the gate and 2 agents at the time were there. I looked up at the board by the gate to make sure I was in the right area. I noticed the agents walked away and sat and waited and charged my phone. I looked at the time and we had passed the boarding time that was on the ticket. I wasn’t the only one that noticed as a guy came over and confirmed the flight I was waiting for which he too was waiting for. He said the agent told him that it would be late.

It was now about 10 minutes before our flight was supposed to leave and their were no agents at the gate but a few more people in the waiting area…something didn’t seem right. I went online to Flight Aware and looked up the flight which showed it was at gate “17”. A moment of panic kicked in because if this were true I was surely going to miss the flight. I got up and found a departure board which showed the change at “17” and it said “Doors Closed”. I told the guy and we speed walked our way over to gate “17” in which the agent there told us it was too late for us to get on. She took a look at our tickets and told us we’d have to get rebooked at TAP’s Counter. I just knew this was about to be some BS because TAP is always on some.

The counter line was long and apparently quite a few people missed their flight or had an issue. The flight I missed left at 10am and the next one was scheduled to leave at 12pm. All I wanted was for them to put me on the 12pm flight but they told me since I bought a discount fare (the cheapest ticket price) and missed the flight (regardless of the gate change that no one told us about) that I would have to buy a new ticket. I wanted to laugh and cuss at the same time but I told the agent that I was absolutely not doing that, that I was never flying TAP again and I’d rather take the train than pay them. I told the guy good luck and I was out.

I partially blame myself for that because my gut told me before I even bought that cheap flight that, “It’s with TAP and you know they be on some BS maybe you should just do the train instead”…clearly I should’ve listened to my gut but I can guarantee you this unless it is the cheapest error fare ever ever ever TAP Air Portugal will never get another dime for me and I’m going to rip them as far as reviews are concerned. If it were up to me you could throw away Lisbon’s airport and TAP Air Portugal. After I leave I hope I never have to go through that airport again.

I found a train that would be leaving pretty soon so I booked that and made my way to the departure station from the airport metro. Though the ride will be longer at least I don’t have to worry about how to kill time as I wait to check-in to my Porto Airbnb because now on the train by the time I arrive I can check in. On the train you have to pay attention to the car you get on as after I got on and got really comfortable had to move because I was in the right seat but the wrong car. Other than that the ride was smooth and I slept most of the way waking up frequently so I wouldn’t miss my stop.

Once at Porto Campanhã station I was able to make the necessary transfers and find my way to the Airbnb. I arrived shortly after 3pm and once I got settled in took a nap. I had a Arrabidá Bridge Climbing at Night activity at 7:30pm so I figured a quick nap would be good. Well when I finally did settle down it was close to around 5pm so I laid down but forgot to set my alarm. Luckily I woke up at 6:47pm but I knew it would take me some time to get there with taking the train and the bus so I knew I would arrive late. I however didn’t plan on arriving 30 minutes late.

Taking the train was a breeze but having to wait on the bus is what made me late (that and my opting to walk the rest of the way instead of waiting for the bus and having 2 pass me along the way). I honestly wasn’t expecting my guide Helena to still be there with me being so late but I was really hoping she was and thankfully she was. I apologized and I was able to still do the activity since it was just myself so I lucked out. She placed the safety gear on me and instructed me on how to pass the poles as we go up. I led the front and she was behind me.

Think of a stairmaster in a gym but on a bridge literally 18 stories up. That’s what I walked to get to the top and after walking halfway to the bridge my body was already warmed up. I started with great momentum but got slower further up. Not once did I look down as I was going up. Seeing the view at the top at night was beautiful. Helena took a few pictures for me and poured me a small sample of some red port wine in a little chocolate cup (it was good). She also told me some interesting things and stories about the Arrábida Bridge, here’s a little bit:

•It was built in 1963
•The stairs were put in sometime in the 2000’s
•It is the largest concrete arch in the world (until China makes one soon)
•Busy periods are during summer and fall months and up to 13 people can climb on each side (2 sides)
•Even before the stairs people would crawl up/down and one man even went up/down on a motorcycle

Helena recommended some sites to see in the area and we walked back down. She printed out one of the photos that she toook of me and gave me a postcard. I thanked her again and I left. I walked to a nearby small restaurant called Viela D’Ouro which had 5 stars rating reviews on Google. I ordered a glass of wine, sangria and a pork sandwich dish which was delicious. It all came up under 15 euros but it was well worth it. Afterwards I walked to the bus stop and decided to wait for it. It dropped me off a few blocks from the metro and I easily made my way back to the Airbnb. I started posting when I got back but at some point fell asleep. Day one in Porto is done.