By Sergio Viula
Grammar Drops
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Many of my readers may not know this, but my story is deeply rooted in Portuguese soil. While the branch of my family tree that brought me into the world blossomed here in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, the older branches, the trunk, and the roots of that tree were nourished by the sap of Lusitanian lands. To put it simply: my mother is Portuguese, and so were all her ancestors. My father was born in Brazil, but both of his parents were Portuguese, as were their ancestors.
However, my mother hadn’t returned to Portugal since she was 16—the age at which she immigrated to Brazil. My father, too, had never visited the homeland of his parents... UNTIL RECENTLY.
Yes, on January 13 of this year (2025), we embarked on an unforgettable 14-day adventure to Lisbon. The four of us—my parents, my husband Andre, and I—traveled on a flawless KLM flight, with a layover in Amsterdam. There, we had a chance to step out and savor a burger unlike any we’ve had before, even in Brazil.
For more details, check out this link: https://www.heldensloterdijk.nl/ (just copy and paste into your browser). The place is called Café-brasserie Helden.
Address:
Café-brasserie Helden
La Guardiaweg 66a
1043 DJ Amsterdam
T. 020 22 63 095
When we arrived at Schiphol Airport in Amsterdam (https://www.schiphol.nl/en/), we made our way to the boarding gate, but we still had plenty of time to explore the Duty-Free Shop. Interestingly, we found that prices in Portugal were more affordable than those in both the Amsterdam and Lisbon Duty-Free Shops. What stood out to us was that when the Portuguese run a promotion, the difference is real. It’s not some gimmick like we often see during Black "Fraud" sales or the so-called "sales" here on this side of the world.
From Lisbon to Sesimbra
From Lisbon, we made our way to Sesimbra, where we stayed. My son-in-law took my mother and our luggage in his car, while my father, Andre, and I opted for an Uber, as there wasn’t enough room for all of us. Getting an Uber was super easy—it was a comfortable, spacious electric car. The only odd thing was that cash payment wasn’t available on the app; only card payments were accepted. We couldn’t even use our travel money card (WISE) for this ride. However, the Wise card worked perfectly for everything else.
Our Accommodations in Sesimbra
In Sesimbra, we stayed in a wonderfully comfortable apartment with a beautiful ocean view. Unfortunately, we only had four days there. For the remaining ten days, we had to move to a smaller house because our original reservation in a larger apartment was canceled at the last minute by the owner—an issue with Airbnb. Let me share something important about that.
This was our first time using Airbnb. In all my travels, both abroad and within Brazil, I’ve always stayed in hotels—not even hostels—HOTELS! And I’ve always considered them the safest option, even if they’re not the cheapest. I’m sure many people have had great experiences with Airbnb, but I didn’t—and I had a few problems.
To give you an idea, our first accommodation was canceled twice. Only on the third attempt did the owner honor the reservation. For that, I want to give a special thanks to our host Rui, the owner of the apartment with the ocean view, as you can see below:
My daughter and my father in the dining room of the first apartment—the one I said was perfect, but I will never again risk being left literally in the "street of bitterness" because of the way Airbnb operates.
Check out more here:
https://youtube.com/shorts/Ow1OAmSvUzY?si=w_lgJx3X503DC5G1
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The second accommodation had been reserved well in advance, but the owner canceled the booking just THREE DAYS before our departure. Imagine the stress I went through, scrambling to find and book the first available place that fit within the budget I had already spent, making sure there were no extra costs. We had already incurred so many expenses before the trip, and the last thing we needed was a "surpri$$$e" like that.
Thanks to this unexpected and completely unjustified cancellation, we ended up booking a house that was suitable for two people but too small for four, as we later discovered, despite the listing claiming it could comfortably accommodate four. On the bright side, the hosts were incredibly friendly and accommodating. It’s clear they take their work seriously. So, a big thank you to Luiz and Ana, who made sure everything was in place for our stay, as you can see below:
Formal Complaint to Airbnb About the Cancellations
I filed a formal complaint regarding the last-minute cancellation by the host of the house we had originally booked. I provided all the details, though they don’t fit here. Unfortunately, I only received a standard response from Airbnb. I kept thinking about the disaster it could have been if one of these hosts had canceled our reservation while we were flying. What would I have done upon arrival at night? Where would I go with all our luggage and two elderly people (77 and 82 years old)?
For us, the moral of the story is clear: Never Airbnb again! It’s hotels from now on—or nothing.
Sesimbra, You Beauty!
In Sesimbra, we visited amazing places, had fantastic culinary experiences, and spent quality time with my daughter, son-in-law, and granddaughter. We also shared some very special moments with my son-in-law's parents, extended family, and Clara’s godparents. Everything about this trip was truly special.
Motorcyclists gather here at Cabo Espichel regularly for large get-togethers. Other people go hiking in this region full of natural beauty. The church located here is called the Sanctuary of Our Lady of Cabo Espichel, also known as the Sanctuary of Our Lady of Pedra da Mua.
Beaches everywhere
The beach right in front of the street of our second accommodation is Praia de Sesimbra, accompanied by Av. dos Naufrágos, with the Sesimbra Fortress right next to it.
In Sesimbra, there are several panels and monuments honoring the fishermen and the women who worked hard for the survival of the village at the time, as well as their own families. These are three of them. There are many others:
My son-in-law preparing a wonderful barbecue! His parents brought lots of delicious things too, besides giving gifts—drinks and precious chocolates—to me and Andre. My parents also received gifts.
Black scabbardfish
Three times in Lisbon!
After my parents returned to Sesimbra with my son-in-law, Andre and I stayed in Lisbon and dined at a restaurant called A Muralha, where we had delicious octopus and enjoyed spectacular wine. That marked our first day of touring Lisbon. We returned to the capital twice more—once to explore the historic part and once to discover the more modern side of the city. The restaurant, A Muralha - Tasca Típica, is located at Rua do Jardim do Tabaco, 112, Alfama, Lisbon.
We visited Lisbon three times during our stay in Sesimbra. Avenida da Liberdade (Liberty Avenue) is one of the most beautiful places to stroll. It’s not only full of beauty and elegance but also rich in meaning and history. While it’s home to the most expensive brands, it’s much more than a shopping district. It’s a place steeped in history, with monuments honoring the strength and courage of the Portuguese people, especially in their struggle against the dictatorship that caused so much harm to the country and its citizens.
On Madeira Island
We visited Madeira Island, my mother’s homeland and the birthplace of both my paternal and maternal grandparents, between January 19th and 21st. Those were two truly wonderful days! I say two because we could only enjoy the 19th and 20th—on the 21st, we had to leave early. But the photos speak for themselves. I do want to highlight one thing, though: Cousins António, Bela, and João were absolutely incredible. If we managed to see and do so much in such a short time, it was all thanks to them. This amazing family went above and beyond to make our two days on the island unforgettable.
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Returning home is never easy, especially knowing that my parents will never have the opportunity to visit Portugal again. This trip felt like a farewell before it even began. Given their age, the entire process—boarding, disembarking, immigration, accommodation, and the whole reverse operation on the way back—was very challenging.
On our last day in Sesimbra, we had breakfast (o pequeno almoço) at O Melhor Croissant da Minha Rua—a restaurant known for its incredible croissants. Only those who’ve tasted them truly know how different they are from the ones we have here—nothing like the floury dough with barely any filling. These are light, crispy pastries filled with delicious ingredients like salmon, Parma ham, and other delicacies chosen by the customer.
We didn’t take pictures during this visit, but André and I had been there a few days earlier and took these photos:
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