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December 7, 2009
Portugal: Getting lost—and making a great find—in Lisbon
I’m a big believer in spontaneity, and over the years, I’ve found that unplanned journeys often result in the most unexpected—and amazing—encounters.
I visited Portugal in 1992, and while I was in Lisbon, strolling along the narrow streets of the city’s historic, hillside Alfama district, I realized that somehow, despite my maps and guide books, I’d gotten myself completely turned around. So I crossed the street to ask for directions—and stumbled, literally, into a wonderful museum.
There was maybe one other visitor in the place, so the museum guide immediately came up to me, a big smile on his face, and asked me in his charming, broken English if I’d like a tour. It turned out to be a special visit: The guide took me all around the museum, pointing out his favorite works. When the tour was over, he brought me outside and showed me to a taxi, helping me on my merry way.
My museum visit is one of my favorite memories of Lisbon—and it never would have happened if I hadn’t gotten lost. It turns out several Grand Circle associates have their own tales of “wrong turns gone right,” and you can read about them in Our Favorite Travel Stories. If your own struggles with geography have led to similarly serendipitous discoveries, I hope you’ll share your stories with me at
harriet@gct.com
Harriet Lewis