Lisboa, Portugal
Lisbon, Portugal is magic. I am fairly certain this is the oldest city I have ever visited. It’s three thousand years of narrow passages between claustrophobic ancient architecture and people’s homes, dividing stone floor alleys, switchbacking narrow corridors, climbing the sides of coastal mountains and rolling hills.
A castle rests its fortitudes on the top of a plateau, as an overlook. Dozens of ancient cathedrals and arches and statues. A mile of fancy red restaurant tables along an ancient street, ready to serve steak and lobster and whatever other dishes one may desire to feast upon.
Designer stores on either side of large thoroughfare, divided by giant obelisks and marble statues that are far older than any Jaeger-LeCoultre or Prada or Hugo Boss or whatever-wealthy retail location is renting prime space on this ancient street peppered with luxury and museums and yet more cathedrals.
I nearly cracked my head open on Calçada Portuguesa sidewalks that are dangerously slippery, even in the absence of rain on a warm spring day in April. It’s cobbled by calceteiros, laying art on the ground with history and hand-made mosaics for people to walk all over. People like me. I did a lot of walking. 30,000 steps and I loved every second of it. I just admired the public transit—you know—for photographs. The train cars look pretty in pictures, from the mosaic I was standing on.
It’s a special place. Wow.
WHO IS MIKE VITALE?
I am a storyteller, songwriter, singer, music producer, traveling musician, Jungian dream analyst, all-around curious fellow (Spiritual, Mathematical Historical, Scientific), Taoist, and much much more, based out of Los Angeles, California. I’m constantly releasing new music, in all sorts of different genres. You can listen to me below, on Spotify: