That we had such a wonderful time in Lisbon was due, in no small part, to the generosity and hospitality extended to us by Catarina and her lovely family.
Our flight landed in Lisbon close to midnight and we were greeted with a text from Catarina that her husband, Frederico, would be picking us up from the airport. What a pleasant surprise and how touched we were by this heart-warming gesture considering how late in the night it already was.
The brief ride to the apartment was entertaining as Frederico, in his humorous way, went about giving us some insights to the city and suggestions on what we can do during our stay. If you enjoy trendy and picturesque dining spots which serve delicious food at non-touristy prices, be sure to check out some of Catarina's recommendations before you leave Lisbon.
The apartment is a very unique loft with really high ceiling allowing one to stand upright even on the upper level, creating a living space that is cosy yet spacious. The fully equipped kitchen is great for some light cooking and wifi is extremely stable. Having a functioning washing machine around is definitely a plus for us.
Nestled on a quiet street just 2 mins walk from Anjos metro station, the location couldn't get any better as we were literally minutes from most of the attractions and various transport modes. Each station to the next takes about 1 minute and the green line is by far the most connected. There are several good eateries, cafes, pastry shops and supermarkets in the immediate vicinity of the apartment too.
As we visited during the Labour Day long weekend break, we had the chance to savour a Mothers Day brunch with Catarina and her family. Her two charming boys are an immense joy to be around. They took time to show us the lesser known side of Lisbon and we absolutely loved it.
It truly was an amazingly comfortable stay in Catarina's apartment and I cannot recommend it highly enough. Top class!