Lisbon is a stunning city, with beauty everywhere you turn. It's carefree and colorful, its people are friendly and honest, and its tags (graffiti), as a cherished, not discouraged, form of artistic expression, make the city sing.
Nicholas and Maria's apartment offers a consummate Lisbon experience. The view of the Castle and the Tagus river is incomparable, after you conquer the walk up the hill and multiple flights of stairs. Sitting on the balcony with your loved one, with a port in hand and the view to boot, is a luxury not easily forgotten. But what makes the place special to me is this: the building is on a quiet street; residents buy groceries, drink espressos, and watch soccer in the little shops along the street; kids play soccer in a nearby parking lot; there was a wedding in the church on the street one day we were there; you walk by colorful tags on the way from the metro; it gives you a calm and a sense of belonging even if you're just there for a few days. If you're a fan of Pessoa or Saramago's writings, you will at least get a glimpse of where the quiet melancholy comes from, even though the hustle-bustle of tourism outside has largely taken it away. So book it, book it now!