The D-day has arrived and it was time to pack my bags and go home, before I summarize the trip itself and the experience of traveling with a baby, I just have to tell you about the experience of the airport in Lisbon.
We went there well in advance because we all know how they usually are at airports, queues at check-in, at baggage drop and even more queues at the security check. It went smoothly at Arlanda but then we knew the local language, we found ourselves at the airport and the little one was sedated and didn’t know what was coming but how would they go here?
Well, actually smoother than the smoothest. As usual, we printed out our luggage tags ourselves to avoid the check-in chaos and when we were somewhat confused looking for the entrance to the baggage claim, the staff came and opened the belt just for us, we with children should not have to stand in line. Up with the bags on the baggage belt but what do we do with the stroller? No problem, use your own throughout the airport and check it in at the gate, literally at the plane door. Happy in our hearts, we headed towards the security check and here too we were prioritized and referred to Fast track as we had the little one with us. When it was time to board the plane, they came out and picked us up with the stroller first of all, then those who had purchased Priority boarding were allowed to board. The airlines are happy to sell on Fast track, priority boarding and all that, but here, at Lisbon airport as a parent of young children, it is completely unnecessary to buy them, you get them automatically!
So how was traveling with children? Yes, they don’t get as crazy antics and adventures as I usually come up with and the pace is much calmer. In retrospect, I think we kept a bit of a fast pace at the beginning, even though we stayed in the same place for a couple of days before moving on, we were out discovering new things all the time, fun but incredibly tiring for the little one who soaks everything up like a sponge. We have also changed accommodation several times during the trip which has exceeded expectations, Airbnb delivers high class but even this is tiring and if anyone is going to do something similar I can’t emphasize enough to stay in the same place for at least a couple of days and keep in mind that their usual daytime rests will be longer to process all the impressions.
Portugal then? How was Portugal as a travel destination? Beautiful nature, good food and nice people. A very easy country to travel around even if you don’t speak Portuguese and my description of how we were treated at the airport above actually describes how the whole country has treated us with children. We even had a waiter offer to hold the little one so I could drink my coffee in peace and quiet. Now we were there during the low season and winter which means fewer tourists and relatively cold, how cold? Like a Swedish summer, sometimes 10 degrees, sometimes 26 but can I recommend going there? Absolutely!