In Lisbon in Us by Anna Maria Szostek, we’ll be introducing to a young Polish woman who has lived here for over a decade and has a very special relationship with this city. According to her, it was the light of Lisbon that saved her life… it’s worth reading!
Thank you for sharing your story with us, Anna!
The Light of Lisbon
I’ve been living in Lisbon since 2011, yet I’m still as enchanted by it as I was on my very first day. I’m originally from Poland and was studying Portuguese Language and Culture at the University of Warsaw when I heard about the Erasmus Programme. I decided to take part and came here as a student (at Universidade Católica), an experience that opened the doors to a new life.
If someone had told me back then that I would end up living in this sunlit city, working side by side with the Portuguese, and spending weekends by the sea, I would have thought it improbable. Yet, here I am, living and loving my Lisbon.I arrived during a rather difficult time in my private life. I often say that when I came to Portugal, I tucked my broken heart between the cobblestones and moved forward. I noticed that Lisbon has an almost inconceivable light, a light that fills the soul. I believe it was this light that saved my life.
Working in Lisbon gave me the chance to dive deep into the local culture. In my early years here, I worked in the restaurant field, where I learned about the richness of Portuguese cuisine.
Today, I share my passion for the city and the country through posts on my blog The Lisboner and other social media channels, as well as through guides and photographs, trying to capture the essence of a complex and fascinating place. My website became so successful in Poland that, between 2019 and 2020, I wrote and published a travel guide about Portugal.
In the meantime, I started receiving requests to organize tours in Lisbon, and thus began my journey as a guide. During private tours for small groups, I show the city, talk about its cultural complexity, its people, history, and gastronomic wealth.
Lisbon is much more than the postcards so many people know. Of course, the 28 tram, fado, and pastéis de Belém are unmissable icons, but the city I see and live in goes far beyond that. It’s made of things and people that have captivated me and shaped my relationship with it: the aroma of coffee on the corners, the light, the carefree conversations on any terrace, the scent of jasmine, the colour of the jacarandas, and the hills which, though challenging, offer breathtaking views.
My connection with Lisbon is not just geographical; it’s also cultural and emotional. Here, I adopted new habits: I celebrate the slowness of long lunches, toasts with red wine at dinner parties with friends, and even the little grumbles about the persistent dampness of winter.
More than just a place to live, Lisbon has become a space of learning and personal transformation. Over the years, I’ve learned to explore Lisbon as a constant traveler within my own home. I love getting lost in its winding streets, camera in hand, far from the traditional tourist routes. These wanderings reveal a more authentic side of the city, full of quiet alleys, weathered tiles, and secrets that only the attentive can uncover.
Lisbon has taught me to value the present, the magic of the here and now. And even after more than a decade, I continue to uncover new layers of this city, which never ceases to amaze me. Lisbon is my home, but also my constant starting point for dreams and discoveries. Who knows what else it has in store for me?
| Lisbon in Us by Anna Maria Szostek | |
|---|---|
| Mini introduction | Polish writer and explorer. She has been living in Lisbon since 2011. With a degree in Iberian and Ibero-American Studies and a master’s in Portuguese Culture, she speaks four languages fluently. Author of a travel guide to Portugal published in Poland by Pascal publisher. In her free time, she writes, translates, explores, and photographs Lisbon. She seeks balance at the intersection of various cultures. Author of the blog The Lisboner Instagram: thelisboner |
| An inspiring place | Graça Neighbourhood with its workers’ villages, viewpoints and restaurant. |
| An unmissable visit | Estrela Garden |
| Her mouth waters with… | Arroz de cabidela (chicken rice with chicken blood and vinegar) at Cantinho de São José or Seafood Rice at Penalva da Graça |
| A song… | Portas do Sol by Nena |
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