São Bento Railway Station

There’s something about a train ride that feels different from every other kind of travel. No security lines, no turbulence, no seat belts, no rush from passsengers attempting to board faster than anyone else.  It is a fluid process, steady, quiet, and oddly comfortable.

This morning, we left Lisbon behind—the  hills, the tiled buildings, its constant reminder that “flat” is not an option—and we settled into our seats headed north to Porto.

What I love about trains——out the window, you get to catch a glimpse of real life. Laundry hanging in the breeze. Men sitting outside cafés. Farmers and animals, a woman walking a narrow path with purpose, something that has been done a thousand times before. It’s not staged, it is real.

4 hours of reflection time, 4 hours to watch and think. The experience prior to boarding was a bit stressful. No guidance…it actually forced us to communicate—-to ask for help—-to experience the human factor. And—-we did it!So, we made it! We checked in and we began our investigation of a new city—new hills, new challenges.