With Love, from Lisbon
Shot by Josh Kobayashi | Model Britany | Location Lisbon, Portugal | Medium 35mm Film Photography
Our story with Lisbon began back in 2022. To be completely honest, we didn’t have some grand plan or deep-rooted reason for choosing Portugal — it was simply the most affordable European destination to fly to from our home in Toronto. But sometimes, life’s best chapters begin with something as simple as that: a cheap flight and an open heart.
It didn’t take long for Lisbon to win us over. The tiled streets that shimmer in the afternoon sun, the way locals greet you with effortless warmth, the pastel colors that seem to hum with nostalgia — everything about the city felt both new and familiar all at once.
But let’s focus on Lisbon itself — because this city deserves its own story.
Is it perfect? No. But then again, where is? What Lisbon offers isn’t perfection, but personality — a raw, lived-in charm that makes you feel something.
Over the years, we’ve realized our growing attachment to Lisbon stems from something deeper than just travel. It’s tied to our dream of eventually leaving Toronto behind for a slower, sunnier, more soulful lifestyle. Every time we travel, we find ourselves subconsciously measuring each city on a scale of livability — climate, culture, currency, cuisine, and everything in between.
And Lisbon, somehow, keeps scoring high on every front.
The weather alone feels like an invitation to live more outdoors. The food is simple but rich in flavor, the kind that makes you rethink what “good ingredients” really mean. The culture is vibrant yet unpretentious, blending history and modernity in a way that feels balanced rather than forced.
After visiting several times, we’ve started to find our rhythm here — the local cafés that remember our orders, the neighborhoods where we love to wander aimlessly, the friends who make Lisbon feel a little less like a destination and a little more like home. There’s something beautiful about returning to a city that begins to recognize you back.
And here’s our perhaps unpopular opinion: Lisbon is one of the most romantic cities in the world. Yes, right up there with Paris in the spring and New York at Christmas. There’s an intimacy to Lisbon that’s hard to describe — the cobblestone alleyways that twist and turn like secrets, the sunset viewpoints where time seems to pause, the soft chatter spilling from bistro-style restaurants under string lights. It’s a city that whispers “love” without ever trying too hard.
If we had to name one real challenge, though — it’s the language. Portuguese, beautiful as it is, doesn’t come easy. We’ve picked up the essentials, enough to get by and to make the locals smile, but fluency is still a work in progress. It’s a challenge we’re happy to take on — a way of deepening our connection to a place that already feels so meaningful.
So, if you’re considering a trip to Lisbon — take this as your sign. Go. Wander. Get lost in its hills, its light, its rhythm. You might just find, like we did, that Lisbon isn’t just a place you visit. It’s a place that quietly makes its way into your heart.
With love,
From Lisbon.