Finally, the time has come, and we are at the Surf and BootCamp Week in Portugal. It is so wonderful to see how a spontaneous idea, that I had last year during a stay in Lisbon, could motivate so many people. At that time, we got to know Carlos, a highly experienced surfing instructor from Carcavelos, and all details were ironed out quite swiftly.
Today, 15 participants enjoy athletic hours in the mornings, surfing, cross fit, sun, beach, music, culture, cocktails & beach parties as well as relaxing dinners, along with the Portuguese way of living.
Each one of us was able to get up on the board for at least a little bit after the first waves, and thus experienced the feeling of surfing. The morning hours are spent with Bootcamps, CrossFit, running sessions, Core Training and Yoga – exactly the right warm-up for strength and stability on your board. But we also felt some tired muscles after the first couple of days, less based on excessive partying and more as even the most athletic among us were not used to these very different movements during surfing. Being part of it all is our motto and everyone can participate, not depending on any fitness level.
Above all, we are having a lot of fun with amazing participants and a wonderful surf crew who instructs us in the best way with lots of patience and sense of humor.
Our excursion to Lisbon was blessed with a packed itinerary. First, we began with a CrossFit Training at Crossfit Rato and after some refreshments in Lisbon’s old town with a view above the city, we continued with a sightseeing tour and a tuk-tuk ride. We stopped for lunch at Chiado in one of my favorite restaurants, the Wiener Kaffeehaus which was created by two young Austrians a couple of years ago. It might be a little faux pas to order a Melange or a Wiener Schnitzel or an Apple Strudel in Portugal, but the coffee and food are absolutely fabulous and the ambience is so relaxing. I can highly recommend their breakfast, too.
For the evening, we had planned a relaxed end of day in one of my favorite places in Lisbon, the Largo du Carmo, at a small kiosk in the middle of the square, where tourists and locals alike meet for a cocktail. Then we continued for dinner around the corner, to one of my favorite restaurants, the Cafe Buones Aires. A perfect and fun evening that we concluded early enough to start our bike tour along the coast from Cascais to Guincho the next day. A wonderful tour with amazing views along the coastal road.
This is how our days pass and will continue this week, and we are already planning the next vacation going South for more joint trips and offers in the coming year.
