Not all cities are created equal.

If you’ve traveled at all, you will note that cities are like people in that they have varying characteristics, personalities, and quirks. The culture of a city goes beyond the city planning or physical attributes such as architecture and street layout; it is closely connected to its inhabits that eat, work, sleep, breathe, and live within its limits.

Lisbon (English for Lisboa) is a pretty incredible city.

After a red eye flight across the Atlantic, I was to eager to stretch my legs and wake myself up, quickly soaking up tips shared by fellow travelers I briefly met at the hostel during check-in.

And then I was off.

Like many cities in Europe, Lisbon is very walker-friendly. I set out down the main street (Avenue da Liberdade) heading towards the historical neighborhood of Alfama. It was a rather hot day, but the breeze coming from the water made the air feel at least five degrees (Fahrenheit) cooler. When I finally veered off of the main strip, I began to experience the true Lisbon: hills, cobblestone, and lots of steps.

So I walked, uphill and downhill, and then walked some more.

I had a general sense of direction based on my vicinity to the water, but there were quite a few times I got turned around. There were narrow streets, graffiti art, and laundry hanging out to dry near almost every window. I could hear locals laughing, calling to each other in Portuguese from their respective places of business. Tonight there would be a big party – The Sardine Festival – that would feature cook-outs, lots of sangria, neighborhood dancers competing in a parade, and, of course, sardines.

The upcoming festivities put a charge of excitement in the air that afternoon as I walked around the city.

It felt fun and authentic.

I was mesmerized by the people, both tourists and locals who seemed to merge into one, happy-go-lucky whole.

In the meantime, I took advantage of the intricate public transportation system, and rode a tram to check out old towers, modern monuments, and the lx factory, an artsy sector of Lisbon. By the time the street parties really started to break out, I was feeling the exhaustion of being up for too many hours.

But – I rallied!

Some new friends and I went to local hotspot to enjoy fish and sangria, marveling in the parade participants who were beginning to get lined up. When I finally stumbled back to my hostel around midnight, the parade was still in full swing. Young children were wide awake, watching with their families.

As I drifted off to sleep that night, I could faintly hear the roar of celebration from my cozy hostel bed.

Lisbon is a pretty incredible city.