Évora, Mérida, Madrid: Chasing Ancient Rome

Fleeing the Storm to Évora 🌧️

Escaping the heavy rains of Lisbon, I hopped on a Flixbus and landed in Évora. By 9:00 PM, the city was draped in a deep, quiet peace. The architecture caught my eye immediately: white walls, red roofs, and bright yellow trim. It actually reminded me of the traditional houses in Tibet! 🏘️

I went looking for the famous Chapel of Bones (Capela dos Ossos), but the lights were off. In the dark, the city took on a slightly eerie, “heresy-style” vibe that was a bit chilling! 👻

Bones, Temples, and… Hail? 🦴

The next morning brought beautiful weather. I visited the Roman Temple of Evora 🏛️ before heading back to the Bone Chapel. Built with bones from the Black Death era, the chapel is intended to help visitors find peace with mortality. Today, it’s half-church, half-museum, featuring a rooftop platform with a stunning panoramic view of the city. 🏰

As I left, the weather turned on a dime. I expected rain, but I got hail instead! 🌨️ I arrived at the bus station soaking wet, just as the sun decided to come back out.

Travel Tip: The tarts in Evora are a must-try! Unlike the Lisbon version, they use yogurt, making them incredibly creamy. I’m not sure if it was the yogurt or the post-storm hunger, but they were the best I’ve had. 🥧😋

The “Old Spain” Filter 🎞️ Crossing into Spain felt like a scene change in a movie. The “blue storm” vibe of Portugal vanished, replaced by the warm, red-and-yellow nostalgia of a vintage film. I arrived in Mérida, once the capital of the Roman province of Lusitania. Roman relics are everywhere—it’s like an open-air museum! 🏛️

Mérida is also incredibly budget-friendly. I had two full meals at the train station café for under €10 total. Plus, the bathroom there was free—a small but huge win for any traveler! 💰🙌

The AI Betrayal in Madrid 🤖🏾 Of course, it wouldn’t be a trip without a little chaos. My train to Madrid was 30 minutes late, but the real trouble started at the metro station. I asked an AI if I was on the right platform; it gave me a confident “Yes.”

Halfway through the ride, I realized I was heading the complete opposite direction! When I confronted the AI, it “apologized” and directed me to a transfer station… that didn’t actually allow transfers. 🤦‍♂️ After a long detour, I finally made it to my hostel an hour late.