LYS & LINDS

Lisbon, Portugal

Positives: The Tuk-Tuk tour was a total game-changer. With these hills, trying to walk the whole city on day one would have been ambitious, but zipping through the narrow alleys in an open-air electric cart was a blast. The views from the Miradouro da Senhora do Monte gave us the perfect layout of the city and the sparkling Tagus River.

Challenges: Griffin was not wanting to do anything today, but luckily there was a kids club so he stayed at the hotel for the afternoon. Gabriel Mommy & Mama decided to explore and have lunch and rode the Tram 28- however, the tram hit a car so there was a delay. Luckily we were able to get up the steep hills and enjoy! Also Mommy Lindsay had a bloody lip the whole day.

Best Meal: We had an unforgettable lunch at Chapitô à Mesa, the famous circus school restaurant. Eating while overlooking the rooftops of Lisbon with the Tejo River in the background was spectacular. Our ramen dinner was good too. We also got gelato…twice!

Fun Fact: Lisbon is one of the oldest cities in the world, predating other modern European capitals like London, Paris, and even Rome by centuries. It was settled by the Phoenicians around 1200 BC, who called it "Allis Ubbo," or "Delightful Shore."

Daily Reflection: February 20, 2026

Positives: The Leonardo3 Museum was a huge hit. After seeing The Last Supper earlier this week, getting to interact with the 3D reconstructions of his machines—like the "Mechanical Lion" and the flying machine—really brought his sketches to life for all of us.

Challenges: Saying goodbye to Italy is always a challenge! We all wanted to sleep longer but had to check out and store our luggage. The Duomo area was very busy and Griffin was very grumpy and tired. Bedtime also was difficult.

Best Meal: We had a memorable final lunch at I Dodici Gatti (The 12 Cats). It’s a bit of a "hidden" gem tucked away on the rooftops of the Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II. The pizza was top-tier, but the real star was the view over the glass domes of the Galleria. Being able to sit above the crowds for one last meal was special. No cat sightings though.

Fun Fact: The restaurant we ate at today is named after the colony of twelve black cats that traditionally live on the rooftops of the Galleria. The restaurant actually helps care for them, keeping a Milanese tradition alive right above the luxury shops!

Milano Exploring and Gold Medal Herstory

Positives: The energy at the Canada vs. USA game was unmatched. There is no rivalry quite like it in sports, and being there for the Gold Medal match felt like witnessing history. We got to see the athletes lodging area in Porta Romano and checked out Bar Luce, a Wes Anderson designed cafe.

Challenges: It was a bit frustrating getting everyone going and finding a dinner spot before the game. There was a lot of resistance to eating what was offered and welp, it was a day to say the least. Also the snacks and food at the game weren’t wanted for a second night in a row by the littlest…but hot cocoa helped.

Best Meal: We started the day with an incredible breakfast at Floof (the pancakes were a hit with everyone!). We ended it on a high note with an incredible dinner at Armani Ristorante, who welcomed us early and we left just in time to catch the gold medal game! The food was top notch and they had mini olive oil trees and oils on each table. Delicious!

Fun Fact: Bar Luce, where the kids played pinball Tod ay, was actually designed by film director Wes Anderson. He intended it to be a space where he would want to spend his own afternoons writing, recreating the atmosphere of a typical Milanese cafè with a 1950s/60s pop-culture twist.