Belém Tower: Beauty, Boredom, and the Wait

Everyone posts the same photo of Belém Tower—sunlight, water, maybe a pastel de nata in hand. I stood in line for 40 minutes, watching couples take turns pretending to be interested in the history. When it was finally my turn, I climbed the narrow stairs, dodged elbows, and stared out at the river. It was beautiful, but I felt nothing. Maybe it’s the crowds, or maybe it’s the pressure to feel something big at every landmark. But sometimes, the most honest thing you can admit is that a place is just a place, and you’re still you, waiting for something to click. I left with the same photo as everyone else, but I never posted it. #TravelHonesty #TouristFatigue #LisbonTruths #Travel