*Jamie, 27- Lisbon Lover: Part I
Pros:
SO funny and goofy
Super attractive (Blonde surfer vibe)
Insane chemistry
Really nice
Knows good restaurants
Organic connection
Amazing dancer
Cons:
Kind of young
Alright people. I’ve made you wait long enough.
I promised you a good, juicy blog that would be worth the wait. And this is it.
This is the story, of how I met… my Lisbon Lover. That has a nice ring to it doesn’t it? Gotta love some good alliteration. (This will be a multi-part story, so bare with me on the details.)
Okay so let’s start from the beginning. I had to go to Italy this past summer for a friends wedding, and I decided to make a little Eurotrip out of it. I had already told my job at the time that I probably wouldn’t stay more than a year, so I quit and left. No really, I did. (This will become relevant later on, trust me. Although I do tend to go on pointless tangents sometimes, but… whatever!) I made plans to meet up with one of my best friends (Tiff) in Lisbon. The only problem was that she could only come for like 2 and a half days, and I already booked an Airbnb for 5 days… f*ck! I really didn’t wanna be there alone. I mean, I’m a seasoned traveler, but I just feel like that’s boring. And lowkey can get a lil sketchy if you’re a girl. I tried so hard to get other friends in Europe to meet up with me, but it was August, and most of them had just gotten back from long vacations and were back at work already. Wellllll Shyttt (Leslie Jordan voice)- looks like I’m gonna be alone in Lisbon.
Anyway, the two and half days I had with Tiff were fabulous. We spent the days walking around, eating, doing tuktuk tours, eating more, shopping, flexing on the gram, and just having some quality girl time. Lisbon is truly an amazing, amazing city… probably one of my favorites now. Everything just felt… slower… more romantic. On a Sunday around 5 pm we stumbled across a little square where people were just dancing. Like DAAAANCING, dancing. It was so impressive, I was mesmerized. I couldn’t identify a specific style of dance, but it was… something between a salsa and a rumba. It had the playfulness and energy of a salsa, but the intense sensuality and passion of the rumba. It was f*cking hot! The best way I can describe it, is the couples made two bodies move like one. And it was everyone- old people, young people… they were all just doing their thing. Tiff and I head home to get ready for our last dinner together. She was leaving mid-day the next day, and I was sooooo dreading it. I was so worried I was gonna be bored out of my mind just walking around alone. So we decided if we found any normal people around the city that didn’t seem like murderers, we would try to make friends with them- so I would have someone to hang out with when she left (LOL).
The next morning we went to get a cute little brekky at this place called “Dear Breakfast.” Our waiter was super nice, and may have had a little crush on me. (He kept like squatting on the floor to talk to me and wouldn’t do it with anyone else). He had a trip planned to America in a few months and was asking me all these questions.
Tiff: “He seems nice!! And normal!!”
… He mostly felt non-threatening, which was the most important thing. So we told him that Tiff had a flight later that day, and I would still be there, and it would be great to have a friend in the city. (Okay- in hindsight, idk if it’s a good idea to tell strangers in a foreign country that you’re gonna be alone and totally kidnappable. I maybe should have just said I would be down to meet up. BUT- I didn’t want to make it seem like I was into him!! I really was just looking for a friend because my friend was leaving!) Anyway, he was SO excited. He was like, “Sure! We can go for dinner if you want!?” And I was like “Yeah, that would be awesome!” I mean… locals know all the best spots.
And just like that, I had a “date” with the waiter.…
And that waiter was ………. Jamie.
Jk, no it wasn’t LOL!
Okay sorry, I couldn’t resist. So this waiter (Nick), tells me he’ll pick me up at 9. Cool, at least I have something to look forward to. Around 8:30 I’m already ready and I decide to go on a walk… take in the ~ambiance of the city. It was a Monday but the streets were buzzing. I texted Nick and told him he could pick me up from wherever I was on my walk.
N: “I just left Sintra, I’m running a little late”
Sintra? Okay.. that’s like a 30 min drive, not too terrible.
Me: “No worries, take your time, I’m just exploring!"
I’m not stressed or pressed about it at this point. I’m chilling. People watching. I stopped at a little bar to get a Margarita and sat at a small table on the sidewalk. I look at the time and it’s 9:20… Hm… Okay a bit late, but not the end of the world.
Right over my head there’s this bar with all these little balconies. It was packed, I was curious. So I walk into the restaurant next door and asked where the stairs are. Apparently even though it’s literally sitting right on top of the restaurant, it’s an entirely different bar, with an entirely different entrance. I have to go up a street and cross a bridge to get there. What the f*ck!? Okay that’s a lot of work… but, this guy is running late and I have time to burn. And I really wanted to get on the balcony and see the view from there. So I get to the bar, (looking cute AF because I was supposed to be going to a nice place for dinner), and I realize… IT’S A SPORTS BAR. Oh my God I thought it was gonna be a bougie bar with cute balconies, but no- its like a pub with cute balconies…. Ugh…
I’m like way overdressed for this place, and there weren’t that many girls there anyway. Whatever, I crossed a freaking bridge to get here, I’m getting on that damn balcony. There were a few balconies, but I picked a random one and pushed my way past all the guys standing around smoking.
Me: “Scuse me! Sorry.. Can I just… Yeah.. I just wanna get a picture of the view”…
Turns out there’s absolutely no view. It’s facing a bunch of taller buildings.
I should have seen that coming.
But I already had my phone out so like…. I just took a few pictures??……?? :/ idk…
One of the guys on the balcony asked me if I was alone or what I was doing there or something… I can’t remember exactly what he asked. But I remember telling him I was meeting up with someone for dinner, but they were running late.
He was cute. Blonde wispy hair, sun kissed tan, these honey gold eyes (I’ve actually never seen his eye color on anyone else before), really nice smile. Oh- and a beautiful nose. I really love and appreciate a good nose. He had like a surfer vibe. Lighthearted, a bit silly, relaxed. I thought he was Australian at first. But he didn’t have an Australian accent… American? He was speaking perfect English. Like he could have been from Colorado or California…. are you getting the vibe? But no, there was like a little British accent in there.
And that guy… in the random bar… on the random balcony…. was Jamie.
J: So your date is late?
Me: It’s not really a date … Honestly my friend left this morning and I made friends with my waiter (laughing). I just wanted someone to show me where to get good food.
I think he asked me where I was from and how I was liking Lisbon. He told me about the road trip he did in America with his friends. You know, regular small talk.
Me: What about you? Where are you from?
J: Me? I’m from here
… (huh)
Me: Oh, ahaha I wasn’t expecting that. I was trying to figure out the accent.
J: Yeah, I’m half Scottish half Portuguese, but I grew up here. But I always went to British schools and then went to college in the UK. And then I was working there but my company moved me here for my clients.
Ohhh… well this makes sense. The whole convo lasted like 5 minutes. Nick texted me saying he was getting close so I told Jamie I was gonna go down and wait for him.
J: If you wanna get lunch tomorrow I can show you a good place
Me: Wait actually!? Yeah that would be awesome
We exchanged numbers (as per my timestamps on Whatsapp, I texted him at 9:29: “Nayomi” so he had my number), and I went back down to the little table on the sidewalk I was sitting at before.
I’m sitting there looking at the time, and its 9:34… 9:34!!!!! Listen, I’ve told you guys before, I’m on CPT (caramel princess time). I’m not gonna be that mad if someone is 10-15 minutes late…. 20 mins…. mmm probs show up soon. 30 mins- You better come with an apology, but I can forgive… but FOURTY MINUTES. FOUR-ZERO!?! You don’t keep a girl waiting 40 minutes!!
Me: 9:34: “If this guy doesnt show up in 5 mins I’m stealing you and making you show me where to get some good food (laughing emoji)”
J: 9:34: “Sounds good to me (dying laughing emoji)”
Me: 9:40: “LETS GOOOOO”
J: 9:42: “Hahahaha yesss. Come here and we’ll go”
I went back to the bar and met up with him. He said bye to his friends and we left. (His friends were all smirking- I mean come on, their boy pulled).
But I have to be totally honest, at this point I wasn’t thinking of anything romantic. Don’t get me wrong, he was super attractive, but I have a looooot of insanely good looking guy friends. Who I’m very, very close with. So platonic friendships with good looking guys isn’t that unusual for me. (It’s not even a flex, it’s just the truth). I think I also just had my guard up since I was in a new place alone…. ya know…
So my (dumb) ass, is really going into this like Woo! Fun new friend.
Anyway, I’m following his lead and we walk to two restaurants. It’s like 10 pm now but both are totally packed.
J: Okay there’s another place that’s really good. Best seafood, but nothing fancy. Paper on table- that’s how you know it’s good authentic Portuguese food.
Me: Okay that sounds literally amazing, I die for seafood.
J: But we have to Uber or take a scooter to get there.. what do you prefer?
……… Uhhhhh…. Scooter obviously!! Hello Lizzie Mcguire!!
I was scared out of my mind, hoping this stranger wouldn’t accidentally kill me. But I did it for the plot.
It was actually so fun, zipping around the city, holding on to him for dear life. We get to the restaurant (Marisqueira do Lis), and he doesn’t even need to look at the menu.
J: “I come here all the time with my friends. Is there anything you don’t like?
Me: “Nope, I trust you”
He orders us some white wine, octopus salad, clams with lemon, and the most heavenly shrimp in this butter/garlic sauce. (And you dip the best bread in the sauce, and oh my God it’s …….. orgasmic).
So we start chatting and, my God- he’s funny. Really, really funny. I had my guard up and it was just like crumbling down. I don’t remember everything we talked about but I remember laughing a lot. I do remember talking about how much adulting sucks. How we just keep getting older, but not feeling older. But then we get more responsibilities, and we’re like aahhh… I wasn’t prepared for this. I think we were both trying to gauge how old the other was. I thought he was in his early 30’s (chefs kiss)… like 31/32, maybe 33… but then he said 27. Eek.
That just killed my boner.
Okay whatever, we’re the same age, not a big deal. And I wanted a friend anyway.
Anyway, he was saying how he has these two administrative things he’s been putting off forever- just one of those annoying adult things you have to do, that you really don’t want to do. I’m like, I totally get it. I’m so good at doing admin stuff for other people but drag my feet for myself.
Me: Okay if you want, I’ll help you get them done
J: Really?? That would be a huge weight off my shoulders
Me: Yeah! Let’s do it
J: Okay if you come over tomorrow and help me, I’ll treat you to lunch
M: Perfect! That sounds like a fair deal to me.
We literally high fived lol. Cool, I had plans to see my cute new friend the next day. That’s exciting. (But also, no pressure, since this wasn’t a date.)
To end our meal he ordered us this almond liquor digestif (I think it’s called Amêndoa Amarga). We shared one since I wasn’t sure if I’d like it. He said it was a pretty common thing to have after a meal there. I liked that he was giving me a bit of a cultural lesson. I watched him squeeze a lemon into it.
He has nice hands…… hm…
We got the bill and I insisted on splitting. He said it was fine, but I really, really insisted. (Which should tell you how much I was not considering it a date!!!) I mean, it’s not like he invited me out, I basically told him to get dinner with me. And I didn’t want him to think it was a date, or think I owed him anything. Again, guard was a bit up.
We left the restaurant totally stuffed, and a little tipsy… still laughing. And had the most traditional European dessert ever- a cigarette.
J: So what do you want to do? Do you want to go home? I can call you an Uber. You can come to my place?
Me: Ohh uhhh…..ummm…. yeahh…I dOnT rEalLy dO ThAt….
Okay I think from my previous blogs it’s kind of clear that I actually don’t do that. On one side, I didn’t actually want to go back to my Airbnb and be alone. I was having so much fun with him. But I also didn’t want him to think I was just just gonna go back to his place to hook up.
J: I mean that’s fine we can just hang out. I have Netflix. Netflix and chill (haha)
Me: Okay, but if I come over, nothings gonna happen okay. We’re just gonna hang out. Are you good with that?
(Famous last words)
He laughed and said “Yeah of course.” Respectful but flirty.
So we Uber to his place in Alfama, the old town of Lisbon. The building was old and beautiful. His apartment was super nice. Okay I was kind of impressed, I’ll admit it. He poured me a glass of wine and we sat in his kitchen drinking, smoking, and talking. (I was on vacation-don’t come for me about the cigs).
Me: So half Scottish half Portuguese… how’d that happen? How’d your parents meet?
J: My mom was on vacation actually
…………………………………………………..
………….
Am I absolutely mental to notice the little parallel? Is that psycho, or would that thought also have run through your mind? That might be an embarrassing confession that should have stayed in my head… but this whole blog is basically an embarrassing confession, so-
He asked me if I wanted to watch something. Yes, I wanted to just sit on a comfortable couch, but I ate so much and was wearing high waisted jeans-my organs were suffocating.
Me: Yeah, but do you have anything comfortable I can change into?
He gave me an oversized t-shirt and joggers. I changed and then sat on the complete opposite end of the couch. Yes, now I understand that I was giving really mixed messages.
We scroll through Netflix (as one does). Oh- a cat documentary. That looks… interesting….
He tells me he lovessss cats. We start the docu and he starts telling me all about his cat.
J: Yeah rude boy Gianluigi…….
Me: What
J: Yeah my cat, rude boy Gianluigi
Me: Shut up…that’s not your cats name
J: Well it’s Gianluigi but he goes by rude boy Gianluigi
I……. BURST out laughing. Oh my God. This guy is crazy. That’s the funniest thing I’ve ever heard.
He showed me a video from when he went to his mom’s house (where rude boy lives).
J: Ay rude boy, gimme some luv bruv
RBG: Meow (with a little fist bump)
I can’t stop laughing. So we’re watching the documentary and he just keeps giving the funniest commentary ever. There was a scene where they’re talking about a cat who’s a little diva, and always puts on a show when there’s a camera around. Jamie just starts screaming “VEGASSS BABYY” at the TV. Why is he so entertaining… He’s just a really fun person to be around. So obviously we’re half talking and half watching. The guard has fully crumbled at this point. There was no guard left. I just felt… comfortable.
Obviously the gap between us on the couch was getting smaller and smaller. Whenever I feel like guys want something from me, I usually tense up and get kinda closed off. But the opposite was happening. I didn’t feel any awkward pressure, it just felt organic and natural. Of course, there’s always that tiny bit of nervousness/excitement right before you kiss someone for the first time. I had gotten way closer to him on the couch. The gap between us became nonexistent. I think I was like leaning on him, and he had his arm over me. I mean you could feel the tension… Like at this point the whole friends thing went out the window. It was really just a matter of who was gonna make the first move. I sat up and faced him since we were talking. About what… I don’t know. That’s a blur. I was probably just thinking “omg he’s so hot.” But of course, he said something to make me laugh (my personal kryptonite), and we just got closer and closer... You know when you can literally feel the heat off of someone’s face.
And then he leaned in and kissed me.
It was nice. It was really nice. The kiss turned into a couch make out sesh. And the couch make out sesh turned into… uhhhh… dancing. And he was a great dancer.
So we danced, and danced, and danced…. all. night. long.
And then again in the morning.
Dating 101 Key Take Aways:
1) The best things happen when you least expect it.
2) Leave room for spontaneity. If I had found another friend to meet up with me and I wasn’t alone, I wouldn’t have had this little adventure.
TO BE CONTINUED…..
*Note: Nick did text and call me many times to apologize and still try to meet up, but I said it was totally fine and I already met up with a friend. Honestly, my night turned out way better.
