Describe who you are in 3 sentences: My name is Cristina Mantas and I work full time as a model. I'm a very passionate, hardworking and loving person. I believe in the small things making a difference and that what you put out in the universe returns to you.
What is your relation to this city?
My aunt (my dads sister) has lived here since I was about 7-8 years old, and I'm very close with that side of our family therefore I've spent a lot of my childhood and teenage years here and continue to come very often.
Best experience?
I have so many.. this summer I brought my best friend with me and getting to show her where my other home is was amazing.
Weirdest experience?
Portugal is known for having these deadly medusa jelly fish, but they usually never come that close to the beaches and especially not here, but one summer a few years back one of the beaches was filled with them. You could see them in the waves. Never happened again though. Very weird.
Your top 3 hangout spots?
The little beach next to the harbour, Hotel Albatroz (most amazing view) and House of Wonders.
Favourite restaurants?
Hotel Albatroz, House of Wonders and O Pescador.
Best date place?
Well it depends on what kind of dater you are haha. For me I'd rather get an ice cream and go for a walk on the beach than sit at some fancy restaurant.
Best Sunday spot?
The beach always. I would choose to lay on the cliffs somewhere because the beaches get really overcrowded on Sundays in July.
If you were to live in another place, where would that be and why?
I would live in Sintra I think. Because Sintra has this very special magical vibe. It's a mountain city, but the nature is out of this world. It's so cozy and very Portuguese. And besides that, you're so close to Cascais (ten minutes by car) and you have the most incredible beaches right behind the mountain.
Where is your escape place from this city?
Definitely Sintra.
Best 5 local advices?
1. Respect the ocean. Be very careful with the rocks, you can't see them and they are sharper than knives. Never dive unless you've checked for rocks.
2. Go to Cascais and walk past Santini ice cream shop and on to the next one right after and get yourself an avocado, açai and chocolate ice cream, repeat every day.
3. Put a thick layer of SPF 50 every hour because otherwise you will burn, the Portuguese sun is intense.
4. Even though you might not like fish, you have to try the Dourada and the sardines.
5. Between the beach and the harbour there's some huge cliff formations. Go sit on them and watch the sunset. It's worth it.
