The Night Train to Lisbon – Part 2: Sunrise on the Tagus
Travel & Outdoors·EN·2 min read·Published 2026-11-07, updated 2026-11-07·Part 2 of 2
He woke her at six with a cup of tea.
"The river," he whispered.
She climbed down, rumpled and blinking, and followed him into the corridor. The window was wide and clear, and beyond it the Tagus stretched out, broad and silver, flowing toward the Atlantic. The sun had just lifted over the hills, setting the water on fire. Fishing boats floated like dark birds. Pale villages clung to the banks.
"Oh," breathed Elena.
"I told you."
"You didn't say it would be this."
"I didn't know. I've never taken the night train."
"You said you travelled for work."
"By plane. Cheap." He grinned. "But I wanted to see what you were going to."
She laughed, startled and warm. They stood at the window together, shoulder to shoulder, with the rocking of the train and the smell of tea. The light poured over them, and the fields flashed by in green and gold.
"Can I ask you something?" said Elena.
"Yes."
"When we arrive, what happens?"
"I play my concert. Tomorrow evening. At a little bar in Alfama."
"May I come?"
"I was hoping you would."
"And after?"
"After," said Gabriel, "if you wanted, there's a sunrise in Lisbon too."
Her heart turned over. "May I kiss you, Gabriel?"
"Yes," he said. "And if you say stop, you must sing the chorus."
"I can't sing."
"That's the punishment."
She kissed him, tea-warm and soft, a hand on his denim jacket. He kissed her back, slow and gentle, the guitar case forgotten against his leg. The train rounded a curve and the whole river flashed past in a blaze of light.
When they parted, both of them were smiling.
"Green?" he asked.
"Green," said Elena. "Very green."
The conference was dull. The concert was wonderful. She stayed for the sunrise, and the one after, and on the train home she had two seats.
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