Hello People Of Lisbon, I’m writing this on a Thursday evening, and I’ll make it a snappy one. It’s a funny time of year, isn’t it? I feel like we’re all just gently processing our way toward Christmas. Not that life is any less busy—if anything, it’s somehow more frantic—but still there’s that unmistakable sense in the air that 2025 is winding down. What’s even funnier is how many people have already leapt past the present and are deep into 2026. Someone I spoke to today told me they began planning their 2026 back in summer. Summer! Maybe life really is just one long exercise in planning ahead. Or maybe I’m trying to be philosophical here and failing miserably. Anyway… on with the newsletter.

After our landmark 200th episode of People Of Lisbon with Mayor Carlos Moedas, we wanted to bring the series back down to earth — to the everyday stories that make up the real fabric of this city. And who better to feature than a Bolt driver? We’ve long hoped to make a video about a taxi, Bolt, or Uber driver. They are the invisible backbone of Lisbon: picking us up, dropping us off, delivering our food, quietly stitching together the rhythm of the city. And yet we rarely stop to consider their lives — or how astonishingly low the fares often are here, sometimes to the point of guilt. Recently, during a short ride, I struck up a conversation with a Bolt driver and mentioned the idea of featuring him on People Of Lisbon. That driver was Khurram — and I’m so glad he said yes. The video we made together turned out incredibly sweet, full of warmth and quiet humanity. What doesn’t fully make the cut is just how passionate a world traveller Khurram is, and how that spirit is what ultimately brought him to Lisbon. In the video, he tells a remarkable story: how he once dismissed the COVID narrative, only to soon find himself fighting for his life on a ventilator. But what shines through the most isn’t the ordeal — it’s Khurram’s resilient, positive spirit, something we could all take a little inspiration from. Enjoy the video. If you want more of Khurram (and honestly, who wouldn’t?), you can dive into the much longer rough cut of the video here: Prefer to listen on the go? You can catch the audio-only podcast version on: 🍏 Apple Podcasts: 🎧 Spotify: And you really should follow Khurram on Instagram—his positivity is infectious: 📸 https://www.instagram.com/khurram.malik20/ Bits and Bobs No rhyme, no reason—just the usual quick thoughts, musings, and happenings from our world. First up: tomorrow is another Creative Mornings, and the special guest is Laura Korčulanin, speaking on this month’s theme, Innovation. Laura is the founder, steward, and all-round pioneering force behind Water Whisperer. Catch more on their Instagram: @creativemorningslisbon CreativeMornings Lisbon on Instagram: \"📣 Speaker Announcement … I’ll likely be there—so say hello if you spot me. Next: we’re having our Club People of Lisbon Christmas Dinner on December 15th at the beyond-fabulous Flores. This place is a must-see—like stepping into the coolest home you’ve ever been invited to, impeccably designed, and serving gorgeous food. The dinner is for Club People Of Lisbon members… but if you really, really, really want to come, DM me and we’ll see if we can make magic happen. For a more relaxed Christmas vibe, I’ve just decided we’ll have a Pre-Christmas Gathering on December 20th at Lapo. Sign up via our Meetup page or via the Tribe app. Speaking of gatherings—our incredible photographer Rita Ansone recently posted photos from our last club meetup, which featured conversations with Pictionary creator Rob Angel. You can check them out here. Recently we featured a musician on People Of Lisbon—he goes by the name Jazzafari. He has now released a Christmas song. And you’ve got to love it… In case you missed it: Portugal won the U17 World Cup in Qatar. And since we’re already on football—tomorrow (Friday) Benfica play Sporting in the giant Lisbon rivalry. And next week Italian champions Napoli come to Lisbon to play Benfica. Can you tell I like football? Moving on: these guys who frequently visit Lisbon are great… @siegfriedundjoy Siegfried & Joy on Instagram: \"Las Vegas in Lisbon! ✨\" Did everyone see the Lisbon Christmas lights being turned on? Absolutely incredible. OGMT Affordable Art Weekend is back! Discover original artworks by 30+ local and international artists. 🗓 Saturday 6 & Sunday 7 December 🕙 10:00–20:00 📍 O Gabinete de Madame Thao Cascais International Business Women is hosting a complimentary two-hour workshop to help you carve out time for your 2026 vision. 🗓 Tuesday, December 9th, 18:30 📍 Estoril Tennis Club And if you need another Christmas dinner, FoodiesLX is throwing their Christmas Community Dinner at In Bocca Al Lupo. 📅 Tuesday, December 9th 🕢 19:30–23:30 Sign up: https://luma.com/vlmsmrmx Okay… I’m just going to stop now. But not before thanking our sponsors — the wonderful folks who help keep People Of Lisbon rolling along: Practice Portuguese, making learning Portuguese a whole lot of fun. Moviinn, making relocation to Portugal a whole lot easier. And Tribe Social Club & App, bringing people together in real life. And if you want to support the cause, please consider joining Club People Of Lisbon. I genuinely think we’re building something special — a real community — and you should be part of it. But really, that’s quite enough. Have a great week. Stephen O’Regan Producer, People Of Lisbon