Portugal won me over with its dramatic coastline, beautiful old cities, delicious food, and endless opportunities to get outside and explore. Our first visit was a multi-sport adventure that took us hiking through the forests of Sintra, climbing the walls of a medieval Moorish castle, cycling along the coast near Cascais, and even trying our hand at surfing.
Of course, we worked up quite an appetite along the way! Portugal's seafood is fantastic, and we happily indulged in everything from enormous shellfish feasts to grilled octopus, with plenty of pastéis de nata in between.
But as wonderful as Portugal was, the people we met made the trip even more memorable. Our guide, Jorge, was fascinating, delightfully woo-woo, and brought his own unique flavor to every adventure. We became lasting friends with Brad and Leslie, a wonderful couple from Duluth who later came to visit us in Little Rock. And in Sintra, we met Colum and Ellie, a sweet young Irish couple. Colum, a gifted storyteller and tour guide in Northern Ireland, captivated us with the legend of the Giant's Causeway and planted the seed for a future visit. We're actually trying to track him down now!
We explored Lisbon, Sintra, Cascais, and Porto, but there's still so much of Portugal we haven't seen. It's one of those countries that makes me want to return, slow down, and discover a little more each time. Fortunately, we're already planning our next visit!
The places I've been, the people I've met, and the stories I've collected along the way.
Our Portugal Adventure We just returned from a multi-sport adventure in Portugal, where we hiked, biked, surfed, and explored a small part of this beautiful country. We found a screaming deal on Left Lane Sports for a small group tour through KB Tambo Travel, so we...
View from the summit of this trail in Sintra-Cascais National Park, Portugal
Near Cabo de Roca, the westernmost point in Europe. Near Sintra, Portugal.
Baia de Peixe; Cascais, Portugal
Lisbon, Portugal
Cascais, Portugal
One of the best spots for Pasteis de Nata; Lisbon, Portugal
In commemoration of the Carnation Revolution of 1974
These are amazing beef sandwiches. Lisbon, Portugal
Who is she??? I cannot find her identity. Porto, Portugal
Sintra, Portugal
Ginghina, or Ginja, is a Portuguese liqueur made from sour cherries and served in an edible chocolate cup.
Cascais, Portugal
Near Sintra, Portugal
Sintra, Portugal
Porto, Portugal
Portuguese grilled octopus at Taverna des Trovadores near Sintra, Portugal
Trains in Portugal are plentiful and easy to navigate
And coffee at the Coffee Museum; Santos, Brazil
From the Moorish Castle
Near Sintra, Portugal
Typical tourist snack, Lisbon, Portugal
Pink Street in the Cais de Sodro neighborhood in Lisbon’s center of night life.
Sintra, Portugal
Near Sintra, Portugal
Basically Cod Fritters; Lisbon, Portugal
Porto, Portugal
Created by Raoul Mesnier du Ponsard, a student of Gustave Eiffel
Near SIntra, Portugal
