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Tag: Portugal
Our Magnificent Around the World in 85 days
This is the story of our 85-day trip around the world going westward. We started our trip on September 28, 2022, and arrived home on December 21, 2022, in time for Christmas – 20 plane legs later. I hope you’ll join us on this journey, and you can join us on our adventures by going to DAY ONE or joining at any point by looking at the individual days listed to the right. You may have to scroll down a little. We’d miss travelling since Covid, but that wasn’t the reason. Last June, having turned 70 recently and seeing health…
Day 80 – The Beautiful Vila Nova de Milfontes, Portugal
It was our first decent weather day in over two weeks since we arrived in Europe. The bad news is that all the up-and-down walking on cobblestones and steps after more than 60 days has caused a lot of pain in my left knee. I’m afraid that my knee is entirely shot, and I am worried that another knee replacement will be required sooner rather than later in the future. I set an appointment with my doctor to see if I can get a referral for a specialist. We left Nazare and drove southward, circumventing Lisbon to reach the coast….
Day 79 – Nazaré, Portugal
Nazaré, Portugal, is a coastal gem that truly captured my heart with its stunning natural beauty and rich cultural vibes. Nestled on the Atlantic coast, this charming fishing village is famous for its giant waves, making it a haven for surfers worldwide. Watching them ride those massive swells is an exhilarating experience in itself! But Nazaré is more than just a surfing hotspot. The beaches are incredible, especially Praia do Norte, and the cliffs offer breathtaking views that make you feel like you’re on the world’s edge. It’s overcast today, but there’s no rain until dinner time. We walked around…
Day 77 – Bookstores and Afternoon Tea, Portugal
Our last day in Porto and the first few hours were without rain. We walked to the train station, a stone’s throw from our hotel. Then we went to the famous bookstore, La Livraria Lello. Because it’s become so popular, they charge five euros to get in. That amount can be used towards a book specifically. However, no book is under €15. Outside the bookstore, we stopped for a coffee and pastry; three seconds later, it started pouring rain. How advantageous for us. It continued to rain intermittently for the rest of the day, as is typical of what we’ve…
Day 75 – Porto, Portugal
Intermittent rain all day. We discussed parking at the front desk. Because we’re right in the core, the “special rate” is €23 a day. Because we stayed another three days, we were told about a parking lot, which is a 12-minute walk away and has a special rate of 72 hours for €20. That’s a savings of €50 so of course we decided to move the car We walked down towards the bridges and along to see the Se Do Porto before crossing the Ponte Dom Luisi to catch the cable car that would take us to Port Wine Cellars…
Day 74 – Amarante and Guimarães to Porto Portugal
We began today with a fantastic breakfast. Take a close look at the picture to see just what we had. It’s missing the fresh orange juice and coffee, which have yet to be delivered. And finally, the eggs that we chose not to have. Today was a full day of visiting two medieval towns on our drive to Porto. Amarante Amarante, Portugal, is a hidden gem that feels like a dream come true for anyone seeking a blend of natural beauty, rich history, and authentic charm. Nestled along the banks of the Tâmega River, this picturesque town captivated me…
Day 72 – Coimbra, Portugal
We woke up once again to another rainy day—and cold. Ricardo and Andrew have a beautiful, enormous home in the middle of nowhere. Ricardo and Andrew drove us into the University town of Coimbra. We walked through all the little pedestrian streets, which reminded us of Lisbon. We stopped off for an authentic Portuguese meal. Every Portuguese recipe “à Brás” uses onions, eggs, and straw potato. One of the most famous recipes of this style is Bacalhau à Brás, which Andrew and I had. Louise had beautifully grilled cod. Bacalhau à Lagareiro takes cod loins, chopped garlic, onion, olive oil…
Day 71 – Goodbye, Switzerland. Hello Portugal.
Goodbye, Switzerland. Hello Portugal. We are now on the home stretch, renting a car in Lisbon and rolling up to friends north towards Porto for a couple of nights. Christopher asked me a few days ago if I would do this trip again. Even if I didn’t know what a challenge it would be at times, I most definitely would. But would I do it again in the future? Probably not. I learned a few ways of doing it differently, but I think the following statistics speak for themselves. 20 different planes (one more to go). Six car rentals. 25…
