In the center of Portugal, off the beaten path of the big cities, beaches and tourist spots, sits a pure treasure. The schist villages of Portugal dot the mountain sides and breathtaking landscapes of this region and are a great place to take a break from the normal tourist destinations. These historic villages were created …
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Those of you planning to take that dream vacation to Portugal this year should consider taking a day or two to experience a private tour with an expert tour guide. Sounds kind of strange coming from us who love to wander around, yes? But sometimes, we enjoy a great tour, especially with a knowledgable guide. …
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Alcobaça is a charming little town located about 100km north of Lisbon and a perfect place to drop in on your way to Nazaré (15 km away) or Leira as you roam further north. It is mostly famous for the Monastery of Alcobaça but there is more to do in this little town. Alcobaça is …
Located 1 hour and 40 minutes outside of Lisbon in the heart of the Alentejo region is Évora, an incredibly well-preserved medieval city, one of the oldest cities in Portugal. Évora has one of the best-preserved and most atmospheric towns in Portugal, with winding narrow streets and historic monuments that make this an easy day …
Azulejos in Portugal are everywhere. Take a walk down any street and you will see a building decorated with these beautifully designed tiles. Sometimes the tiles are intricate patterns with one or two vibrant colours. Sometimes, there are landscapes and sea scapes. Each tile portrays the rich Portuguese culture and history and a great way …
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Just outside of Coimbra, sits one of the most well-preserved Roman archaeological sites on the Iberian Peninsula, the Conímbriga Ruins. From intricately designed mosaic floors to remnants of residential quarters and public spaces, Conímbriga paints a vivid picture of daily life in a Roman city during the 1st and 2nd centuries. We were rather captivated …
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This past year was quite a year. We thought we’d share what we considered to be some of the bests in 2023. Well, as you well know, 2023 was a big year for us. We sold everything and moved across the Atlantic Ocean to Serra D’El Rei Portugal and began all new lives! Community makes …
Our first Christmas in Portugal turned out to be one of the best and definitely most different we have had. Last year, we spent the season in a whirlwind because we knew it was our last in the states for awhile. We attended all of the parties, went to many different light shows, saw all …
Summer in Portugal means beaches, vacations and festas! These festas are popular parties that each village has during the months of July through September. Some last for a weekend, some go through the week. This years festas for Serra d’el Rei was four nights of a grand party. Last may, our town had a festa …
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This summer, we had a chance to spend a week in the Algarve, me for the first time and Beth for the second. Our friend, Carrie, was coming to visit us for a few days and then head to Faro to meet up with an old friend and we decided to join her. The Algarve …