Portugal

  • Portugal

    The Algarve Beaches

    April 14, 2016 - By 

    Despite having been born and raised in beautiful beach-spoiled California, I knew we had to see the famous Algarve beaches in Southern Portugal. They did not disappoint. In addition to the gorgeous weather we were fortunate to have, the main highlights I did not expect were: There were no beach resorts.  Just laid-back towns.  This meant no crowds, no large buses, no street vendors, no restaurant-lined streets with annoying touts, and extremely limited parking.  As a result, visitors were truly able to relax and explore the area. There were endless hiking trails.  With a brief glance at the map, it…

  • Portugal

    Sintra

    April 12, 2016 - By 

    Anything you ever imagined about castles and fairytales can be found in Sintra, less than an hour’s drive west of Lisbon. Perched high atop a hill and overlooking the Atlantic to the west and Lisbon to the east, its fairytale setting draws day-trippers from Lisbon by the thousands. For the majority of the visitors, the incredible maze of super steep cobblestone hills prevents walking from site to site, resulting in a headache of giant buses and grumbling tuk-tuks on the paved roads. But for the avid hiker a daypack, water bottle, and good shoes are enough for hiking from each…

  • Portugal

    Lisbon

    April 10, 2016 - By 

    Most Americans flood the cities and towns of France, The UK, Southern Spain, Italy, and Germany, bringing back photos and stories from the same recognizable monuments.  Little is to be said of continental Europe’s westernmost country, but now after a brief sample of Portugal, I feel the need to shed light on Portugal’s stunning regions.  Portugal’s attractions are not just only underrated, but they are extraordinary and unique to Europe.  I know when I’m back in the states, I won’t be raving about the same ol’ Paris, London, Amsterdam, Barcelona, or Rome.  Instead, I’ll be enlightening my friends with Portugal, especially the gem of Lisbon.…