Blog Archives

Alfama District, Miss Can, & Belcanto

Oct. 11:  It’s chilly and raining outside, but it matters not.  We are enjoying some late night tea in our room at the Lisbon Pousada.  We started the day with breakfast at the pousada before embarking on a day of exploration of the Alfama district.  From our research,

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Arraiolos Rugs, Megaliths, Évora

Oct. 14:  I write this from our new home, the Convento de Évora, located in the heart of the Alentejo.  We awoke in Lisbon and got organized to head east into the Alentejo, the next chapter of our travels.  The Alentejo occupies about one third of all of Portugal and it’s pretty much the bottom third of the country,

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Exploring Évora

Oct. 15:  We are loving our pousada and the features that make it unique.  We especially like that we now sleep where the nuns used to.  Our day began when we went to breakfast in the most gorgeous breakfast nook either of us have been in to date. 

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Posted in Alentejo, Europe, Portugal
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Beja, Évora’s Easy Going Cousin

Oct. 16:  We both found Évora to be totally charming and neither of us were in a rush to leave, even though we knew Beja was our final destination for the day.  The carriage ride yesterday revealed a few places we wanted to see today and so it was.

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Posted in Alentejo, Europe, Portugal
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Guadiana Valley Natural Park and Serpa

Oct 17:  We are soaking up the tranquil vibes in Beja, as we should, since tomorrow, we are headed to the Algarve.  When in Rome. . . . .

As we noted yesterday, the woman at the pousada told us that most of the town’s sights are closed early Sunday and all of Monday. 

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Posted in Alentejo, Europe, Portugal
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Alcoutim to Palace of Estói

Oct. 18: We awoke this morning knowing that our Alentejan chapter was complete.  With no sense of urgency, we took the better part of the day to head south and land in Estoi in the Algarve region of Portugal where I am now writing.  The Algarve is the southernmost portion of Portugal. 

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Exploring Ria Formosa

Oct. 19:  Well, travel can wear you down, or at least I should say it can wear me down.  Despite it being the end of summer weather, I have managed to get a bit of a cold.  But I wasn’t going to let something like that stop me. 

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Posted in Algarve, Europe, Portugal
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Faro to Cabo de São Vicente

Oct. 20:  Palatial life – now this, we can get used to.  We are hanging at the Palace, pretending we are royalty.  Is there a better way to spend an evening?  Our morning began with the massages I had scheduled yesterday.  I was really looking forward to some much needed self-care time. 

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Posted in Algarve, Europe, Portugal
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Walking In Sagres and the Alentejan Coast

Oct. 21:  I awoke just in time to catch the colorful sunrise off our balcony.  The sunrise was almost as pretty as the sunset last night.  The extra sleep and grocery isle healing was working its magic and for this I was grateful.  This being said, Dan and I adjusted our meeting time with Carla who was going to take us walking in Sagres.  

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Posted in Algarve, Europe, Portugal
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Vila Nova de Milfontes to Queluz Palace

Oct. 22:  We are back in Lisbon.  Our Southern Portuguese circle is complete.  And tomorrow morning, we will cross the big pond called the Atlantic Ocean.  But there’s still a lot of ground to cover before I sign off for a while.

Last night, we did a little ritual. 

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Posted in Europe, Lisbon, Portugal
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