Porto is a magnetic fairytale city with an unrivaled location on the Douro River in Portugal. The city is a mosaic of Medieval, Gothic, Renaissance, and Neo-Classical architecture with a pinch of picturesque crumbling buildings. Church spires vie with draped laundry to set an atmospheric stage. Porto has magnificent churches clad in wild sky blue … Read more
Wondering if Livraria Lello bookstore is Porto is worth visiting? The answer is maybe, depending on your tolerance for crowds. The 110 year old Lello Bookstore is one of the most beautiful bookstores in the world and a must see site in Porto. It’s a stunning old world bookshop filled to the rafters with new … Read more
Exploring Porto and wondering where to find azulejos ? This guide takes you on a DIY walking tour of the best sites and landmarks in Porto with dazzling blue azulejo decorations. I dedicated an entire day to bingeing on azulejos in Porto. Perhaps I shouldn’t use the word “bingeing.” It’s a bit of a naughty … Read more
You know how I love old stones. Especially 2500 year old stones. I affirmatively seek them out in my geographical cures. And you have to love them to get to northern Portugal’s Citânia de Briteiros. It’s not off the beaten path. It’s a bit out of the way. Or possibly unheard of by most humans. … Read more
The mere mention of Alcobaça Monastery in Portugal conjures a mini history lesson on one of Europe’s oldest and best UNESCO sites. Alcobaça is a 12th century masterpiece of Gothic Cistercian art, after all. Its vaunted architecture and history make it a must see site on a tour of Portugal. But that’s the topic of … Read more
I never thought I’d say this. It almost can’t be true. Yet it is. There’s a beautiful McDonalds in the world. Aqui é! When I was vacationing with my daughter in Porto Portugal recently, our Uber driver told us to check out the McDonalds. Internally, I scoffed. Really? Would McDonalds lease and preserve an ancient … Read more