Podcast

A Bit of Portugal: Four Seasons Fairways in luxurious Quinta do Lago

Everyone throughout history has wanted the Algarve – from the Phoenicians to the Romans, the Visigoths, the Moors, the Spanish up to the modern day slicer, aka golfer!

In my opinion, there are three reasons why this tiny bit of the world was so attractive. Geography is one! The Southern most region of Portugal’s coastline is almost entirely accessible. The climate – how can you beat an average of 25 C or 77 F in winter?

The last reason has to be Four Seasons Fairways, one of my Bits of Perfection. For those who came to Quinta do Lago before it was open, you had the misfortune to have to stay somewhere else, but we who live now get to stay here, and often!

During my short stay, I began […]

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July 7th, 2017|Destinations, Portugal, Quinta Do Lago|2 Comments

2 Days in Porto

Why have I never been to Porto before? It has to be one of the great European cities – it’s home to Port – the drink, the food is fab, there’s tons to do and a river runs through it. Although the second largest city in Portugal, Porto feels like a small town and 2 days in porto are perfect to get the feel of it!  Don’t be fooled by the lull of the placid Douro River as it meanders through town. Almost around the corner, lies the rough Atlantic Ocean that saw much activity in Porto’s early days when the Portuguese began conquering the unknown (to them) world.

Porto, these days, draws them in with its UNESCO protected historical center filled with cafes, museums, and […]

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December 8th, 2016|Destinations, Porto, Portugal, Ten Best Bits|1 Comment

A Bit of Portugal: An Intro to Local Food & a Pit Stop in Guimarães

You mention Portuguese food to foreigners and they either look at you quizzically or mention the ubiquitous custard tarts. Unlike its Mediterranean neighbors, France, Italy and Spain, the cuisine of this tiny nation can’t be summed up in one word, like sauce, pasta, or tapas!

I know that is simplifying the great cuisines of the world into one word but, I don’t think I could name a dish that was iconic to one of the oldest countries in the world, until my first bite in Braga. This trip to Northern Portugal opened my eyes to, not only the flavors of the region, but also the history of the dishes, thus introducing me to Portugal herself.

We landed from London on that rainy night in Braga and were […]

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November 21st, 2016|Destinations, Portugal|0 Comments

A Bit of Portugal: A Damp Stroll through Braga

Why do they always intimate that you brought the rain with you when arriving from London?! As we left Gatwick, the sun was shining bright, but upon touchdown in Porto, the rain pelted down on us, soggy and wet – not my fault!

Still, the cloudy skies took nothing away from the fabulous-ness of each city we visited on a very brief tour of Northern Portugal. The inclement weather might make my pictures look slightly grey, but that was the only thing dull about the trip.

As the seat of power for the Archbishop representing the Kingdom of Spain & Portugal in the Vatican, Braga reigned as one of the oldest, most powerful cities in the Europe from medieval times through to the late 1800s. The cathedral […]

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October 30th, 2016|Braga, Destinations, Portugal|1 Comment