Traveling to…Nazaré

Have you heard of post vacation depression? Yes, it’s definitely a real thing, especially when you’ve returned from two and half weeks in an European country. And not just any European country, but to Portugal, a place I would spend my two month-long summer vacations year after year, with family close by and nothing but nature and amazing food grown on our farms. It is now when I’m older, more sure of who I am and the things I value in life, that I appreciate this country more than when I was a child. So to say this week back home in the states has been quite hard to readjust, is an understatement, which  explains why I’m only sharing photos from my travels now. This trip was just amazing, and I wish it was longer so I had more time to explore this beautiful country and the endless things it offers during summer. My first travel on my trip was to the coastal city of Nazaré.
With stunning views of its beautiful sandy shores and downtown from Sítio, an old village atop this cliff, Nazaré is an iconic beach town known for local woman wearing their traditional colorful sete saias {seven flannel skirts layered atop one another} during festivals and the freshest most delicious seafood! There’s plenty to see, do, eat, and even relax, so make sure to stop by if you’re even in Portugal during the warmer months.  I just can’t get enough of these breathtaking panoramic beach photographs. Another beauty of Nazare are their iconic fishing boats from years past. These days they use modern boats, but they still display these replicas to showcase the richness in their culture and tradition.  If you wake up early enough you’ll catch the local women laying out varied fishes the fisherman have just caught to dry and sell. Rows of codfish faces, sardines, and mackerel glisten in the sunshine becoming works of culinary art.  A great travel isn’t great if their isn’t amazing food, and this quick trip wasn’t short of delicious eats. You know the food is good, when three meals during a two day trip are eaten at the same restaurant. If you stop in Nazare, you must eat at the Bussola. You can’t go wrong with this beautiful and out of this world seafood cataplana served with toasted bread, perfect for soaking that golden sauce, or their açorda {rustic bread soup}, or their grilled choques. It’s all just delicious!!

These were the best Bolas de Berlim I’ve ever eaten! My favorite doughnut was filled with the traditional egg yolk filling, but they had chocolate, apple and even dulce de leche filling that looked just as delicious, and they were being sold from the cutest beach shack with bundt pans as light fixtures.  Of course I had to enjoy some gelato, and Gelatomania has endless mouth watering creations. I’m still dreaming of their panna cotta gelato.  We only stayed for two days, but were lucky enough to catch this beautiful sunset the first night. The sky was colored in pale blues, and the descending sun glowed onto everything with a delicate softness. It was a wonderful trip to this new favorite city of mine, and I’m already looking forward to my return.