Whenever I go to Portugal, I’m fortunate to spend time in Lisboa’s Caparica coast. Having family there, it’s always a treat being a close drive to the city and also near its beautiful beaches. Sometimes my stays are jammed packed with adventures, others too short but oh-so sweet. This year was somewhere in the middle,…
Traveling to … Palácio dos Condes de Anadia :: Mangualde, Portugal
We have made it through the first full week of 2022. How did it go? How are you feeling? I think so many of us were simply looking forward to easing into the new year, taking advantage of long holiday weekends to extend much needed time to rest and refresh before another year. A new…
Traveling to … Revisiting Old Favorites :: Belém + Baixa de Lisboa
For the last few years every time I am in Lisboa, I naturally spend some time with my loving aunt and uncle in Charneca the Caprica, a quaint neighborhood of the Costa da Caparica beach coast. And whenever possible I always like to take advantage of location to see and do something new within Lisboa….
Traveling to … Serra da Estrela Living :: Part I
What is there to say about a minha linda Serra da Estrela. Spending my summers here, growing up, as a young girl submersed in nature, food and family, it intertwined itself into very much who I am. My soul and heart are blissful when I’m here. How can one not be? Surrounded by lovely mountain…
Traveling to … the Castelo de Penedono & Senhora das Necessidades de Sernancelhe
What can I say, my heart loves scenic countryside views and terracotta roof tiled homes… As travel begins to pick up, rather quickly and ferociously from the looks of it {I mean I can’t blame anyone for wanting to just hit the road and adventure — as long as it’s being done safely}, there…
Traveling to … a Sail along the Douro River & Porto’s Ribeira
There are many things I got from my father that very much make up who I am … the love of nature, gardening and farming, the love of travel, the love of all types of music, especially, jazz, fado, instrumental and anything globally influenced … and the love of the sea. Growing up, any hint…
Traveling to … Loriga // Serra da Estrela
Can you, feel it in the air…a more distinct Hope…the kind of hope and positivity my very soul clings to. Yes our nation can let out a sigh of relief, a big sigh of satisfaction that although there is plenty of work still left to be done to get our country in the right step,…
Traveling to ….. Poço do Inferno waterfall in Manteigas || Serra da Estrela
Don’t go chasin’ waterfalls Don’t go chasing waterfalls Please stick to the rivers and the lakes that you’re used to I know that you’re gonna have it your way or nothing at all But I think you’re moving too fast Enchanted by the photos of my cousin’s adventure a few months earlier, I knew the…
Traveling to … the Castles of Guimarães :: Paço dos Duques & Castelo Guimarães
If you read my first post on the city of Guimarães, which included a quick stop during the spring for client vendor meetings — you may have quickly learned I developed a favorite spot to eat, grab a glass of wine or espresso, people watch, but especially, the best local spot nearby to all the…
Traveling to ….. Santuário de Santa Luzia :: Viana do Castelo & the Quest for the Meaning of Flower Window Designs
What does a wedding planner, stylist or anyone else in the wedding industry do after their first international wedding, one that had them on their feet for 17 hours, getting to sleep around 4 then back up for lovely breakfast overlooking a pretty view over Povoa de Varzim by 10 the next/same morning? Well, naturally…
