Guess I Didn't Need the Workout Clothes
Or reflections on a week in Portugal
Hello!
I promised not to neglect my oft-neglected newsletter when I was traveling. But, here we are…I neglected my newsletter in favor of resurrecting the travel blog.
But, to not go too long without saying hello, I’m here with a quick update.
I was lucky enough to spend the last week in Portugal, traveling between Porto, Coimbra, and Lisbon. I truly didn’t know what to expect in Portugal, other than Port Wine, and I was so delighted by every little part of the journey…except the stairs. There were so many stairs.
Before I left for my trip, I asked a friend of mine if I should take workout clothes, and she said if I have room, it couldn’t hurt. They don’t take up too much space in all honesty…
Then I got to Portugal.
The entire country was a workout. I knew Lisbon had hills, but I didn’t count on everything in Porto and Coimbra being built at the top of those hills. I guess that makes sense for medieval cities that wanted to see above the valleys to protect themselves from invaders… My average stair count in Portugal was 30 flights per day, and honestly, I think that’s a low number.
I’m so glad I decided to bring my boots because I’ve been living in these things. Between the cobblestones slick from the rain and the steep hills, having good tread and ankle support has been a life saver. The one day I chose to wear my Keds, they got soaking wet and ripped, so they promptly went in the trash—where they were destined to land anyway.
Other than stairs, Portugal was full of vibrancy—delicious (albeit heavy) food, stunning music, and gorgeous landscapes. I could write thousands of words about how enchanting it was, but I already a full recap of each place I went on my travel blog. If you are so inclined, please give them a read!
Porto: A Better Butt—15,000 Steps at a Time
Coimbra, Lisbon, and Sintra: Street Art, Stairs, Songs, and Surprises!
I am now in France, and I am soaking up the beautiful scenery, sunsets, and yes, more wine.
For now, I’ll leave you with my top 10 highlights/suggestions from Portugal:
Fado Music: Fado is a type of music that originated in Lisbon. It was originally sung by women of the working class, and it is melancholy and hauntingly beautiful. I saw two different Fado shows, and they were a highlight.
Port Wine: The highlight of my time in Porto was this excellent Douro Valley Wine Tour. Not just because the wine was good, but our guide fantastically explained the entire port making process, and the farms we went to were fascinating and beautiful. And the wine was good.
Pastel de nata: The famous pastry of Portugal was EVERYWHERE. And I swear, each one I had was better than the last. I really want to learn how to make these…
Wandering through markets: This makes my top-10 list in any destination, but the market in Porto was an absolute highlight. Walking through the stalls, grabbing little bits to create a dinner, was a fantastic way to try the culinary delicacies of the region.
Street art: In every city, the street art was fantastic. Mixed with the old buildings, the paintings told a story of the culture of the city—even if they weren’t supposed to be there.
Maze-like old towns: Each of the cities I went to had an old town that was a collection of maze like streets (often with stairs), taking you any which way. While Airbnbs and other tourist locations have taken over these cities, people in these old city centers are standing firm, having been in their houses for decades. And, I will be quite honest that the 80+ year-old women lapped me when climbing these stairs.
Fall colors: Living in Los Angeles, I don’t get fall very often. So, I loved the vibrant colors of the landscapes, particularly in the Douro Valley.
Artisans and artwork: One of my favorite spots in Lisbon was the LX Factory, a warehouse turned artist enclave where artisans have set up shops to sell their work. It was similar to many “hip” warehouse areas of big cities, but there was also a distinctly Portuguese vibe. It was worth the trek out of the city (and the loooong trip up the hill back).
Sintra: I took a day trip out to Sintra from Lisbon, and I’m so glad I did. While it was a hike to get up to Pena Palace (and I didn’t even do the whole hike!), the fairytale palace and surrounding woods were just enchanting. My morning spent wandering around the peaceful gardens was nothing short of enchanting.
Talking to the people: Literally everyone in Portugal was friendly. Portuguese is not an easy language to understand or pick up, but everyone was so helpful and wanted us to love our experience in the country. I can honestly say that I did.
I’ll be back next week with a bit more from France.
à bientôt!