First day in Nazaré
May 2, 2018 in Portugal ⋅ ⛅ 12 °C
After a long flight via Dubai and London we flew into Lisbon. Arranged phone SIMs and a hire car and drove straight out to Nazaré. Picked up the keys to our apartment, picked up Dad from his houseRead more
Portuguese Lesson #1
May 3, 2018 in Portugal ⋅ ⛅ 14 °C
O espaço de estacionamento é opcional
Parking bays are optional
In Portugal you can (and they do) park anywhere. Don't be surprised if you find double parking in a narrow lane way. It is perfectlyRead more
Fish of the day
May 3, 2018 in Portugal ⋅ ☀️ 15 °C
Dinner at the Marina Bar tonight. Fish, salad, potatoes. Simple but beautiful.
A secret gem near Nazaré
May 4, 2018 in Portugal ⋅ ☀️ 19 °C
This little gem is hidden away in the village of Alfeizerão near São Martinho do Porto and Nazaré. €7 per person set menu for lunches only. No photos but we had a beautiful soup, choice of arrozRead more
No place like home - A Tasquinha, Nazaré
May 4, 2018 in Portugal ⋅ 🌙 13 °C
12 months go by and the memories of the food don’t disappoint. A Cataplana (silver dish) is like a seafood stew - there is no limit to the type of seafood - it is just freshly caught! And for KimRead more
Procissão religiosa
May 5, 2018 in Portugal ⋅ ☀️ 21 °C
Most saturdays in Nazaré around 3pm the religious procession starts downtown and winds up through the streets of Nazaré. Haunting drum beats by the scouts and women/girls in traditional NararéRead more
Portuguese Lesson #2
May 5, 2018 in Portugal ⋅ ☀️ 20 °C
Smoking is everywhere! Hopped into the local 25m pool and punched out a slow 1.5km. The piscina is located at the top of Nazaré with a beautiful outlook - beats MSAC!
There were half a dozen kids inRead more
Portuguese Lesson #3
May 5, 2018 in Portugal ⋅ 🌙 14 °C
You will learn more swear words on a Saturday night watching a soccer game than in the school yard.
A quiet Liquor Beirão after a lovely Robalo grelhado (charcoal grilled sea bass) watching theRead more
Sardinhas. YES!
May 10, 2018 in Portugal ⋅ ☀️ 19 °C
After smelling sardinhas for the past week we finally found a place to try them. Restinguinhas is a restaurant on the outskirts of Setùbal with lots of workers stopping there for lunch. Always a goodRead more
Portuguese Lesson #4
May 11, 2018 in Portugal ⋅ ☀️ 13 °C
Duck! Living as a local in an old Portuguese house may sound quaint but these places were built for (very) short people. I have to duck everywhere I go in this house.
Portuguese Lesson #5 try not to drown
May 12, 2018 in Portugal ⋅ ⛅ 17 °C
Whilst walking today we came across the Sesimbra lifeguards practising for the summer. Let’s just say that is was no Bondi Rescue! I almost jumped in to teach them how to swim properly!
Portuguese Lesson #6 dont get an EBW
May 12, 2018 in Portugal ⋅ ☀️ 16 °C
Don’t get an eyebrow wax where you are not fluent in the language!
Oh well, I have six months to grow them out before I get home.
Portuguese Lesson #7 Sardines on bus
May 15, 2018 in Portugal ⋅ ☀️ 19 °C
We 3 must seem like Amazons! On the hour bus ride from Sesimbra to Lisbon - we squeeze into the seats. We are jammed like sardines as these seats are made for very short people!
Aced it in Aveiro
May 15, 2018 in Portugal ⋅ 🌙 14 °C
Beautiful vegan for Allanah. Kim and I had an amazing meal in the old town. This is somewhere we will be back!
Alcobaça Monestary is a must
May 16, 2018 in Portugal ⋅ ☀️ 23 °C
In 1153, King Henrique gifted 44 hectares to the Monks and construction began in 1178-the monks moved in 1223. Built over a river - you can see the river flowing through the kitchen where they caughtRead more
Porto Pics
May 16, 2018 in Portugal ⋅ ☀️ 21 °C
After a rest from travelling and an earlier walk, we headed back into Porto for some Vegan (yay for veges) and a stroll through the town. Porto has grown since the last time we were here (5yrs ago)Read more
Portuguese Leason #7 strike anytime
May 16, 2018 in Portugal ⋅ 🌙 19 °C
Today We were reminded that the Portuguese can strike anytime. It’s quite common to catch a train or tram and then - pfft there are no drivers as there is a strike.
Be thankful in Australia forRead more
Hidden Gem
May 17, 2018 in Portugal ⋅ ☀️ 21 °C
We headed east from Porto this morning on our way to the Alentejo. This little town, wedged in the mountain had a beautiful town park and garden. Oh - it is here we had second breakfast too!
An afternoon in Beja
May 19, 2018 in Portugal ⋅ ☀️ 19 °C
A bit of a drive to the East of the Alentejo region but Beja is a lovely little town with a good feel and a very long past. We stumbled into a celebration of the Roman occupation of the area when BejaRead more
Castello do Beja
May 20, 2018 in Portugal ⋅ ☀️ 14 °C
Arriving yesterday we had time to wander through the celebration of Romans. Beja, in central Alentejo was the birth place of Pax-Julia after the war to conquer the Iberian coast by Dom Dinis. ThisRead more
Beja castle
May 20, 2018 in Portugal ⋅ ☀️ 18 °C
This morning we grabbed a coffee and the headed in to see Beja castle which has great views over the town and surrounding farm land
Last Portuguese food wish ticked
May 20, 2018 in Portugal ⋅ ☀️ 15 °C
When we come to Portugal there are a few things we always have but a couple we have been waiting for. The leitão near Coimbra was Erin's first. Another tick was the pork marinated in a pimentãoRead more
Morocco Lesson #1
May 21, 2018 in Morocco ⋅ ⛅ 25 °C
TIP: Always stay on the right hand side, preferably right against the wall or edge.
So we arrived today with a driver taking us to our Riad (hotel) Holy Moly - it is scary on the roads.
Morocco Lesson #2 La,shockrun
May 21, 2018 in Morocco ⋅ ⛅ 24 °C
After a mint tea on arrival we walked through the Medina(market). Bustling and noisy with motor bikes and bicycles zipping through the narrow streets ( hence refer to Marrakech Lesson #1!). ‘La,Read more
Morocco Lesson #3 haggle or bust
May 27, 2018 in Morocco ⋅ ⛅ 18 °C
So after 5 days in Morocco it is official that we suck at haggling. Allanah is probably better than Kim and I. Everyone it seems, is trying to take money from you - because you can travel they thinkRead more