It was a cool Lisbon summer night with a near-full moon, a breeze coming in from the Tagus River and friends coming over for dinner, life felt pretty good. Dinner parties happen to be one of my favorite pastimes, and Pete and I tend to make a solid team when it comes to hosting them […]
Discovering Dão Wines: The Burgundy of Portugal Read More »
Being single can be a blessing, or a curse, depending on what you’re looking for. Over the years, I’ve found it mostly liberating and occasionally frustrating, like the day you’re nixed from the Valentine’s couples-only discount at the Collisseum, because you’re a lonely party of one. Suddenly you envision an enormous arrow over your head with blinking
Top 10 Reasons Why Madrid is the Best Place to be Single Read More »
Housed in an 18th century baroque building, we leave behind the contrasting sleek interior of the bread and wine museum and step back onto the cobbled streets of the charming village of Favaios, where locals are taking respite from the intense July heat under red cafe umbrellas. We stroll towards the church as instructed and
Baking Bread with a Portuguese Grandmother Read More »
There is a saying in the Catalan language: sense foc no hi ha festa (without fire, there is no festival), and they aren’t exaggerating. Indeed, the region’s pyromaniacal bent may be the most evolved and embraced in the nation, yet flames, explosions, devils, and beasts play a role in many vaguely Christian celebrations all throughout
Flirting with Fire: Inside the Fire Festivals of Spain Read More »
I’ll be the first to admit that my parallel parking skills are equivalent to a one-armed blind monkey – slightly frenetic and directionless at best. If I’m able to squeeze into space in less than 45 moves, it’s a win! Fortunately for me, Portugal doesn’t require you to squeeze into one designated space marked with
Top 7 Tips for Driving in Portugal: Park Absolutely Anywhere! Read More »
Spanish may not be the language of love, but investing the time to pick it up is certainly a labor of love. It is a commitment to learning both the language and the culture where it’s spoken, and while it’s not always easy, it’s nevertheless one of the most rewarding experiences I know. In my
A Foodie’s Guide to Learning Spanish in Spain Read More »
In this last installment of our three-part series on the undiscovered inland foods of Portugal (Part I & Part II), we pick apart the fruits that give the country some of its most luscious cherries and pears as well as premium olive oil. And though it’s one of the lesser-known wine regions of Portugal, there’s
The Undiscovered Inland Cuisine of Portugal – Part III Read More »
Beyond the festivals, concerts and cultural activities in Portugal lies a community of people who exist to ride the waves. This isn’t just a hobby for them, it’s a way of life! What makes Iberia unique is that each and every beach hosts its own culture, a place where the wave obsessed can enjoy a customized experience based
Top 10 Surf Schools in Spain and Portugal Read More »
The interior of Portugal is, unfortunately, often overlooked. That’s too bad, especially for foodies searching for unique eats beyond the mouthwatering fish and seafood on the coast and the regional dishes that the bustling cities recreate. Granted, I understand that driving into the mountains of Portugal or through windy, ancient villages isn’t as easy as
The Undiscovered Inland Cuisine of Portugal – Part I Read More »
Madrid is not only an incredible city for gastronomy, architecture and music, it’s also a brilliant base for day trips to vineyards! Hard to imagine, right?! But what most people don’t know is that Madrid is just a few hours from stunning country! Simply by jumping on the train or city bus, you can be lounging
Madrid: Which Wineries You Can Visit By Train? Read More »
Over the past year, Portugal’s name has splashed across travel, culture and nature magazines as “the place” to visit if you’re looking for authenticity and adventure. It’s become synonymous with quality, with kindness, and most importantly, with unprecedented gastronomy! “Portugal never had a food revolution, like France and Spain,” explains Chef George Mendes of New
Move over Paris: Porto is the New Gastronomic Grand Dame of Europe Read More »
Richard Mayson’s newest book, Madeira: The Islands and their Wines, is exactly what I needed. Let me explain. I’d just become a part-time wine student, and went to class one evening a week, initially just to get a bit of variety from life at my full-time day job. I was telling a friend about my
Book Review – Madeira: The Islands and their Wines? Read More »
I woke up early in the morning, when the sun was just peeking through the industrial blue curtains framing the small window at my head. It took me a moment to place myself, since it’s not often I awake to that gentle, reassuring sway that makes traveling by train such a pleasure for me. I
Your Essential Guide on Riding the Train in Spain Read More »
Last week, I provided you my top tips to enjoying the numerous beaches in both Spain and Portugal, but a few of you were none-to-pleased with that very last tip “Go Topless!” Really?! Is sans bikini top that big of deal? I would argue that no, it’s not. If anything, once I moved to southern Europe,
Boobs in Iberia: The perfect place to let the “ladies” loose! Read More »
Portugal is only now finding its way onto the European Tourism radar and we are all very happy to welcome you. For being a small country Portugal has a diverse range of climates. From snow-capped mountains in the center to rainy winters up north to hot, dry summers in the south you may not know
The Essential Guide to Traveling with a Child in Portugal Read More »
