Exploring the world, one place at a time
I couldn't very well go to Porto without visiting one of the many port houses that dot the hillside of neighbouring Vila Nova de Gaia, which is how we found ourselves late one afternoon touring the cellars at Taylor's, one of the oldest port merchants in the region. Taylor's dates back to 1692 when an... Continue Reading →
One of my favourite things to do in Porto was visiting the city's many, highly decorative churches. From pretty tile-clad exteriors to breathtaking gilt carved interiors and superb views over the city, there was a lot to marvel at. But of all the incredible ecclesiastical buildings we visited (and we saw quite a few!), two... Continue Reading →
The contemporary art gallery Casa de Serralves is tucked away in one of Porto's wealthier suburbs. A bus ride away away from the bustling city centre, it would be easy to miss if you didn't know it was there. Opened in June 1999, the museum sits within the extensive grounds of Serralves Villa, a strikingly... Continue Reading →
For the last two and a half years, I've had an ever-growing list of posts lingering in my drafts folder that I held off publishing while we were in the throes of the pandemic, and it's got to the point where I haven't been sure what to do with them as it's been so long.... Continue Reading →
When I think of the food in Porto, I think of sardines, pastries, the francesinha sandwich, and lots and lots of port. Portugal's second city is a culinary delight, with a host of superb restaurants and cafés. Pretty much everything I had to eat or drink was excellent and Porto has since become one of... Continue Reading →
Portugal's second city is the perfect place for a weekend break. Boasting interesting architecture, a maze of alleyways that are ripe for exploring, museums, parks, churches, and fantastic food, it's a great city in which to spend a long weekend. Not to mention there's an abundance of its most famous export – port – on... Continue Reading →
The last place I visited during my trip to Lisbon was the Calouste Gulbenkian Museum, founded in 1969 to house the enormous art collection that belonged to Calouste Sarkis Gulbenkian. Calouste Gulbenkian was an obscenely rich businessman born in Constantinople in 1869. Over the years he amassed a massive collection of around 6,400 artworks dating... Continue Reading →
The Castelo de São Jorge and the Alfama are among the oldest parts of Lisbon. This ancient, hilly district is home to a warren of winding cobbled streets and characterful old buildings, and it's where I decided to spend my final morning in the city. The Castelo de São Jorge is perched high on a... Continue Reading →
It's almost impossible to miss the Castelo dos Mouros or Moors' Castle in Sintra. The striking fortress, which sits high on a hill overlooking the town, dominates the surrounding landscape and is visible for miles. Its stone ramparts, towers and battlements are sprawled across the hilltop making it a formidable defensive structure. The castle was... Continue Reading →
High on the hills overlooking Sintra is the kitsch, brightly painted Pena Palace. It's a magnificent, romantic building surrounded by 85 hectares of gardens and like so many buildings in Sintra, unique. It's one of the quirkiest, most unusual palaces I've visited. The palace was originally a monastery built by King Manuel I in the... Continue Reading →
Little Old World 