Start Here & Explore
Our Portugal Journey — A Reader’s Guide
Our Portugal Journey is a collection of stories shaped by curiosity, culture, and everyday life in Portugal. Some pieces are practical, others reflective and all part of an evolving path that continues to unfold.
Rather than organizing this page like an archive, think of it as a series of doorways. Each section below offers a different way to explore the publication, whether you’re discovering Portugal for the first time, revisiting favorite places, or simply following along with the quieter moments of life abroad.
Not Sure Where to Begin?
If you’re new here, these two pathways offer an easy place to start, depending on what drew you to Portugal:
➤ Start with the Story
A personal introduction to who we are and how this journey began. You might begin with Welcome to Our Portugal Journey, then watch Our First Year in Portugal, a short 10-minute video capturing the early chapters of life here.
Welcome to Our Portugal Journey
➤ Start with Exploration
Villages, historic spaces, quiet museums, and experiences that reveal Portugal beyond the guidebooks.
Casa do Visconde de Chanceleiros
Santar Portugal: Authentic Village Charm
The Beginning of the Journey
A gentle introduction to who we are, why Portugal, and where the journey first began.
Welcome to Our Portugal Journey
Why We Decided to Move from the U.S.
Choosing Where to Live in Portugal
Where We Currently Live in Portugal
Living in Portugal — Everyday Moments & Real Life
The rhythms of daily life abroad. Imperfect, surprising, and deeply human.
Our First Christmas in Portugal
Our First Visit Back to the U.S.
Dazed and Confused in Portugal
Is Failing an Option? — What if Portugal is not Right for you?
My Search for Ground Beef in Portugal
From Garage Remotes to Handcuffs — Adventures in Portuguese Communication
Frustration, Frustration, Frustration — Our early lessons in Portuguese bureaucracy
The Saga of the Traveling Pants — A small story about laundry and life abroad
Our Car Buying Experience — Something we said we’d never do in Portugal
When Life Starts Going Sideways — A first healthcare crisis far from home
Practical Travel & Everyday Living
Shared experiences and practical notes gathered along the way. Never rules, just perspective.
Essential Travel Apps for Portugal (2026 Update) — The apps that make moving through Portugal easier (To be Published)
Luggage Storage, Shipping & Delivery Services for Travelers — Travel without the extra weight (To be Published)
The Best Travel Apps Every Traveler Should Have — Planning, navigating, and traveling smarter anywhere (To be Published)
Traveling with Pets: Apps, Services & Resources — Planning, flying, and exploring with your four-legged companion (To be Published)
Giving Back — Connecting, contributing and making a difference in Portugal
How to Donate or Recycle Your Stuff
Is Portugal Still Cheap? (To be Published)
Live Like a King in Portugal? — Yes, no, maybe…
MB Way in Portugal — What it is, who can use it, and how it actually works (To be Published)
Online Grocery Shopping 101 in Portugal
Saharan Dust Storms — North African Dust in Portugal
Shipping Your Things to Portugal
The Complaints Book in Portugal
The Weather Regions of Portugal
Where You Should Live in Portugal — Why there isn’t a single answer (To be Published)
Where Should I Live in Portugal?
Tipping Culture in Portugal (2026 Edition) — What travelers and new residents should know (To be Published)
What we Learned About Guarantees and Warranties
Wise, Revolut, and Portuguese Banks — Understanding the different roles money tools play in Portugal (To be Published)
Travel in Portugal — Places, Traditions & Discovery
Villages, historic spaces, quiet roads, and seasonal celebrations that reveal Portugal slowly.
Places & Stays
A Bone-Chilling Place? Chapel of Bones in Évora — History, symbolism, and one of Portugal’s most haunting interiors
Eating Chocolate Cake in a 17th Century Guest House — A quiet stay at Casa do Adro da Igreja
Monsaraz, Portugal — Medieval Alentejo village
Playing Tourist in Lisbon — Three Days of Fun in the City
Montebelo Aguieira Lake Resort & Spa — A relaxing time in Mortágua
Palácio do Freixo — National monument and hotel in Porto
Sacred Ascent: Bom Jesus do Monte — A pilgrimage shaped by devotion, steps, and water-powered design (To be Published)
Sleep in a “Museum” — Casa da Picva in Obidos
The Village of Cabeça — A mountain village shaped by tradition and winter light
Vila Nova de Milfontes — Coastal Alentejo village
Museums & Experiences
Drift the Douro: Rabelo Boat Rides — Gliding through the Douro’s Port wine history (To be Published)
Driving Portugal’s N222 — A journey through curves, vineyards, and the soul of the Douro (To be Published)
Historic Douro Train — Journey through time in Portugal’s wine valley
Lisbon Classical Nights — Classical guitar concert in an historic church
QUAKE — Interactive Exhibit in Lisbon
Walking the Trilho das Vinhas — Hidden ecological trail
Seasons & Traditions
5 Key Facts About the Carnation Revolution
Discovering the Feast of the Red Vest
Seven Haunted Places in Portugal
Three Hidden Gems in São Miguel, Azores
Valentine Celebrations in Portugal
Christmas in Portugal and Around the World — A Community Photo Project
Holidays, Celebrations, and Festivals in Portugal
Thoughtful Travel/Travel Perspectives
When Tourism Puts People First (To be Published)
Food, Wine, Spirits & Made in Portugal — Flavors and Artisan Finds
Stories of craftsmanship, regional flavors, and the small details that define Portuguese culture.
A Bowl, a Spoon, and a Story from Portugal — Portuguese olive wood
Portugal’s Cork Industry — Nature’s sustainable treasure
For a Minute, I Thought we Were Back in Scottsdale — Discovering Apolónia Supermercados in the Algarve
Three Food & Drink Places in Porto
Tunnel & Taps: Quimera Brewpub
Exploring the Top Portuguese Liquors
Portuguese Bolota — Nectar from the Mighty Oak Tree
Regionalarte Handicraft Production
Stories & Reflections — The Personal Side of the Journey
Quiet moments, unexpected lessons, and the deeper emotions behind the experience of change.
Connecting Families Across Time and Space
How Looking for a Wine Bar May Have Saved Our Lives — A split-second decision during Storm Cláudia
Race Discrimination in Portugal
That Must Have Been Fun! — Reflections on owning America’s oldest country store
Life is Not (Always) a Bowl of Cherries — Why I will continue to write about what I know
Have a Nice Life — How relationships can change when you move abroad
The Space Between the Days — Leaving, belonging, and finding my way forward
The Day We Almost Blew Up a Village
The Meaning Behind a 76-Year-Old Pack of Herbs — Rediscovering old Portuguese folklore
Four Years Later — Living in Europe in uncertain times
There’s a War on Our Continent — Living in Europe during uncertain times
What I Learned from Steve McCurry — Photography, storytelling, and perspective
What Have I Done? — On doubt, change, and starting over in Portugal
My Dad’s Childhood Experience Making Ginja
Culture & Curiosities — Portugal Through a Different Lens
Wildlife, symbolism, music, and the cultural details that often go unnoticed.
Changing of the Guard Ceremony
Finding Books in English in Portugal — Where English-speaking readers can browse, buy, and discover books (To be Published)
Killer Whales off the Coast of Portugal
White Storks of the Alentejo and Algarve
Saving the Iberian Lynx in Portugal
Portuguese Music — Memories and My Playlist
The Ceramic Swallow — A Portuguese Symbol
Inside Portugal’s Government — A High-Level Guide for Foreign Residents and Curious Readers
The Structure of the Portuguese Government
Summer Reading Lists
Summer Reading List 2025 — Books with a Portuguese Theme
Summer Reading List 2024 — Books with a Portuguese Theme
Summer Reading List 2026 — Books with a Portuguese Theme (To be Published)
Out & About with Carol and Paul — Video Series
Some stories are best told in motion. This visual series follows the journey as it continues to unfold.
Journey Episode 1 – Jan–May 2025
Journey Episode 2 – Algarve & Anniversary
Journey Episode 3 – Portugal Summer Vibes
Journey Episode 4 – Douro Valley Boats & Trains
Journey Episode 5 – Classic Cars & Classic Cities
Journey Episode 6 – A Birthday & The Beatles
Archives — Earlier Chapters of the Journey
Over the years, Our Portugal Journey has grown and evolved. Some earlier posts reflect the initial stages of our move to Portugal or moments in time that are no longer part of the main reader pathways.
These pieces remain part of the publication’s history and can still be discovered through search or links throughout the site; quiet reminders of where our journey began.