What You Told Me About Our Portugal Journey
Reflections from the 2026 Reader Survey
Dear Friends,
Every few years, I invite readers to share their thoughts about Our Portugal Journey through a reader survey.
Thank you to everyone who took the time to participate this year. I read every response, every comment, every suggestion, every word of encouragement, and even the feedback that gave me something to think about.
When I launched Our Portugal Journey in October 2021, its focus was fairly straightforward: documenting our move from the United States to Portugal and sharing what Paul and I were learning along the way.
Like many journeys, however, it has evolved.
One interesting finding from this year's survey was that many readers discover Our Portugal Journey through online searches from the United States, while most survey respondents now live in Portugal.
Still, others are reading Our Portugal Journey from countries such as Canada, United Kingdom, Italy, Spain, South Africa, and Switzerland, among others. That tells me something important: some readers arrive here while researching a possible move or visit, while others stay because Portugal has already become part of their everyday lives.
Readers also come to Our Portugal Journey at different points along the path. Some have been here with me since the early days. Others began reading more recently. Some are considering a move, some are planning a trip, and some simply enjoy thoughtful stories about Portugal, culture, travel, and life abroad.
That mix matters to me.
While practical information about Portugal remains useful, many of you told me that the stories you value most are the personal ones: essays about everyday life, Portuguese traditions and culture, slower travel, local discoveries, history, food and wine, and the quieter reflections that often say the most.
That was both reassuring and encouraging to hear.
It confirmed something I had already begun to sense. Our Portugal Journey has gradually become less about relocation alone and more about living thoughtfully, traveling slowly, and paying attention to Portugal through its people, places, traditions, and everyday moments.
I was also pleased to learn that the majority of respondents read Our Portugal Journey by email, with the Substack app coming in second. I was encouraged to learn that most respondents read every issue or nearly every issue of the publication.
Many of you also shared ideas for future articles, places to explore, and topics you’d like to see covered. Several of the places you'll read about over the coming months were inspired directly by your suggestions. I have pages of notes beside my writing desk, and quite a few of those suggestions have already found their way into my planning notebook. I can’t promise to cover everything, but your ideas will continue to inspire and influence where this journey leads.
One thing that struck me most was the generosity of your comments. Writing can sometimes feel like a solitary pursuit. A survey like this is a welcome reminder that there are real people behind the subscriber numbers - people reading from different countries, different stages of life, and different experiences with Portugal.
That sense of community is something I never take for granted.
As Our Portugal Journey continues to evolve, my goal remains the same: to publish honest, well-researched stories that celebrate Portugal while also reflecting on the experiences, people, and moments that make travel and life meaningful.
If you're curious about how I choose stories, research them, and decide what ultimately appears in the publication, I wrote more about that in How Stories Become Part of Our Portugal Journey.
And finally, please don’t feel that you have to wait for the next reader survey to share your thoughts.
If you have an idea for an article, a question, a suggestion, or simply want to tell me about your own experiences in Portugal, I hope you’ll get in touch. Many of my favorite conversations with readers begin with a simple email, and more than a few articles have grown from those exchanges.
Thank you, once again, for being part of Our Portugal Journey. Both Paul and I look forward to continuing the conversation and the journey with you.
Carol.