One Day in Belém

If you have additional time in Lisbon – and even if you don’t, I’d recommend making time – visit Belém, which is still within the Lisbon municipality. The highlight of this trip will be the 16th century Mosteiro dos Jerónimos. Walking in its ornate courtyard, the monastery took my breath…

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Sintra: More Romance in Portugal

With its beautifully designed streets, pastel painted buildings and glimpses of the Rio Tejo beyond, Lisbon is a romantic city. But Sintra is a force to be reckoned with in terms of romance, starting with the ruins of the Castelo dos Mouros high up in the hills. Sintra is a…

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The Truth About Solo Travel – That First Day

The first few hours can be tough. There will be some tough patches that first day while settling in when traveling without built-in support or relying on anyone else to get you where you need to go. Maybe within those first few hours even, when you don’t have anyone to…

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The Romantic Ruins of Castelo dos Mouros – Sintra

Castelo dos Mouros

I’ve been asked a number of times what my favorite thing in Portugal was, and while ultimately there was no one thing that I preferred above the others and the trip itself was an amazing experience, the first thing that most often comes to mind is the Castelo dos Mouros,…

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