Ok. Let's talk about wine. Port wine is not my favourite. Of course I have several bottles at home, we all do, but we really don't drink it. Only Christas, and Easter (with pão-de-ló). Wine is different. All regions of Portugal have very good wine. I am not very found of "Dão"(central Portugal), but all people says it is very, very good. Well, perhaps a litle bit strong for me. My favourites are the wines from the Douro Area (Quinta dos Aciprestes, producer is Real Companhia Velha, a black one, ond on the whites.... well, you sell your kidney, but it is really good, "Redoma", from Nieeports). Than you have a lot of very good wines allover the country, but Algaver, the south, is never mentioned about wines. So try to find "reserva da Lagoa", it's really good, I can compare it to "Nero's" from Sicily.

Forgot to tell about 2 really good wines, from Colares and Bucelas. These regions are near Lisbon, just outside Sintra. Very, very good wines!

HelenaFarima,

I love the stories and the wine lessons! I do hope we get to meet up next year!

I'm enjoying the stories too Helena, and I do love my wine. Fingers and toes crossed that we'll make it to Portugal next year.

Orange juice: Portukali, in arabian, means oranges. You can notice that Portugal is very similar. I have never tasted a better oranje juice than the one made with Algarve oranges! If you are coming to South Portugal, don't buy your juice at supermarkets, buy oranges (they are selled at the streets) and make your own juice.

I wholeheartedly agree Helena, am so loving your anecdotes and information, we really should meet when I finally make it there.

Will share your wine info with my sister, she’s my partner in travel and we always make it a point to explore and experience different wine regions, along with tastings too of course. We were in Andalucia this March and sampled a lot of local wines and sherries, as well as Riojas and other Spanish wines. Will need to learn about the Portuguese ones too!

We/everyone missed travel in 2020 and we are planning Lisbon in 2011; any pleasant, reasonably priced hotels or private places to spend a week?

Sorry about date..meant 2021...see, 2020 travel forgotten.

We fly home from Lisbon tomorrow. What a great trip! Loved Lisbon, Sintra, Tomar, Coimbra, Porto, Douro Valley and Guimarães. People were great It was ... wait, who gave me these Trump steroids? Oh well, next year. (:

Good one, maitai!

You had me going for a minute there.

Oh no maitai, that was a low blow, you had me all excited about at least someone getting to travel..😉

Well, maitatom, in the wonderful universe that you inhabit, I’m still in Kardamyli, in the Pelopponese, and will be heading to Athens in a few days. Then, we’re off to Paris, where we will finish out our 5-week trip!

And last month, I went to Dresden and the Czech Republic! 😂😂

Potugal
 

Sounds like you had a great time! Were there any tests needed or quarantine restrictions?

Maitatom, I'm glad you did not come to Portugal this time. Things are worst than we could imagine. Tonight at midnight we will have "state of calamity" with new rules, like for instance no more than 5 people together. Lot's of new cases in the last 6 days. Other countries in Europe are no better. This is all very depressing. Stay well, Fodorites, stay healthy.

Portugal
 

That's a shame that Portugal and other countries are still heavily affected by this virus! And economies will also be effected.