They should hire you! And their tourism board, too.

xyz99, you are most welcome for the lead on the National Arts Museum along with the incredible Bosch painting (my father who was born in S'Hertogenbosch, Netherlands-birthplace of Bosch had a large coffee table book of Bosch's paintings and "Temptation of Saint Anthony" pictures would give me nightmares as a child!) there are paintings by Pieter Brueghel, Pieter de Hooch, Metsys, Memling, and Cranach. speaking of gifts/collectibles which duly reflect the history of Portugal in my opinion are the small ceramic (in vibrant blue and white) crafts of the famous Portuguese windmills. They look great on any mantle, shelf, curio cabinet. You can find them handmade in various sizes for less than 20 Euro.

And my thanks, too, to Maribel for all the shopping ideas (though I’m not sure if my husband will be quite so happy&#128513. Fortunately, at least the ones in Chiado will be close enough that I don’t have to work too hard to get there!😉

And to mike for the recommendation for the recommendation for the National Arts Museum (now that will thrill my husband!). I grew up with artist-parents whose books of paintings would fascinate and terrify me, too. The one which really stood out for me was “The Garden of Earthly Delights”, so I was thrilled when we finally got to Madrid and was able to see it in the Prado. And you list so many other wonderful painters - that is definitely on the must-see list.

Mike, the more I read about Portugal the more I learn: new places, new things I want to see and explore. Whenever this trip will happen, and I'm sure it will, this will be an amazing one. Everything booked for fall now, fingers crossed.

I promise it WILL be amazing!
Although I'm a life long hispanophile, educated in Spain (my late husband was a Madrid native, my second husband is also a life long Hispanophile, and we were married in Spain), but we've both lately fallen in love with Portugal and especially with its kind and hospitable people. We would love to move there permanently and will be house hunting this fall. The country and its people just stole our hearts.

Maribel, your passion is infectious! I think you’ve inspired quite a few of us with your love for both Portugal and Spain. I know I studied the Maribel guides very carefully when we went to Spain in 2015 and I’m even more grateful for all you’ve shared about Portugal. I hope the Portuguese tourist board knows how much you’ve done for them!

I’m really excited about Portugal, too - and am so excited that we’re only a month away from leaving for our trip!

Ditto for thumbs up to Maribel! Great insight. Maribel, as much as we love Portugal (6th time this upcoming May) we absolutely LOVE Spain. This September will be our 10th year in a row for 2 weeks in Zahara de los Atunes, a village in which has become our second home. We rent the same apartment directly on the beach and have made numerous friends there. We too have talked about buying a house in either Spain or Portugal. If not we plan on spending 2-3 months every year in either or both countries in a few years after the wife retires. The friendliness of the people, the incredible foods and wines, the historic sites, and the magnificant weather outweighs our many friends desire to retire to Florida.

Mike and Maribel,
I guess you'll both be happy to hear that our 2023 travel plan includes Spain. I visited many years ago and loved it, but DH never did. I'm very excited to go back to some places I've visited before (Barcelona, Seville, Granada) as well as some new places. But this is a conversation for later, and another post.

Mike,
You are SO lucky to spend those 2 weeks in Zahara de los Atunes in September. That, to me, is the absolute perfect time for the lovely Costa de la Luz, when it's lively with all the chiringuitos open and still beach weather. We go in March, only because it coincides with the International Flamenco Festival in Jerez, and it's just too quiet then, although we love the area--Zahara, Vejer, Conil, Bolonia.

xyz99,
Very, very happy that 2023 will take you back to Spain!

For folks Lisbon bound,
A new spot in Baixa, Rua Franqueiros to purchase Portuguese food products and also to sample in their caf�-STO Mercearia (a mercearia is a grocery store)
https://www.stomercearia.pt/?lang=en

And for those Sintra bound, a spot that serves very traditional fare at great prices--Sopa d/Av�
Sintra Restaurants | Restaurant Sopa da Av�

https://www.evasoes.pt/comer/comer-e...todos/1030258/

Again, just trying to boost the Portuguese economy!

From the STO Mercearia web site: "Wines, cheeses, tinned food, jams, olive oil or spirits, there are many dozens of products of various categories and premium quality that are available for sale, but also for consumption on site." Can they open a store in NJ, please?

I know! I wish they would open a store in Seattle. We have the Paris-Madrid grocery (formerly The Spanish Table), but not a wonderful mercearia portuguesa.
There was a beautifully decorated (in blue and white tiles) Portuguese restaurant that we loved, "Alfama", in NYC, but it closed after 9-11.

A mercearia like this-


Quinta das Carvalhas shop in Porto, a city with many old time mercearias.

OMG!!! You are cruel!