Something about this picture of the restaurant stayed with me, and now that we are in Portugal, we went there for lunch. WOW. It was so wonderful. It was my birthday and i was so excited to be in such a magical setting (the natural beauty and the whimsical decoration, seating and plants). Our desserts were some of the best I’ve ever had: incredible tarts and pies. So happy for the Fodors forum to have brought me to this place today!

We just came back from a week in the Algarve and a week in Andalusia, Spain. Thanks for all your tips. I read them all before we left. We might think of doing a few months in Portugal next winter. Loved it!

Skatedancer
Sberg

I'm glad that my post was helpful to you (positive comments are always appreciated).
I have also found the info from other travellers helpful, sharing can make richer travel experiences.

Dom Quixote was an interesting find, the setting was a bit different but so very enjoyable with friends, food, drink and the surroundings we almost forgot time.

Between the practical and the touristy we found the sweet spot for Portugal travel.
We have enjoyed it before on short trips but enjoyed it even more on this extended trip.

So true! Thank you for sharing so much of your experience! It was a delight reading you! You made me feel that I still have a lot to discover in my own country!

Waiting for our flight, on way to Porto. Thank you very much for such valuable information!

Helena Fátima
I'm glad you enjoyed my trip report.
You also have shared lots of info that's been very helpful regarding the city of Porto.
For such a small country Portugal has so much to offer.
We visited Portugal many times and enjoyed every time, the history, monuments, architecture, nature, beaches,food, wine, and just a sense of ease and peace - we feel very safe travelling in Portugal.
Portugal yours to discover.

mjs
I'm glad you found my trip report helpful.
Wish you a great trip.
Since you're going to Porto, Helena Fátima has a lot of local knowledge that might be helpful to you.

For anyone travelling to Portugal now the temperatures are starting to rise , 38 Celsius is expect in the center of the country.
https://www.theportugalnews.com/news...ter-05/07/2023

Thank you for all the practical details! A great deal of time was needed to put this all together! Off to Portugal in October!

janekirstine
Appreciate the positive comments.
Thank-you

Read this from beginning to end! Thanks. Planning a two week trip for Jan 2024. Really glad to see the blue skies in your pictures. That's the main reason we have chosen Portugal. We live in Michigan, and although I don't mind the cold, I do mind the gray sky.

macswim
I glad my trip report has been helpful, hope you have good weather and an enjoyable trip.

We know grey skies all too well, when you're in Portugal it's very likely that we'll be in Michigan ( Dearborn - Henry Ford museum) as part of a longer road trip.

Just to report we had a nice trip to Portugal with 5 nights in Porto and 5 nights in Lisbon with a couple of days wondering around with a car in between the two cities. Thanks for the warning about the speed bumps aka pedestrian crossing. I think they are made to look somewhat similar to make you slow down for both

Aulop, I just came across your TR, quite a bit after you shared it-many thanks for all of the helpful details, reflections, tips, and wonderful photos (including the practical photos). What a marvelous resource. I’m toying with a trip to Portugal at some point (having been only to Lisbon decades ago) and your report is one I’m sure I’ll return to if I decide to make the trip (which would have to be much shorter than yours). I love that you were there for 3 months. Seems so smart to investigate snowbird opportunities in this careful way. Thanks!

Studenttobe
Thanks for your positive comments.
I'm glad my trip report is helpful to other travelers.
I also have enjoyed and learned from reading others travel experiences.
Sharing the good, the not so good and the practical enriches the travel experiences.
The travel forum is a good resource for both general and specific info, we use it often.
Wish you an enjoyable trip.

[QUOTE=aulop;17598174]Studenttobe
Thanks for your positive comments.
I'm glad my trip report is helpful to other travelers.
I also have enjoyed and learned from reading others travel experiences.
Sharing the good, the not so good and the practical enriches the travel experiences.
The travel forum is a good resource for both general and specific info, we use it often.
Wish you an enjoyable trip.[/

Thanks, Aulop (and fully agree the forums are an invaluable resource to me as well)

Aulop. Thank you for the many pages and photos of information. I slowly scrolled through each page. Many great posts. Many great photos I am wondering if you posted. and I missed it, a summary of the DAYS and which CITIES? There were hundreds of posts and pictures. I saw different cities go by. But I did not see an overall summary. Wat there one?

You didn't miss it , the purpose of our trip was to determine if it was a suitable alternative to our winter trips to Florida (hence the 2 months in the Algarve) so I didn't post a travel summary.

My trip report has reached 100 thousand views, hope it was helpful to all those that viewed it.