This is the page where you’ll find all my blog posts about Portugal.
I’ve been to Portugal a bunch of times. My first time was in early childhood with my parents to Cascais nearby Lisbon. As an adult, I went to Portugal in 2015 while hitchhiking coastal Europe. My plan was to continue along the coast of Portugal. But then I met Jonas again after meeting in Tarifa (Spain) for the first time. So from there, I joined him in Germany and ended up on an ocean-crossing cruise to South America. In 2018, I visited Portugal again and finally hitchhiked up the Serra da Estrela. In 2019, I finished up my university thesis in Lisbon before going to Cabo Verde. That same year, I returned from Cabo Verde to Lisbon via São Miguel island in the Azores, which was a dream come true.
Despite many experiences with many pieces of Portugal, I think it’s never a bad idea to return to this European country. That’s why I have a whole list of things I want to do and places I want to see for future trips.
Next Time in Portugal
- Hitchhike even more with locals. Meanwhile, I should improve my Portuguese to speak better with people 🙂
- On the mainland at the coast: I still want to visit Sagres (maybe stay in Lagos too), Peniche (and the Berlengas), watch people surf in Nazaré, and I’d like to visit Póvoa de Varzim to see the siglas poveiras
- Return to the Azores; I love cheese and that’s why I’m obsessed with the island of São Jorge
- Visit Madeira and Porto Santo Islands. I have a friend in Madeira and he’s always enthusiastic about his archipelago
- While in one of the archipelagos or at the coast, I’d love to do some sailing. On the top of my list are the Ilhas Desertas and the Ilhas Selvagens. You can find my CrewBay profile here and my Find a Crew profile here!
- Kayak on the Tejo River (downstream, I’m not a masochist). If it’s gonna be another long kayaking trip, I’d probably start in Spain
- On the mainland in the interior: go hiking in the northern parts (maybe Montesinho NP?), revisit the Serra da Estrela area (I missed the Covão dos Conchos the first time), visit vineyards and cute towns (suggestions very welcome!)
- Stay for a month on a tiny island to write a book or do something like that. There are tons of places in Portugal that look just like the perfect writer’s retreat
If you know cool places and things to do in Portugal, comment at the bottom of this page so I can always find your suggestions again once I start plotting my return! Se você é português e conhece lugares bonitos ou aventureiros, por favor, compartilhe nos comentários
Are you a travel blogger and do you have good posts about Portugal? Drop them in a comment below and I’ll read them!
A Happy Ending – Kitten Rescue in Portugal, Part V
Part V: The Aftermath This story is number 5 in a series of 5. To read it chronologically, start at Part I. Click here to go to Part II, Part III, and Part IV. I promise you this is the last of it. Updates from Porto The next day, Jonas receives updates from Marie via WhatsApp. She sends us pictures and videos of Chorizo, and updates us about its health. The updates are regular and very sweet and loving. We’re waiting at the airport for our flight, and when we arrive in Warsaw, we know Chorizo is at theContinue reading
Tragedy Strikes – Kitten Rescue in Portugal, Part IV
Part IV: Downfall & Death This series of posts is mostly a way for me to process the trauma of going through this tragedy. If you’re expecting happy travel content, this ain’t it. This story is number 4 in a series of 5. To read it chronologically, start at Part I, Part II, or Part III. Here you can find the subsequent stories about rescuing a kitten in Porto, Portugal: Part V. Back to Normal (July 16, Continued) We say goodbye to Jan, who is leaving for Germany or something like that. It’s still morning, and Jonas and I are about to haveContinue reading
Entering the Void – Kitten Rescue in Portugal, Part III
Part III: Rescuing a Kitten This series of posts is mostly a way for me to process the trauma of going through this. If you’re expecting happy travel content, this ain’t it. This story is number 3 in a series of 5. Here you can find Part I and Part II. Here you can find the subsequent stories about rescuing a kitten from the void in Porto, Portugal: Part IV and Part V. Spotting the Culprit (Sunday 15th of July, contd.) We return home from the animal shelter Midas, fully knowing this time that it is our responsibility to save that kitten. AndContinue reading
Midas the Animal Shelter – Kitten Rescue in Portugal, Part II
Part II: A Trip to Midas This series of posts is mostly a way for me to process the trauma of going through this. If you’re expecting happy travel content, this ain’t it. This story is number 2 in a series of 5. You can find Part I here. Here you can find the subsequent stories about rescuing a kitten in Porto, Portugal: Part III, Part IV, and Part V. Are you going to Porto and would you like to do something good on your travels? You can donate money to Midas via Facebook fundings. Sunday 15th of July Too damnContinue reading
Arriving in Porto – Kitten Rescue in Portugal, Part I
Part I: What’s Supposed to be Enjoyable This series of posts is mostly a way for me to process the trauma of going through this. If you’re expecting happy travel content, this ain’t it. This story is number 1 in a series of 5. Here you can find the subsequent stories about rescuing a kitten in Porto, Portugal: Part II, Part III, Part IV, and Part V. Coming to Porto, Portugal I had agreed to come to Porto in northern Portugal with my partner. He participated in a Digital Nomad conference by the German language ‘Citizen Circle’ that week, andContinue reading
Hitchhiking Serra da Estrela Mountain in Portugal
Delayed Gratification In summer 2018, I wanted to hitchhike to the highest point of mainland Portugal. It’s a mountain named ‘Serra da Estrela’, which can be translated as ‘Star Mountain Range’. A peak called ‘Torre’ is the highest point at 1993m above sea level, which isn’t too shabby – but also won’t cause trouble breathing. My partner Jonas and I were staying in Porto, which is only 200 kilometers from the mountain peak. Back in October 2015, I was also in Portugal, but more south in Lisbon and Cabo da Roca. Back then I did some research into what theContinue reading
Bombeiro-Surfing in Beja, Portugal (Sleeping at a Fire Station)
So I walked by the fire fighting station in Beja, Portugal, and decided that was the place I was going to sleep at. I’m coining this ‘bombeiro-surfing’ and it results in instant new friends! I don’t speak Portuguese – yet – but I know that ‘bombeiro’ translates to ‘firefighter’. And as you know, ‘surfing’ is short for couchsurfing—but without the help of the CS platform, of course. (See mosque-surfing, yurt-surfing, and café-surfing) But all joking aside, I’d read or heard somewhere that bombeiro-surfing is actually a legit thing to do when traveling in Portugal. I’d link to where I saw it beforeContinue reading
Why We Started Catsitting + How to Start Housesitting to Travel
It all started with a cat named Monday. At least, that’s what we called her. And after finding a forever home for her, we wanted to have more cats in our lives without the drama and the tears. More happy stories of beloved felines that receive regular veterinary care. Fewer stories of kittens discarded on a hiking trail or born in a colony on a rooftop. Just taking care of cats for a few days or weeks or months and then handing back the responsibility to their pet parents who missed them dearly and are grateful for the help. ThatContinue reading
Four Days in the Aosta Valley (Italy)
Between two catsits in Geneva, Switzerland, and The Hague, the Netherlands, we took the bus from Geneva to Aosta in Italy. Aosta is the capital of the autonomous Aosta Valley region, which is bilingual (Italian and French). From the 30th of May till the 3rd of June, we spent four incredible days in the Aosta Valley. We used the city of Aosta as a base for day trips to the surrounding villages. Contents1 Plotting Our Trip + Bus Ride from Geneva to Aosta2 But First, Pizza + Gnocchi3 Taking the Bus to Cogne + Hiking to Lillaz Waterfalls4 Cogne toContinue reading
Dumped Kitten at Mont Limon + Limon Confit Rescue Story
Tuesday, 7th of June 2022. We decided to finish the unknown hiking trail at Mont Limon, the highest peak in Rodrigues. But our plans of having a casual little hike with no trouble were thwarted by the criminal who decided to dump their kitten next to the trail. This is the rescue story of a dumped kitten we (temporarily) named Limon Confit. Contents1 Meows on the Alternative Ascent to Mont Limon2 Freeing a Dumped Kitten3 Walking Down + Contemplating the Next Steps4 Naming the Dumped Kitten5 Pizza + Chicken Spam Time!6 Driving Limon Confit to Mourouk7 Finding a Forever HomeContinue reading