Some of you may be saying: What? Portugal? So let me back up and explain. When Noah and I originally planned our vacation for September, it was tagging an adventure onto my family’s trip in Europe. We haven’t taken a family vacation in a long time, so I was excited to hear my parents picked Portugal as our destination.
Evaluating our travel plans after Portugal, Noah and I didn’t want to spend much more time in Europe – and always having our future hope of traveling to India, we ended up looking up a lot of travel itineraries before realizing that India was possible, and a perfect compliment to a week of European-style relaxing and wandering.
So that’s how we end up in Portugal for one week with my incredible parents and sister – making a daily routine of walking narrow cobblestoned streets, eating gelato (pistachio & vanilla pictured above), grabbing coffee in the early afternoon, and exploring towns on the outskirts of Lisbon. I couldn’t have asked for a better place to relax.
There is something about vacationing in European cities that is elegant, luxurious, and easy: it’s a vacation with expectations for art, history, good food, and plenty of fun shops to stroll into when you get lost on a walk. We, of course, sampled all the regional fare that is special to Lisbon and the area – pictured top left are the Queijadas de Sintra and bottom right are the Pastel de Nata, both varieties of egg tarts that have a custard consistency within a flaky dough. Pictured below are fried carapauzinhos (mackerel) from O Pitéu and an incredible risotto with swordfish from the Mercado da Ribeira, both in Lisbon.
A week with my family wasn’t enough, but we had a perfect taste of Portugal by spending a few days in Lisbon in a beautiful Airbnb flat, a day exploring colorful castles in Sintra, an overnight stay at the beach in Cascais, and a day trip into Belem- for the pastries, of course!
Until next time, Europe. I am sad I couldn’t stay longer – but seriously, you wouldn’t have either, because India awaited! Stay turned for next Friday’s recap.
Marisa
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine says
I can’t wait to hear about India! One of my #1 travel destinations (hopefully one day!)
Elaine @Flavour&Savour says
Beautfiul! I’ve just discovered your blog and and was excited to see pics of Portugal. We are seriously considering heading there next spring and finding something on airb&b. Do you think Lisbon is the place to stay as a home base?
Marisa says
Yes, I loved having Lisbon as the home base! We took a daytrip to Sintra and stayed one night on the coast. Happy to give more recommendations (including the link to our place) if you want to email me!
Emily @ More Than Just Dessert says
I have been waiting for this post!!! Wish we could have traveled Portugal together 🙂 Were you able to go to the famous bakery, pasteleria de belem? I think that was what it was called. I liked the pastels de nada, but my favorite were the 1 euro huge chocolate croissants! Portugal seriously had the cheapest pastries!
Marisa says
Yes – I loved every. single. pastry. Hah!
Rachael@AnAvocadoADay says
Drooling over these pictures! Portugal is high on my travel list, actually, I think we may be going there next year with my parents (the other option is Croatia!) I’ll be emailing you if we decide on Portugal!
Marisa says
Those are both amazing destinations – good luck with your travel planning! Sometimes I think that can be the most exciting part 🙂
Cassie says
Ahh Portugal is pretty high on my list of places I want to go!! I need that risotto! (And egg tarts, which they left in HK!!)
Carly @ Snack Therapy says
One of my friends spent some time in Portugal this past summer and LOVED it. Granted, it was after a 5-month stay in cold and gray England, but still. Um, and that risotto looks AMAZING. Gimmie.