Tag: Portugal
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Medieval Fair of Obidos
Obidos Portugal, the place I happily call my new home, hosts a major festival during each season of the year. In the fall, there’s an international literary festival called Folio. Winter brings a celebration of Christmas called Vila Natal. In spring, Obidos is the place for all chocoholics during the Chocolate Festival. And my favorite…
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Beautiful Bussaco
What comes to mind when you envision the country of Portugal? Sandy beaches, palm trees, and crystal blue waters? Rolling hills covered in grapevines? Large cities and small villages? Yes, it has all those things and so much more. Similar in size to the US state of Indiana, Portugal is a wonder of varied climates,…
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Hello Spring!
“It is spring again. The Earth is like a child that knows poems.” – Rainer Maria Rilke I fell in love with this quote years ago and admire both its eloquence and the image it paints in a mere thirteen words. Here is my homage to spring in pictures. Most were taken near my home…
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Beautiful Belém
No visit to Lisbon would be complete without spending some time in Belém. Rick and I have stayed there twice and have yet to scratch the surface of everything it has to offer. From monuments to museums and from parks to promenades, Belém will appeal to history buffs, nature lovers, families, artists, and tourists alike.…
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Where in the World?
In this blog, I challenge my readers to guess where in the world the photos below were taken. Some are easy, some not so much. Name the country, city, or place of as many as you can in the comments. Click on Photo 1 to begin. In my next blog, I return to Lisbon and…
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Park of Monserrate
As a lover of gardens, I’ve been to many in both the United States and Europe. At the top of my list of favorites are Mendocino Coast Botanical Gardens in California and Cawdor Castle Gardens in Scotland. Since visiting last May, the Park of Monserrate Palace now tops my list. It is stunning in both…
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A Tale of Two Palaces (Part Two)
The Palace of Monserrate has a long history of famous occupants and guests. In 1790, wealthy diamond merchant Gerard de Visme built the first Neo-Gothic palace on the ruins of the old chapel of Our Lady of Monserrate. In the mid-1790’s, British novelist and art collector William Beckford became the new tenant. During his stay…
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A Tale of Two Palaces (Part One)
With its proximity to Lisbon, favorable climate, and lush natural beauty it’s no wonder why Sintra attracted both royals and the rich as THE spot to build their palaces. It is also one of the most romantic spots in Portugal, where kings and queens have fallen in love and where writers such as Lord Byron…
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Along Lisbon’s Waterfront
Another of my favorite places in Lisbon is along the waterfront in the northeastern part of the city. Since we had only stayed near Rossio Square on prior visits, this newer part of the city was both a surprise and a contrast to the Lisbon we thought we knew. On our first visit here, we…
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Around Rossio (Part One)
I fell in love with Lisbon on our first visit and my feelings deepen the more time I spend in this magnificent capital city. Our visit was short, only one night, but Lisbon certainly made a lasting impression. Rick and I visited Portugal in late May of 2017 as part of a four-country trip to…