My first ever post-university package holiday all by myself was to Portugal. I loved holidaying solo and both the concept of solo travel and Portugal itself have done nothing but grow on me over the years. In fact I’ve been visiting Portugal for decades, so when I realised I’ve now been on 5 separate visits […]

Mention Portugal and its Lisbon that’s on everybody’s lips, occasionally the Algarve and possibly Porto. The hilltop towns, cork farms and deserted beaches of the Alentejo are a mystery to most – they’re the most magical part of Portugal that you’ve never heard of. These are my most treasured memories of the Alentejo… I’m driving […]

Just outside the UNESCO World Heritage City of Evora in Portugal’s sleepy Alentejo region lies the Iberian Peninsula’s largest Megalithic monument, the mysterious and enigmatic Almendres stone circle. Built 7,000 years ago – and  2,000 years before Stonehenge  – it’s still attracting visitors, if you can find it down a quiet dusty road that is… I’m in Evora and I’ve just […]

You’ve heard of Lisbon and the Algarve but what about the sleepy swathe of Portugal which lies between these two areas? The road joining Portugal’s main tourist hubs may be well-travelled, but not so the towns, beaches and farmlands of the Alentejo region itself. Here we explore Portugal’s best kept secret in photographs… I hope these photographs will inspire you to […]

I had last visited Lisbon in 2005. Back then I did the usual touristy stuff, walked around the right neighbourhoods, rode the 28 tram and visited the flea market. I hired a car to see Sintra and some of the beaches outside town, I adored the tile-fronted houses and shabby chic neighbourhoods and ate my fair share […]

A selection of my favourite examples of Lisbon photography from my time in the city, with images of Lisbon street life from a variety of angles.  p.s. I left my camera on the wrong setting for some of my favourite shots (don’t you hate it when that happens!) so I had to get creative with […]

I’ve been to Portugal twice before and both times the food was a major sticking point for me, so I knew my recent trip round the country would be make or break for my relationship with Portuguese cuisine. I’m happy to report that from green wine to roast chicken, Port to quince jam, via fresh […]