In brief: While exploring the Douro River valley, we found other enticements in the vicinity - Bragança, Viana do Castelo, Arouca. Our main goal was to do the Douro River valley and its towns, as…
In brief: We finally took the opportunity to go with the flow - visiting the Douro River and environs - after seeing much of the rest of the country. There are many ways to “do…
In brief: We kayaked the coast with friends in a delightful half-day excursion. Sesimbra, tucked into a peninsula about an hour’s drive south of Lisbon, is an adventuring center. It nestles within the extensive Arrabida…
In brief: We returned to Rome for one art exhibition, Caravaggio at the Palazzo Barberini, but – inevitably in this city – discovered much more. Rome is rich with artistic treasures at any time. Special…
In brief: We hadn’t visited Rome for 19 years since we lived in neighboring Umbria. So our aim was largely to wander across the city. Here are some digital “vedute” of our memorable moments. Vedute…
In brief: We took the opportunity in the Spring of 2025 to re-visit two of our favorite museums, and certainly tops in Lisbon – the Bordalo Pinheiro and the Gulbenkian. Bordalo Pinheiro Some five years…
In brief: We found a bit of old Lisbon under the aqueduct in the Campolide freguesia. At the edge of forested Monsanto park, on a plateau looking out over the Campolide valley, we took a…
In brief: The bountiful Kakheti region is not just sloshing in wine, the major product now. It’s overflowing with secular and religious history as well. The last major region we aimed to see in the…
Entrance, Teatro São Luiz The theatre is not dead - at least not the Teatro São Luiz. Built for royalty to enjoy, it endured through the end of the monarchy and still welcomed the best…
Peace, liberty, the future…celebrators and demonstrators - directly acting on their right to express their views - repeated these themes during Portugal's country-wide celebration of its liberation from the dictatorship of Salazar's fascist regime. On…