While still in orca territory, we decided to break up our 120-nautical-mile journey from Lagos to Cadiz into three smaller legs. This brought us to Vilamoura for a night. Described to us as the Vegas of Portugal, we found it a bit exaggerated but enjoyed its unique charm. This little oasis offers a beach...

Our first full day in Lagos started with a trip to the local chandlery for cleaning supplies, followed by a deep boat clean. In the afternoon, we met up with our good friends Kelley and Jennifer for a relaxing time at Burgau Beach and some pre-dinner snacks at a cute café by the beach....

Tuesday’s trip saw us traveling from Sines to Lagos, a route shadowed by the looming threat of an orca attack (there were 3 attacks on boat rudders in this region just the prior day!). The anxiety was palpable as we navigated the 80 nautical miles over 12 grueling hours. With our crew of three...

Today was a relatively uneventful day at sea with glass-like surfaces and winds less than 7 knots all day, almost directly on our bow, leading to us motoring. There’s really not much to say about such a journey other than to bask in the glory of the spectacular views to behold. I’m contemplating a...

Today’s adventure was a mesmerizing journey along the gorgeous coastline from Lisbon to Sesimbra. We decided to hug the shore to hopefully avoid any encounters with orcas, which made for a lovely voyage as we enjoyed close-up views of the rocky cliffs dotted with hidden beaches.  Arriving in Sesimbra, a very active beach location...

Ever had that experience on a rollercoaster where you feel like your butt is leaving the seat as you accelerate down a hill? I felt that thrilling rush today as we headed out to the sea, sailing from Nazaré to Lisbon. After a late night out, I decided to sleep in, leaving Doug and...

We greatly enjoyed our visit to Nazaré, a charming and traditional town along Portugal’s beautiful Silver Coast. Historically a fishing center, Nazaré is now world-renowned for its colossal 30-metre waves that attract daredevil surfers from around the globe. Walking through the town, we were captivated by the Portuguese pavement, known as ‘calçada portuguesa,’ with...

We had a brief but delightful stop in the beautiful seaside resort town of Figueira da Foz—just enough time for laundry and another lovely dinner. Our walk around the town was a treat, highlighted by a stroll past the Coliseu Figueirense na Figueira da Foz, but unfortunately missed seeing an exhibit of the Portuguese...

Embarking on a Traditional Portuguese Food Tour in Porto turned out to be one of the highlights of our trip. Led by the charming and knowledgeable Harold, our group included fellow food enthusiasts from Coffs Harbour and Perth in Australia, England, and Florida. Together, we embarked on a culinary journey to explore Portuguese cuisine’s...

Our adventure in Porto began with a train ride into the heart of the city, where we spent the day meandering through its charming streets. Porto is famously linked to J.K. Rowling, who lived in the city for two years in the early 1990s while working as an English teacher, and it’s believed that...