We’ve just added 3 new videos / slideshows to our website. You can watch them here or as they are posted throughout this article.
These new videos are from our travels in Portugal and feature the towns of Lisbon, Cascais, Sintra, and Óbidos. Essentially, these new videos are a consolidated “greatest hits” album of our travel images. Each video includes anywhere from 30-40 images, and they tell the story of our travels as seen through the lens of my iPhone.
In mid-June, we returned from spending 2 months in Greece (watch our videos). But before Greece, we spent a month in Portugal.
We began in Lagos (video above) – a town in southern Portugal’s Algarve region that offers some of the most stunning beaches, not only in Portugal, but in all of Europe. If you love the ocean, it’s hard to imagine a better place to be. If you encountered nothing more than just the coastline of Lagos, you would most likely fall in love. There is a spectacular and dynamic quality to the cliffs which are truly majestic.
From Lagos, we traveled north to Lisbon (video above) - a city that greets you with open arms. Its charm and warmth greet you immediately when you step out into the streets. When I think of Lisbon, the words that first come to mind are vibrant, bohemian, gritty, charming, and friendly. If Lisbon were an international stew, it would be one part San Francisco, one part Amsterdam, and one part Barcelona. There is an energy of friendliness and likability that oozes from this magnificent city.
I combined the towns of Sintra, Cascais, and Óbidos into one video (above):
Sintra is a charming town known for its castles, palaces, the natural beauty of the surrounding mountains, and is an easy 40-minute trip from Lisbon. The Peña Palace is one of the most famous Sintra landmarks and was classified as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1995. The palace is surrounded by a beautiful landscape that includes mountains, lakes, and forests.
Óbidos is a picturesque and well-preserved medieval town located about 50 miles (80 km) north of Lisbon. It features cobblestone streets, a 12th century castle, and a perfectly preserved wall that surrounds the village.
Cascais was our last stop in Portugal before heading to Greece. It is located in the Lisbon District - just 30km west of the center of Lisbon and is known as the jewel of the Portuguese Riviera, It has a population of 215,000 residents and is well known for its strong expat community, attracting travelers from all over the world looking for a simpler and quieter lifestyle, but still having access and proximity to a bustling city.
I think you’ll find that the imagery tells the story in a way that I can’t with mere words. However, as a writer, I never underestimate the power and beauty of the written word. Enjoy.