Spain
Peace, Love and a Carnival Queen, Man
Carnival is surreal at the best of times but the gala for the election of the Santa Cruz Carnival Queen in Tenerife ramped up the whole ‘have I just dropped a tab of acid’ feel to new levels. […]
Europe
Costa Brava
An Artist’s Impression of Salvador Dalí
…from the moment we enter the small room and Antoni Pitxot introduces us to Edward James, the stuffed, white Polar Bear decked in necklaces in whose right paw the table lamp that lights the hallway is held aloft… […]
Europe
A Different View of Porto Photo Blog
Porto has a personality that is quite unlike any other city I’ve visited. Its grand past is ever present even if it feels as faded as Kris Kristofferson’s denims. […]
Porto
The 10 Best Things to Do in Porto
Just like things to see in Porto, there are multitudinous activities in the city to keep even those with low boredom thresholds amused, entertained and interested… […]
Food & drink
Food, Restaurants and Eating Out in Porto
It’s considerably cheaper to eat out in Portugal than it is in much of the rest of Europe and even though Porto is the country’s second city, paying the bill is a painless experience in all but the most exclusive establishments. […]
Porto
The 10 Best Things to See in Porto
The imposing Dom Luis I Bridge over the Douro River offers a number of panoramic views of Porto. Cross it for postcard-esque views from Cais de Gaia or… […]
Hotels
Hotel Internacional, Porto
We were smitten by the Hotel Internacional the moment we set eyes on it. Like the city of Porto it exuded a charm that harked back to another age… […]
Food & drink
Is this the Best Sandwich in the World? Falling for Porto’s Francesinha
Messy looking though it is, the francesinha holds a Pandora’s Box of surprises. The first being that the tomato sauce doesn’t taste of tomatoes and it’s got a kick like Bruce Lee. […]
Food & drink
Café Society in Guimaraes
The line between bars and cafés in Guimaraes, and indeed in Porto, is distinctly blurred. Having been brought up in a pub culture where bars serve alcohol by default and coffee by exception, it was a novelty to see alcohol drinkers in cafés and coffee sippers in bars. […]
Hiking
Climbing Mount Teide Volcano to Watch the Sun Rise
We take it easy, stopping often to drink water. It gives us time to absorb the epic natural canvas unfolding below. This is nature gone mad, an explosively abstract volcanic scene… […]
Porto
Starting the New Year in Porto
The punk looked as though he could be dead. He lay on his side like a foetus with a Mohican; motionless. The woman holding her finger to his neck, trying to find a pulse, looked concerned… […]
Guimaraes
Being Enchanted by Misty Mount Penha in Guimarães
There’s something about sitting in a flimsy cabin heading into a thick shrouded blotting out the landscape that sends a thrill skipping down the spine, especially as there was no one else making the trip into the unknown… […]
Guimaraes
Villa Hotel, Guimarães
A chic, boutique hotel in easy strolling distance of the historic centre, spitting distance of the railway station and perfectly positioned for exploring all parts of Guimarães. […]
Guimaraes
Nightlife in Guimarães
There’s a bit of a blur between coffee shops, cafés and bars in Portugal with some places having a different personality after dark. Most cafés in Guimarães sell beer, wine and spirits. […]
Food & drink
Food & Restaurants in Guimarães
From sausages that aren’t sausages, pastries that look as though one bite could pile on the pounds, snack foods galore in cosy cafés and sophisticated fare in stylish restaurants… […]