This year, our destination was Portugal.
Day 1: Guimarães#
Depart Brussels Charleroi South station (6:50 a.m.), arrive at Porto Airport (8:15 a.m.). Pick up the rental car, then head for Guimarães. People say Portugal was born here. The town centre is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. We park at Parque das Hortas, near the Church of Our Lady of Consolation. Walk from Largo da Oliveira (Igreja e Oratórios de Nossa Senhora da Consolação e Santos Passos). We try tortas de Guimarães. First lodging: infinity pool, first gorgeous sunset.
Day 2: Parque Nacional Peneda-Gerês & Ponte de Lima#
The original idea was Tahiti waterfall in Gerês (Cascata do Tahiti / Cascatas de Fecha de Barjas). A GPS mix-up lands us in a tangle — there are two villages called Ermida in northern Portugal. We stop at Germil to soak up lush scenery. We end up at the “wrong” Ermida: a deserted village. The other Ermida is about an hour and forty minutes away, so we change plans and aim for Ponte de Lima instead. Swim stop along Ribeiro de Carcerelha, then Poço Negro de Carcerelha with its pond and cascade. The bridge spans the Rio Lima; we also take in the façade of Igreja de Santo António da Torre Velha. Ice cream break at Trisabordes. Back to the pool at our lodging.
Day 3: Porto#
Day 4: Trilho dos Poços Verdes - 7 Lagoas#
Dinner in Guimarães’ historic centre.
Day 5: Bom Jesus do Monte#
Day 6: Amarante & Douro Valley#
Leave our first lodging. Visit Amarante. Stop among the Douro vineyards. River cruise from Pinhão with Magnifico Douro. Arrive at our second lodging: Vumba.
Day 7: Aveiro & Costa Nova#
Breakfast on the terrace of the little bakery Beirão de Gema. Pool at the lodging. Visit Aveiro. Coffee at Porta do cafe.
Day 8: Fraga de la Pena#
Day 9: Parque Nacional do Buçaco & Coimbra#
Arrive at our third lodging.
Day 10: Mosteiro da Batalha, Nazaré & Peniche#
Panoramic stroll at Paredes.
Day 11: Óbidos#
Visit the medieval town of Óbidos and its castle. Walk the ramparts. Arrive in Mafra for our fourth lodging.
Day 12: Sintra#
Hike up to Palácio da Pena. Visit the palace. Ramparts of the Moorish castle (Castelo dos Mouros). Quinta da Regaleira.
Day 13: Lisbon#
Pastéis de Belém — a real institution founded in 1837. Santa Maria de Belém. Jerónimos Monastery. Belém Tower. Arrive at our fifth lodging and taste Pastéis de Nata.
Day 14: Rota Vicentina#
Padel at the natural pond by our lodging. Hike on the Rota Vicentina starting from Odemira. Dinner and a close encounter with a fox.
Day 15: Hike#
Praia Do Queimado. Praia Do Sissal. Dinner in Porto Covo. Supper back at the lodge — the fox shows up again.
Day 16: Hike#
Almograve. Beja. Cap Sardão lighthouse.
Day 17: Sagres#
Praia de Odeceixe. Sagres lighthouse. Surf beach at Sagres. Arrive at our sixth — and last — lodging. Dinner in Carvoeiro overlooking the little cove beach.
Day 18: Return to Belgium#
São Gonçalo de Lagos. Ponta da Piedade.
