Article: PORTUGAL TRAVEL DIARY: FILLED WITH PORT, PASTÉIS DE NATA, PASTEL BUILDINGS & PATTERNS
PORTUGAL TRAVEL DIARY: FILLED WITH PORT, PASTÉIS DE NATA, PASTEL BUILDINGS & PATTERNS
We've been reunited in Portugal after Carla relocated from Johannesburg to Porto in November 2021.
Lucky me had the privilege to enjoy all Portugal had to offer with a local as my tour guide.
Here are a few of our favourite spots to check out if you're planning a trip to Portugal soon.
LISBON
The colourful buildings are nothing short of breathtaking, we had a blast in the vibey pink city. We were there for both work and play (new shoot loading, keep an eye out).
Take a moment for lunch at Amelia. We're super proud to mention that our good friend and collaborator, Mariana Albuquerque of Obvius Design spearheaded the branding of this very trendy lunch spot. Our Romaria collection is also available to shop at Mariana's showroom.
She introduced us to the work of local Portuguese fine artist Tail To Tail, the clever mind behind the character Amelia; the poodle with the best hair day.
Best Pastéis De Nata in town? There is some controversy around this topic.
Most would recommend Pastéis de Belém located in Belém but the queues were madness.
The contrast of old versus new juxtaposed in perfect harmony.
DOURO VALLEY - FARMHOUSE QUINTA DE S. BERNARDO
PORTO
Totally saving the best for last. :)
Porto has a lot to offer, it is a city with a calmer rhythm compared to Lisbon and it has a very cool local design scene. The massive Douro River passes through the city and runs through the Douro Valley where we visited the wine farm. Boats travel back and forth from the valley with the purpose of stocking the city with the best wines.
We stayed in Foz and hopped over to different parts of the city from downtown to Gaia.
In Foz, I enjoyed hitting the streets for a peaceful morning jog alongside the river, trying out local choccies at Arcádia and watching the sunset from the lighthouse where the river meets the ocean.
Downtown is where the action happens. On the one side of the river, you can explore historical monuments and buildings with multiple little shops and restaurants, where on the other side you will find the wine region with a variety of restaurants representing the wine farms in the Douro Valley. The WOW (World Of Wine) building is brand new and magnificent. We ended our gallivanting with a drink at The Yeatman Hotel with views to die for.
We've experienced all kinds of weather from to rain to wind and shine. We were always dressed in Romaria and always super comfortable; from the airport rush to a fancy dinner date.
In conclusion, there are two common threads from this trip that we are taking away with us;
2. There are always patterns for those who want to see them.
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