Portugal

I never paid much attention to where Portugal was on a map. Call me naive I guess, it's just my small circle of people never spoke of it. I mean an occasional word or two, but I always heard of the praises of Spain, Italy, and Greece. Portugal isn't meant to be a whisper, instead, it should be in the Spotlight, and I shall be telling you the highlights of this little globe trotter's adventure. 

• Orange Grooves, they are everywhere and you can pick the tender ripe fruit. In the morning a fresh glass of orange juice can be quite refreshing, or maybe you prefer a delicious mimosa. 

• Beaches are untouched here. Unlike back home, where if you holiday in Flordia for instance, almost all the beaches are covered in massive resorts, condos, and so on. Filled with people, and noise. The beaches in Melides and Comporta are absolutely exquisite. Small quaint beach clubs that don't ruin the environment with their flashy size. Also, the beaches are clean, and the sand is smooth. The waves come crashing and if you look closely you can see the pink sea salt. It is truly exquisite. The only music is the waves crashing and the seagulls crying. 

• Surf! If you are looking to catch some waves, especially as a beginner this is the place for you. You can either take lessons if needed or head to the waves. I am not a surfer, but I did come in October, and the swells seemed pretty achievable and manageable no matter what your skill level.

• Food. The classic dishes are comforting and so mouthwateringly good. From a Pastel de nata which is like a puff pastry custard tart, to Arroz de marisco meaning rice with fish. I had a cuttlefish fish black ink rice, which was the perfect combination of creamy and savory. The fish completely melted in my mouth with each bite. This is definitely the place for seafood lovers. They also have tons of meat dishes. The places we ate at though were like going to grandma's kitchen. The portions were so massive it was quite surprising. Great to share among friends. 

• Wine. If you are a wine lover, Portugal has some lovely wineries you must venture to. The wine is a sinful sip of deliverance. 

• Herdade da Comporta
• https://www.herdadedacomporta.pt/pt/gca/index.php?id=1

• Horses. This is your time for an adventure, ride across the sandy beaches and live out the fantasy of being a damsel or lord riding toward the sunset. Or take a ride and enjoy the olive grooves and sand dunes, enjoying the charming & idyllic landscape around you. 

• Fashion. If you love fashion and the elites such as the talented Christian Louboutin. Then I highly recommend a stop in Melides to see the stunning boutique hotel that he created. Each room is designed to leave you there breathless with its ambiance and beauty. It's like walking into a painting. 

• https://www.vermelhohotel.com/hotel-melides/

My Experience

• JNcQUOI Beach Club/Resturant. Went here by mistake, thinking it was another restaurant. Decided to give it a try and boy I was NOT disappointed. I started the evening with a cocktail the bartender recommended. The Pornstar Martini, which if you haven't had one is passionfruit based and quite refreshing. After the drink at the lovely bar, I was escorted to a table and the view of the beach was exceptional. For dinner, I wanted to try the local cuisine and I took the recommendation of my server, which was clam rice... or it may be oyster? One of those two. It was superb! Highly recommend!
• Pego Beach
• Carvalhal, Portugal
• https://www.jncquoi.com/pt/locais/beach-club/1297/

• Melides. There is a statue, or shall I say an outdoor exhibit of art. It is a collection of stone marble books. It's beautiful and is right in front of the quaint church, which I definitely recommend taking a look at. The architecture and buildings in Portugal all have this amazing atmospheric air about them, you just want to wander in. The buildings I did manage to stumble or wander into all had an intimate feeling about them. 

• Tosca. I was craving pizza, and Tosca is where I decided to go to fulfill that craving. I have had Italian pizza and Tosca claimed they were that. Oh, they did not disappoint! I had the pistachio & prosciutto pizza ! It was beyond heavenly, the base was a pistachio cream, and the crunch of the pistachio and smoothness of the prosciutto! I recommend this 100%!!!

• Beach Bum.  I love lounging by a beach with a good book. I managed to do that and it was beyond perfect, if one needs to stretch one's legs, it is completely possible. You could walk for miles on the beaches in seclusion with nobody around, lost in tranquility.

• Air B & B. Book an air b&b or a boutique hotel! It allows you to immerse yourself in the town/village as well and you get to be engulfed by the landscape, people, and food. You came for an experience anyway, so do it with style and authenticity. 

Anyway, those are just some highlights of Portugal, so go on, book that flight! You deserve a vacation! 

-Alyssa