Our Iberian escape has landed us in the far south, a region known as The Algarve (say al-gar-veh with minimal pronunciation of the veh), and so far it presents quite a difference to the central and northern regions we’ve sampled. Driving in from the Alentejo province just to the north, the first thing you notice …
Author Archives: John Tyner
Últimos dias de Coimbra
We’re saying goodbye to Coimbra today, this brilliant, bustling burg we’ve been crushing on. At this point, having barely scratched the surface, our attraction is a matter of chemistry – but when you know, you know, and we both long ago learned to trust in first impressions. We’d only booked four days here – not …
Coimbra, um centro Europeu da cultura
Coimbra (say queengbra) is approximately half-way in between Lisboa and Porto – roughly an hour either way. It was the capital of Portugal for two hundred years and has a fascinating history – immediately apparent when you look about the old town. The world’s oldest continuously running university (est. 1290 & a UNESCO world heritage …
Estação Ferroviária de Campanha
Campanha Rail Station, Porto 180 minutes of possibility When in travel mode, I find I have to quell that inner voice which is trying to maximize my journey in terms of quantity. If we could just check off that one thing before we leave – you know, the one that got 4.8 stars on Google, …
Tchau Tchau, Doce Porto!
Beautiful trees abound in Porto, like this glorious magnolia Last day in Porto. You might think that lights a fire under our butts – there are only 50 amazing things we haven’t seen yet. But our tanks are already full and the desire to explore further is slaked by the conviction that we will return, …
Como um ponte sobre águas tranquilas
Relaxificationism It’s a watershed moment in a vacation when you can spend a whole day in repose, unhurried and unworried about ‘getting it in’. Our stay in Porto has struck a good balance – measured, but active – and today we’re going to chillax – a painting salon for Stash and a reading/writing day for …
Belos dias no Porto
There is something undeniably Gandalphian about these striking representations of old testament prophets Elijah and Elisha, situated directly across the street from our flat. Blink and you’ll miss it I step outside the bakery in the morning, waiting for our breakfast to be prepared – it’s an amazing day! The heavens have opened with blue …
Porto, Dia Dois
Houston we have a próblema Other than a 5-hour sojourn sometime last week, this will be the first night we get quality sleep, but it won’t be for free. The payment will be a meltdown which is all the meltier due to the echoey, cavernous effect of our tired, emotional voices bouncing off the bare …
Last Day in Lisboa
Not sure if I’ve ever seen anything as fierce as Athena atop the Military Museum in Lisboa The last day in A Cidade and it feels like a good time to get movin’, sleep be damned. It’s Saturday and suddenly the streets are swollen with tourists. Not to be a snob, but these are definitely …
Lisboa, Dia Dois e Tres
A battle helmet, chain mail, tutu, and ballet slippers – does it get more badass? Dois On day two, we awake at noon after another (mostly) sleepless night – and laugh at our jet lag. Sometimes on a big trip, you need to guard against ‘shoulds’ – all those little details you fussed over in …
The Itinerant Three TnTs 