From Porto to Palácio: A Picturesque Journey Through Portugal

Upon arriving in Porto, the first thing that caught my eye was this captivating piece of street art—truly a vibrant welcome to the city!

More of that stunning blue and white—can’t get enough of it. You know I absolutely love it!

The Church of Lost Souls stands out with its exquisite exterior tiling—a beautiful yet labor-intensive feature that’s surprisingly common here.

This bridge was truly spectacular! We joined a bustling crowd to walk across it, soaking in the stunning views alongside many others.

Can you spot the funicular in the background? I almost wish we had taken it. However, after so much driving and sitting, seizing the opportunity for a good walk was truly invaluable.

Quite possibly the prettiest Taco Bell in existence—beauty where you least expect it!

We headed to Águeda on a quest to find the famed umbrella installation. Although it wasn’t the right season (#wrongtimeofyear), we still managed to spot quite a few colorful umbrellas scattered around.

We savoured a lovely stroll along the river, where we discovered not only more funky street art but also a delightful bamboo forest.

Next, we ventured to this very windy sand dune—no surprise, we can’t ever resist the beach! Amid the sands, I stumbled upon a tiny seahorse skeleton. What an incredible find I’m so excited to include it in my next collection - I hope it survives the journey.

While we were enjoying the sunshine we kept adventuring. Next up we went by ferry to check out - Costa Nova do Prado. An enchanting stripey sea side village. It appeared to be closed for the season but was a delight for the senses none the less.

We capped off the day with a luxurious treat—booking a room at the majestic Hotel Palácio Bussaco. While it’s too vast to fully capture in photos, here are a few snapshots to offer a glimpse of its grandeur.