Portugal 2026 Travel Journal

Day 1 — Arrival in Lisbon: soft landing unlocked

Saturday, June 20, 2026 • Jardim da Lapa by Shiadu, Lisbon • arrival + hotel reset

Jardim da Lapa by Shiadu
Rua Sacramento à Lapa 52A, 1200-794 Lisbon, Portugal

Today was a long travel day, but Noah was an absolute superstar. He handled the flights, airport, and journey to our hotel with a smile and so much patience.

After arriving in Lisbon, we made our way to Jardim da Lapa by Shiadu, a charming boutique hotel tucked away in a quiet neighbourhood. Once through customs and reunited with the bags, we grabbed a Bolt to the hotel — with a 70% discount code, which was a very welcome little arrival-day victory.

Our room wasn't quite ready when we arrived, so we spent some time relaxing by the beautiful infinity pool. Although the water was a little too cold for swimming, the setting was absolutely stunning. We sat beneath a gorgeous lemon tree overflowing with bright yellow lemons, enjoying the peaceful atmosphere.

Noah was fascinated by the lemon tree. One of the kind hotel staff members noticed his excitement, disappeared for a few minutes, and returned with a broom to gently knock down a fresh lemon just for him. Noah was thrilled. We can't wait to slice it up and add it to our water tomorrow.

Once our room was ready, we all enjoyed a much-needed afternoon nap before heading out for dinner.

Family selfie on the plane departing Montreal for Lisbon — Departing Montreal First Portugal trip selfie before the overnight flight to Lisbon.

Hotel garden breakfast in Lisbon after arrival — Breakfast in the garden Hotel breakfast, €15 each, and exactly the reset everyone needed.

Poolside lounge chair view at the Lisbon hotel while waiting for the room — Poolside holding pattern Feet up, bags nearby, room still pending — but this beats dragging luggage through Lisbon.

Family resting on pool loungers at the Lisbon hotel after the overnight flight — Arrival-day reset mode Blankets, shade, water bottles, screens, and quiet poolside recovery before check-in.

Bottle of Super Bock Portuguese beer on a wooden table — Portuguese beer: very good First Super Bock of the trip — simple, cold, and exactly right after arrival day.

Noah holding a fresh lemon beside the Jardim da Lapa pool — Lemon-tree souvenir Noah proudly holding the fresh lemon the hotel staff knocked down for him beside the pool.

Day 1 — Out for dinner: Lisbon starts showing off

Saturday, June 20, 2026 • Lapa neighbourhood • walk to Geographia

After the nap, we headed out from the pink Jardim da Lapa entrance and walked toward Geographia. This was the first real chance to slow down and look around the neighbourhood instead of just moving through airport-and-hotel logistics.

The walk immediately became part of the memory: tiled sidewalks, cobblestones, purple bougainvillea spilling over walls, pastel buildings, balconies, shutters, and that warm late-day Lisbon light. Every building seemed unique — no two were alike — and the streets were filled with colour, character, and charm.

Catherine and Noah standing at the Jardim da Lapa entrance door — Heading out for the evening Catherine and Noah outside the pink Shiadu entrance at 52A.

Noah walking down a Lisbon sidewalk beneath purple bougainvillea — Walking under the flowers Noah heading down the tiled Lisbon sidewalk beneath bright bougainvillea.

Pink Lisbon wall covered with bright purple bougainvillea above a cobblestone street — Lisbon colour everywhere Pink wall, cobblestones, and purple flowers spilling over the neighbourhood wall.

Ivy covered building on a Lisbon cobblestone street — The green-covered corner A quiet cobblestone street with a building almost swallowed by greenery.

Sunny Lisbon street with colourful buildings, balconies, shutters, and parked cars — Sunny Lisbon street Pastel buildings, balconies, shutters, parked cars, and that warm late-day light.

Day 1 — First Lisbon dinner: Geographia

Saturday, June 20, 2026 • Geographia, Lisbon • family dinner

Geographia
Rua do Conde 1, 1200-608 Lisbon, Portugal

Tonight we enjoyed one of our favourite dinners of our trip at Geographia, a restaurant celebrating the flavours of Portuguese-speaking countries. The room itself felt made for a travel journal: brown leather banquettes, a big illustrated world map, old ships, sea creatures, and a warm “we made it to Portugal” explorer feel.

We started with two delicious appetizers: the Mozambican Shrimp in the Oven with Garlic, Chili and Beer, and the Tuna Tartare with Mango, served with seaweed and cactus. Noah especially loved the tuna tartare and eagerly tried every bite.

For our main courses, we enjoyed the restaurant's signature Geographia Codfish, served with caramelized onions, olive tapenade, and a herb crust, along with the Thai Shrimp Salad, a fresh and flavourful combination of shrimp, crisp vegetables, and a light Thai-inspired dressing.

To finish, we shared the Chocolate Mousse with Cookies and Caramelized Cocoa Nibs from São Tomé, which was the perfect ending to an incredible meal.

Everything was absolutely delicious, but what made the evening even more memorable was our wonderful waiter. He commented on Noah's curiosity about food and his adventurous palate, saying he was amazed to see someone so young eagerly trying such a wide variety of flavours and ingredients. It was such a special compliment and a memory we'll always treasure from our time in Lisbon.

Catherine and Noah sitting at a table inside Restaurante Geographia in Lisbon — Settled in at Geographia Catherine and Noah at the table under the travel-map wall.

Open menu at Restaurante Geographia — The menu First dinner decisions after a long arrival day.

Illustrated world map mural with ships and sea creatures at Restaurante Geographia — Explorer dining room Old-map mural, ships, sea creatures, and a very travel-journal backdrop.

Noah stirring a tall lemon and mint drink at the restaurant table — Lemon-mint drink duty Noah stirring the tall citrus drink before dinner.

Colorful first dinner plates on the table at Geographia — First dinner spread Colorful seafood plates and a warm baked dish on the table.

Shrimp salad in the foreground with Noah eating rice behind it — Shrimp salad + rice Greens, shrimp, herbs, and Noah working through his rice bowl.

Noah smiling at dinner with a shrimp salad and rice bowl on the table — Noah dinner approval A tired travel-day smile over rice and shrimp.

Rice, shrimp salad, and a baked dish on the table at Geographia — Rice, shrimp, baked dish A full table and the first proper Lisbon restaurant meal.

Bottle of Mar Salgado Portuguese white wine — Mar Salgado vinho branco Portuguese white wine for the first Lisbon dinner.

Noah holding a fork beside his dinner bowl at Geographia — Big bowl, big travel day Noah with his rice bowl and the dinner spread still going.

Family sharing a small dessert or ramekin at Restaurante Geographia — Shared last bite A small dessert or ramekin passed around the table.

Exterior of Restaurante Geographia on a Lisbon cobblestone street with Noah posing outside — Outside Restaurante Geographia Noah posing on the quiet cobblestone street after dinner.

Day 1 — Walk home and the pool glowing at night

Saturday, June 20, 2026 • Lisbon evening • back at Jardim da Lapa

After dinner, we walked back slowly through Lisbon. Catherine and Noah walked hand in hand as the streetlights came on, and the city felt calm after the long travel day and big first meal.

Back at Jardim da Lapa, the garden had changed completely from the afternoon reset: the lights were warm, the sky had gone blue, and the infinity pool glowed in the dark. It was a quiet, beautiful ending to the first day.

Our first impression of this little boutique hotel couldn't have been better. It feels like a hidden gem — peaceful, welcoming, beautifully designed, and full of thoughtful touches. We have a feeling we're going to love waking up here each morning and enjoying breakfast before exploring more of Lisbon.

Catherine and Noah walking hand in hand on a Lisbon sidewalk at dusk — After-dinner walk back Catherine and Noah hand in hand as the streetlights start to glow after dinner.

Jardim da Lapa garden and pool area lit up at dusk — Garden lights at dusk The hotel garden turning calm and golden-blue after sunset.

Jardim da Lapa pool glowing blue at night — Pool glow at night The infinity pool glowing blue while the garden settles into night.

Day 2 — Morning mint tea in the garden

Sunday, June 21, 2026 • Jardim da Lapa by Shiadu, Lisbon • hotel breakfast

Today was a wonderfully relaxing second day in Portugal. Everyone slept for an amazing twelve hours before waking up refreshed, and the morning started exactly the way it needed to: slowly, outside, and back at the hotel breakfast table in the beautiful gardens of Jardim da Lapa.

Noah settled into breakfast in the sunny garden with scrambled eggs on his plate and his big blue cup of morning mint tea. He especially loved sipping the mint tea, smiling into the sun, and making the quiet hotel garden feel like part of the adventure.

It was also Father’s Day, which made the rested garden breakfast feel even more special — an easy, sunny beginning to a day full of history, walking, swimming, and little family memories.

Noah smiling in the sunny Jardim da Lapa garden while holding a blue cup of morning mint tea at breakfast — Morning mint tea Noah enjoying his mint tea in the sunny garden after a massive 12-hour family sleep reset.

Day 2 — Pink doors, tiled houses, and the long way down to the river

Sunday, June 21, 2026 • Lapa / Estrela, Lisbon • slow family walk toward the historic centre

After the calm garden breakfast, Day 2 turned into a proper Lisbon wandering day. The family started from the pink Lapa streets around the hotel, taking little portraits by the pastel buildings and black doors before following the cobblestones, tram tracks, and steep lanes toward the nearby Jardim da Estrela.

At Jardim da Estrela, Noah enjoyed a delicious ice cream and the park gave the day two perfect kid-sized highlights: a sweet puppy that Noah instantly fell in love with — and that seemed to fall in love with him too — plus a black-and-white Muscovy duck by the pond.

The walk had that very Lisbon mix: beautiful doors, tiled façades, old stone sidewalks, hills that suddenly open to the Tagus, and a quiet green pause near Estrela. Noah and Catherine found a huge tree with roots spreading like a jungle, and the whole morning stayed relaxed, sunny, and easy.

Benji and Noah standing in front of a pink Lisbon building with a black doorway in Lapa — Pink Lapa doorway Benji and Noah starting the sunny walk from the quiet streets around Jardim da Lapa.

Benji and Catherine standing together in front of an ornate black door on a pink Lisbon street — Pink wall portrait A quick grown-up photo before the day turns into hills, parks, and downtown Lisbon.

Ornate Lisbon house with colorful ceramic tile details, stonework, and a green garage door — Tile-house showpiece A richly decorated façade with ceramic details, stone texture, and old Lisbon personality.

Catherine and Noah walking along a Lisbon sidewalk beside tram tracks and pastel buildings — Following the tram tracks Catherine and Noah walking downhill through Lapa’s bright, quiet streets.

Steep cobblestone Lisbon street with parked cars and the Tagus River visible at the bottom — River at the bottom of the hill A classic Lisbon hill: cobblestones, parked cars, and a blue slice of Tagus at the end.

White domed basilica seen through leafy trees from a shaded Lisbon garden — Estrela through the trees The white basilica framed by deep shade and summer greenery.

Noah and Catherine standing near the huge roots of a giant tree in a Lisbon garden — Giant tree roots Noah and Catherine dwarfed by a massive, rooty tree in the garden shade.

Black and white Muscovy duck with a red face standing beside a park pond in Lisbon — Noah’s duck discovery A black-and-white Muscovy duck by the pond — the kind with the red face.

Day 2 — Praça do Comércio and Baixa: Lisbon goes grand

Sunday, June 21, 2026 • Praça do Comércio, Cais das Colunas, Rua Augusta and Santa Justa • historic centre stroll

Later, the family took a taxi into Old Lisbon. By midday, Lisbon opened up into the huge riverfront stage of Praça do Comércio. The yellow façades, King José I’s statue, the Rua Augusta Arch, and the open blue sky made the square feel enormous after the quieter Lapa and Estrela morning.

This became the history part of the day. Noah learned about the devastating 1755 earthquake and tsunami that destroyed much of Lisbon, and how the city was rebuilt afterward with the orderly Baixa grid, grand squares, and stronger buildings. He was fascinated by the story and asked lots of thoughtful questions as the family walked through the colourful, busy streets.

It was a very hot and crowded day, but the architecture kept pulling everyone forward: patterned calçada pavement, long arcades, street vendors, the ornate Rua Augusta Arch, and the iron Santa Justa Lift tucked between the buildings. The family stopped to see the famous lift, but unfortunately it was out of service — still dramatic to see from the street, even without riding it.

Noah climbed into the bright yellow LISBOA letters, the family took a river photo by the Cais das Colunas, and the walk continued through the arch into Baixa.

Long vaulted arcades at Praça do Comércio in Lisbon — Praça arcades Cool stone vaults and repeating arches along the edge of the huge riverfront square.

Noah posing inside the giant yellow LISBOA letters at Praça do Comércio — Noah inside LISBOA The giant yellow letters became an instant kid-sized photo stop.

Catherine and Noah posing with the giant yellow LISBOA letters in Praça do Comércio — LISBOA letters with Catherine Catherine and Noah framed by the square, the arch, and bright midday sky.

Family standing by the river at Cais das Colunas in Lisbon — Cais das Colunas family photo The family by the Tagus at Lisbon’s ceremonial river steps.

Stone column at Cais das Colunas with a seagull perched on top and the Tagus River behind — Column, gull, river A seagull holding court on one of the riverfront columns.

Wide view across Praça do Comércio toward the King José statue and Rua Augusta Arch — Praça do Comércio in full sun The king’s statue, the triumphal arch, and the yellow arcades across the open square.

Close upward view of the Arco da Rua Augusta between yellow Lisbon buildings — Under the Rua Augusta Arch The clock, carvings, and stonework of Lisbon’s grand rebuilt city gate.

Rua Augusta pedestrian street looking toward the arch and Praça do Comércio — Rua Augusta perspective Patterned pavement, street life, and the arch pulling the eye back toward the river.

Elevador de Santa Justa iron lift rising between buildings in Baixa Lisbon — Santa Justa Lift The iron elevator towering between Baixa buildings — dramatic even without riding it.

Day 2 — Back to the hotel: hot-day pool reset

Sunday, June 21, 2026 • Jardim da Lapa by Shiadu • afternoon swim break

After all that walking through the heat and the busy historic centre, returning to Jardim da Lapa for a swim felt perfectly timed. The infinity pool was quite chilly, but that did not stop Noah. He must have jumped in and out at least ten times, laughing every single time.

The pool turned into the day’s reset button — turquoise water, shade on the grass, butterflies on the wall, and Noah back in his happy place.

Catherine holding Noah in the Jardim da Lapa hotel pool — Pool reset with Catherine Back at Jardim da Lapa, cooling off after the sunny city walk.

Noah swimming in the Jardim da Lapa pool beside a wall decorated with butterflies — Noah back in the pool Butterflies on the wall, shade on the grass, and Noah happily swimming again.

Day 2 — Dinner close to home: Clube de Jornalistas

Sunday, June 21, 2026 • Clube de Jornalistas, Lisbon • Father’s Day dinner near Jardim da Lapa

For dinner, the family walked to Clube de Jornalistas, a restaurant just a short stroll from the hotel that had been highly recommended. The walk there felt very Lisbon again: narrow sidewalks, old apartment façades, tiled pavement, and Noah following Catherine along the Lapa streets before the entrance suddenly opened into a leafy courtyard.

The restaurant’s garden patio was the real first impression — stone steps, bougainvillea overhead, umbrellas, string lights, and tables tucked under trees. Noah settled in happily with colouring supplies and a big smile, while the menu unfolded into a playful little paper booklet.

The table shared the Prawn and Mango Risotto with Ginger and Coriander, the Fish of the Week — a delicate white fish served simply with lemon — the Octopus with Rosemary, Sweet Potato Purée and Spring Onion, and finished with a decadent Chocolate Cake with Hazelnut Crumble.

The meal was good, but everyone agreed it could not quite top the incredible dinner from the night before. Still, it was another beautiful Portugal day: rested morning, park discoveries, Old Lisbon history, hot streets, chilly pool jumps, and a cozy neighbourhood dinner under the patio lights. Boa noite.

Noah walking behind Catherine on a Lisbon sidewalk from the hotel toward dinner — Walking to dinner Noah and Catherine heading through the Lapa streets from the hotel toward Clube de Jornalistas.

Catherine and Noah walking down stone stairs into the garden patio at Clube de Jornalistas under bougainvillea — Garden patio arrival Stone steps, bougainvillea, umbrellas, and the restaurant courtyard opening below.

Noah smiling at the Clube de Jornalistas patio table beneath string lights — Noah at the patio table A big dinner smile under the umbrellas and string lights while the evening gets started.

Clube de Jornalistas folded menu on a place setting with glasses and cutlery — Clube place setting The folded paper menu waiting on the plate — a quiet little restaurant detail.

Clube de Jornalistas menu page showing starters and desserts including chocolate cake with hazelnut crumble — Starters and sweets The menu page with starters, sweets, and the chocolate cake that would close dinner.

Clube de Jornalistas menu page showing mains including prawn and mango risotto, octopus, and fish of the week — Main-course menu Prawn and mango risotto, octopus, fish of the week, and the rest of the “towards the end” dishes.

Shared dinner dishes at Clube de Jornalistas including fish, risotto, octopus, bread, and olive oil — Shared dinner spread Fish of the week, prawn and mango risotto, octopus with sweet potato purée, bread, and olive oil.

Noah smiling at the patio table while holding a bite of food on a fork — Noah’s dinner bite Colouring pages nearby, patio lights overhead, and Noah trying a bite from dinner.

Clube de Jornalistas garden patio at dusk with umbrellas and warm string lights — Patio lights at dusk The courtyard settling into evening: umbrellas, glass reflections, trees, and warm lights.

Chocolate cake with hazelnut crumble served on a black rectangular plate — Chocolate cake finish The decadent chocolate cake with hazelnut crumble — the sweet ending to Father’s Day dinner.

Day 3 — Bom dia from the garden

Monday, June 22, 2026 • Jardim da Lapa by Shiadu • slow breakfast before the Oceanário

Bom dia!

Well... another 12-hour sleep for all three of us! The time change has definitely been an adjustment, but we must have needed the rest. We started our morning with breakfast in the beautiful gardens at our hotel.

Noah decided to try verbena tea this morning, and he really enjoyed it. He had that perfect aquarium-day look: red shirt, white Kidsdom hat, a big breakfast-table smile, and the energy of someone ready to go find sea creatures.

Noah smiling at an outdoor breakfast table in the Jardim da Lapa garden before the aquarium — Garden breakfast launch Noah starting aquarium day with verbena tea and breakfast outside at Jardim da Lapa.

Day 3 — Lisbon Oceanarium: Otto joins the family

Monday, June 22, 2026 • Parque das Nações / Oceanário de Lisboa • aquarium arrival and favourite exhibit

After breakfast, we headed to the Lisbon Oceanarium for the day. Noah absolutely loved exploring the aquarium and seeing all the incredible sea life, but there was no question about his favourite exhibit—the playful sea otters!

He completely fell in love with them and pleaded with us to bring one home, promising he would take excellent care of it. After a family meeting in the middle of the aquarium, we happily welcomed a new stuffed friend into our family: Otto Renaud the otter!

The Oceanário day also opened with the waterfront building, the cheerful mascot by the sign, and a series of very Noah-friendly photo stops before the tanks even began. There was a sea turtle sculpture big enough to sit beside, a ray display on the floor, and then the outside plaza delivered the goofiest bonus: Noah posing inside the mouth of a giant green dinosaur.

Even the entry signage felt journal-worthy — “stop and listen: nature is a great teacher” — which became a pretty perfect motto for the day.

Exterior view of the Oceanário de Lisboa building on the waterfront — Arriving at Oceanário The waterfront aquarium building at Parque das Nações.

Oceanário de Lisboa sign with a smiling snorkel mascot — Oceanário sign The smiling snorkel mascot marking the start of the aquarium adventure.

Noah holding Otto Renaud the otter plush outside the Oceanário — Otto joins the family Noah proudly carrying Otto Renaud the otter after the sea-otter exhibit won his heart.

Aquarium sign reading stop and listen nature is a great teacher — Stop and listen “Nature is a great teacher” — a perfect line for an aquarium day.

Catherine and Noah posing beside a large sea turtle sculpture inside the Oceanário — Sea turtle welcome Catherine and Noah beside the giant sea turtle sculpture.

Noah crouching beside a ray display on the floor at the aquarium — Ray floor display Noah getting close to the ray model before the big tanks.

Noah posing inside the open mouth of a large green dinosaur statue near the Oceanário — Dinosaur bite photo A ridiculous, perfect Noah photo stop: halfway inside a giant dinosaur mouth.

Noah standing beside a snorkel mascot statue and wearing oversized blue flippers — Matching flippers Noah and the Oceanário mascot, both ready for underwater exploring.

Day 3 — Inside the tanks: sharks, sunfish, divers, and clownfish

Monday, June 22, 2026 • Oceanário de Lisboa • aquarium galleries

Once inside, the day turned blue. Noah moved from window to window watching coral, clownfish, sharks, rays, and the huge central tank. The scale of the Oceanário came through in the photos: Noah tiny against the glass, fish drifting through kelp-like plants, a giant sunfish floating overhead, and divers moving through the water like part of the exhibit.

The best Noah moments, beyond Otto-level sea-otter love, were the quiet ones: leaning into the glass, pointing up from the floor in front of the giant tank, and staring into the coral window like he had found his own little reef.

Noah smiling beside a coral aquarium window with colourful fish behind him — Coral-window smile Noah beside the reef window with fish and coral glowing behind him.

Rocky water habitat inside the Lisbon Oceanário — Rocky habitat A quiet rocky habitat inside the aquarium galleries.

Benji and Noah standing together on a rope-lined wooden bridge surrounded by lush tropical plants at the Oceanário — Tropical bridge pause Benji and Noah on the rope bridge inside the lush Oceanário habitat — a little jungle break between tanks.

Noah watching a diver inside a blue aquarium tank — Diver in the tank Noah watching a diver move through the big blue window.

Sharks and fish swimming through the large Oceanário tank — Sharks in blue water Sharks and fish sliding through the main tank.

Large sunfish swimming vertically in the Oceanário tank — Sunfish close-up The giant sunfish drifting past the glass like an underwater spaceship.

Noah looking at a bright coral aquarium tank — Little reef watcher Noah studying the coral, sand, and small fish in the reef display.

Large sunfish overhead in blue aquarium water — Sunfish overhead A huge sunfish floating above the viewing window.

Noah standing silhouetted in front of the giant blue Oceanário tank — Tiny in the giant tank room Noah silhouetted against the huge blue tank.

Noah lying and pointing in front of the giant Oceanário tank — Pointing into the ocean Noah on the floor pointing up into the giant tank.

Noah watching a clownfish and reef fish at the aquarium glass — Finding Nemo moment Noah watching clownfish and bright reef fish drift around the coral.

Day 3 — Oceanário aquarium video clips

Monday, June 22, 2026 • Oceanário de Lisboa • short videos from the tanks

Two short video clips from inside the Oceanário capture the aquarium in motion: the giant blue tank with divers, fish, bubbles, and rock formations, followed by the glowing jellyfish wall where Noah reached up toward the drifting blue jellyfish across the glass.

Giant tank with divers

Fish, bubbles, rock formations, and divers through the big Oceanário window.

Glowing jellyfish wall

Noah reaching up toward glowing blue jellyfish drifting across the glass.

Day 3 — Downtime and swim: Noah owns the place

Monday, June 22, 2026 • Jardim da Lapa by Shiadu • post-aquarium hotel reset

After a quick lunch, we returned to our hotel for some downtime and a swim. By now, Noah has become something of a celebrity here. The staff absolutely adore him, and so do many of the guests. He strolls around as if he owns the place!

P.S. We may also be lowering the average age of the hotel considerably—most of the guests seem to be around 60!

The photo version of the reset is perfect: loungers in the garden, towels wrapped around everyone, Noah stretched out with his new stuffed companion, and Catherine nearby with a quiet phone moment. Blue aquarium rooms in the morning, then the little green hotel garden again in the afternoon.

Noah wrapped in a towel on a Jardim da Lapa pool lounger with Catherine nearby — Towel-nest recovery Noah wrapped up on the lounger after the Oceanário adventure, with Catherine relaxing nearby.

Day 3 — Come Prima, uphill home, and poolside tea

Monday, June 22, 2026 • Come Prima + Jardim da Lapa • dinner and evening closeout

This evening we walked to Come Prima for dinner. In a slightly questionable parenting moment, we may or may not have told Noah to pretend he was 8 instead of 6 due to an unclear age restriction at the restaurant. In hindsight, this might be something we do more often, because Noah absolutely played the part like a pro… minus the moment he dropped a full spoonful of dessert right onto his shirt. Mom and Dad shared a delicious trio of fresh pastas and some bruschetta, while Noah happily enjoyed tomato pasta. To finish, we treated ourselves to a refreshing lemon sorbet and a rich tartufo chocolate dessert. While we were there, Noah spotted some guests from our hotel and simply had to go over to say hello.

After our rather steep uphill walk back to the hotel, we relaxed by the pool with a cup of tea. As always, Noah was welcomed back by the staff like royalty. Before long, he had made even more friends! A lovely couple from New York State shared blueberries and fresh mango with him before joining us by the pool for the evening.

Noah also made sure that George, the hardworking pool-cleaning robot, was doing his job properly. He built giant Jenga towers out of river rocks with one of his new friends and kept everyone laughing with his endless energy and imagination. Eventually, he announced he was tired and ready for bed.

What a kid. Noah has a remarkable way of bringing light wherever he goes. Whether it's the hotel staff, fellow travellers, or complete strangers, people are naturally drawn to his kindness, curiosity, and joyful spirit. Watching him make friends so effortlessly has been one of the greatest highlights of this trip.

Boa noite!

Noah walking along a Lisbon cobblestone sidewalk on the way to Come Prima — Walking to Come Prima Noah leading the way along the cobblestone sidewalk, with pink Lapa buildings and evening light ahead.

Quiet Lisbon street with purple bougainvillea spilling over an old wall near Come Prima — Bougainvillea on the walk One of those perfect Lisbon corners: old walls, tiny stone sidewalks, and purple flowers spilling over the street.

Orange Come Prima Italian restaurant exterior with bougainvillea in Lisbon — Come Prima exterior The bright orange restaurant tucked into the Lapa streets, wrapped with bougainvillea.

Catherine and Noah smiling together at the Come Prima restaurant table — Dinner-table smiles Catherine and Noah at Come Prima, with Noah showing off his almost-eight performance.

Noah smiling with a plate of tomato pasta at Come Prima — Noah’s tomato pasta A very happy plate of tomato pasta — before dessert tried to land on the shirt.

Noah walking uphill through colourful Lisbon streets after dinner — Uphill walk home The post-dinner climb back through patterned cobblestones and pastel Lapa buildings.

Pink Lisbon corner building on the evening walk home from Come Prima — Pink corner on the way back A big pink Lisbon corner glowing softly as the evening walk continued uphill.

Noah sipping tea at an outdoor Jardim da Lapa poolside table in the evening — Poolside tea closeout Back at Jardim da Lapa, Noah ending the night with tea beside the pool.

Day 4 — Belém day begins: Lapa doorways, pastéis, and pirate candy

Tuesday, June 23, 2026 • Lapa / Belém, Lisbon • slow morning and Pastéis de Belém

Today was a slow morning after yet another long sleep. We had a relaxed breakfast and then headed out to Belém to try some of the best pastéis de nata at Pastéis de Belém.

Before the Belém stretch, the day still had a little Lapa neighbourhood magic: pretty doorways, tiled sidewalks, and quick family photos near the hotel. At Pastéis de Belém, the blue-tiled rooms, busy counter, window-seat trays, and first bites of warm pastel de nata made the stop feel properly iconic.

We wandered through the neighbourhood and spotted the pirate-themed Captain Porto candy shop, which was a big hit before the day turned toward gardens, monastery stonework, and the riverfront monuments.

Family photo in front of a numbered Lapa doorway before heading to Belém — Lapa doorway stop A quiet neighbourhood photo before heading across the city to Belém.

Family smiling in front of a Lapa doorway numbered 39 — Doorway smiles One more pink-and-stone Lisbon doorway memory from the hotel neighbourhood.

Rua do Sacramento à Lapa doorway with blue-and-white tile number 54 — Rua do Sacramento detail Blue-and-white tilework, a classic Lisbon door, and the kind of small detail that makes Lapa feel special.

Couple photo by a tall dark Lapa doorway — Grown-up doorway portrait A quick couple photo before the heat and walking really began.

Pastéis de Belém table by a window with pastéis de nata and drinks — Window seat at Pastéis de Belém Pastéis de nata, drinks, and a sweet start to the Belém outing.

Blue-tiled dining room inside Pastéis de Belém — Blue-tile room The classic azulejo dining room inside Pastéis de Belém.

Child tasting a pastel de nata at Pastéis de Belém — First bites Warm custard, flaky pastry, and the reason everyone comes to Belém.

Busy Pastéis de Belém counter with pastries and staff — The Pastéis counter A busy pastry counter turning out the Belém classics.

Captain Porto pirate-themed candy shop display in Belém — Captain Porto candy shop Pirate-themed sweets: an instant Noah-approved Belém detour.

Exterior sign and entrance of Pastéis de Belém — Pastéis de Belém exterior The famous blue awning and the Belém pastry institution from the street.

Day 4 — Jerónimos Monastery, Belém monuments, and Noah’s queue show

Tuesday, June 23, 2026 • Jerónimos Monastery / Monument to the Discoveries / Belém Tower • hot-day sightseeing

From Pastéis de Belém, we made our way to the gardens in front of the Jerónimos Monastery, where the architecture was breathtaking, then continued on to the Monument to the Discoveries and afterwards walked over to Belém Tower. Eventually, we made our way back toward the monastery area again.

Even though we already had tickets, the line to get into Jerónimos Monastery was over an hour long. Despite the heat and the slow-moving queue, Noah didn’t complain once. Instead, he entertained the crowd by dancing like Michael Jackson on the slippery stone tiles — fully committed to the performance. It was one of those moments where you forget how hot and slow everything is because he turns it into a show.

Inside, the monastery delivered all the stone drama the wait had promised: vaulted ceilings, carved columns, layered arches, the cloister courtyard, and the tomb of Vasco da Gama. The photos make the place feel enormous and delicate at the same time.

Vaulted cloister corridor inside Jerónimos Monastery — Vaulted cloister corridor Cool stone, repeating arches, and the payoff after the long hot queue.

Noah posing in the cloister at Jerónimos Monastery — Noah in the cloister After the line-dancing performance, still smiling inside the monastery.

Detailed carved column inside Jerónimos Monastery — Stone-carved detail The Manueline stonework up close: ropes, leaves, texture, and impossible patience.

Noah standing in the Jerónimos Monastery cloister — Cloister scale Noah dwarfed by the carved stone and tall arches.

Wide view of the Jerónimos Monastery cloister — Wide cloister view The full rhythm of arches around the monastery courtyard.

Vaulted ceiling inside Jerónimos Monastery — Vaulted ceiling Looking up at the web of stone ribs overhead.

Portrait inside the Jerónimos Monastery cloister — Cloister portrait A quiet portrait among the arches after a very hot wait.

Tomb of Vasco da Gama inside Jerónimos Monastery — Vasco da Gama tomb A major history marker inside the monastery church.

Courtyard inside Jerónimos Monastery cloister — Cloister courtyard Sun, stone, and greenery framed by the monastery walkways.

Family walking through a Jerónimos Monastery corridor — Walking the corridor The long stone passage after finally getting inside.

Jerónimos arches framing the courtyard — Arches framing the courtyard One of those views where every layer is carved stone and light.

Day 4 — Last night at Jardim da Lapa

Tuesday, June 23, 2026 • Jardim da Lapa by Shiadu, Lisbon • pool, staff goodbyes, gardens

We returned to the hotel for a swim, where Noah made friends with an Irish couple and proudly offered to give them swimming lessons, which they very sweetly went along with.

Tonight was our last night at Jardim da Lapa, and Noah has grown very attached to the hotel and its staff. In return, he gave one of his drawings to a staff member who had made sure he always had a dry towel waiting for him every single time he came out of the pool — on average about six times each afternoon.

After that, we went back out to the grocery store for ice cream and delicious stone fruits, and then returned to relax in the gardens. On our way to the grocery store earlier, we passed the official residence of the U.S. Ambassador to Portugal, John Arrigo, where they appeared to be hosting what looked like a beautiful reception. With all the embassies and ambassador homes around us, the neighbourhood feels full of quiet, elegant activity behind tall gates and flags.

It’s hard to believe how much we managed to pack into the day in this heat. We walked over 13,000 steps, and Noah never once complained. This stay has been good for the soul.

Jardim da Lapa pool and garden in the evening — Evening pool return Back where Noah had become part swimmer, part tiny hotel celebrity.

Evening view from Jardim da Lapa garden toward an upper hotel window — Last Lapa evening light The hotel glowing quietly above the garden on the final night here.

Relaxing in the Jardim da Lapa garden lounge at night — Garden wind-down Ice cream, stone fruit, and one last calm garden evening at Jardim da Lapa.

Day 5 — Goodbye Lisbon, hello Cascais

Wednesday, June 24, 2026 • Lisbon → Pestana Cascais • rental car and hotel arrival

Today we said goodbye to Lisbon and headed to Cascais for the next part of our Portugal adventure. Dad was a little nervous about driving through Lisbon's busy streets, especially after finding out that our rental car had been upgraded to a Mercedes-Benz packed with buttons, gadgets, and fancy features.

We arrived in Cascais around 1:30 p.m., had lunch, and checked into our new hotel, Pestana Cascais. It is much bigger than our last hotel and sits close to the ocean. Best of all, it has both an indoor and outdoor pool — and the indoor pool is nice and warm, which made Noah very happy.

Noah posing at the Pestana Cascais sign — Arrival at Pestana Cascais Noah marking the move from Lisbon to the family’s new Cascais base.

Marble urinals in the Pestana Cascais bathroom — Fancy bathroom surprise Not pool showers after all — marble urinals that were apparently memorable enough for the travel journal.

Bright room at Pestana Cascais with beds and a window — New Cascais room A bigger hotel room, ocean-air light, and the next trip base unpacked.

Pestana Cascais room with beds and balcony door — Room arrival The new room setup after the Lisbon-to-Cascais transfer.

Balcony view over Pestana Cascais pool and hotel buildings — Balcony pool view Looking out from the room toward the hotel pool courtyard.

Day 5 — Coastal drive, beaches, and Noah’s parcours playground

Wednesday, June 24, 2026 • Cascais coastline • beaches and ocean viewpoints

After lunch, we went for a drive along the coast and stopped at a few beautiful beaches. Eventually, we reached the famous spot with the giant cross overlooking the ocean.

Noah turned the whole area into his own playground and invented a game of parcours: climbing, jumping, exploring every path he could find, and finding adventure in every little ledge and walkway.

Back at the hotel, we squeezed in a swim before heading out for dinner.

Wide coastal view of sandy beach and ocean near Cascais — Coast road scenery A first wide-open Cascais coast view after the hotel arrival.

Dad and Noah looking out over a beach from a coastal viewpoint — Beach lookout A pause along the coast before the viewpoints turned into Noah’s playground.

Family selfie above a sunny Cascais beach — Cascais coast selfie Blue sky, big beach, and the first coastal-drive family selfie.

Close family selfie with ocean and beach behind — Sunny coast smiles A bright, windy Cascais coastline moment together.

Noah and Dad at a tall stone cross viewpoint overlooking the coast — The giant cross viewpoint The famous cross stop where the sightseeing turned into parcours.

Coastal viewpoint with lighthouse buildings on a headland — Lighthouse on the headland Cliffs, ocean, and a red-and-white lighthouse in the distance.

Noah sitting on rocks above the ocean cliffs — Rocky viewpoint perch Noah finding his own little seat above the Atlantic.

Noah wearing sunglasses at a cliffside coastal viewpoint — Tiny explorer pose Sunglasses, cliffs, blue water, and full coastal-adventure confidence.

Noah walking along a fenced dirt path near the coastal viewpoint — Parcours path Noah exploring every path and ledge around the viewpoint.

Noah standing on Catherine’s shoulders in the warm indoor pool at Pestana Cascais — Warm indoor pool win Noah standing on Catherine’s shoulders in the warm indoor pool — exactly the swim he was hoping for.

Warm indoor pool win

Noah playing in Pestana Cascais’s warm indoor pool — exactly the kind of hotel feature that can save a travel day.

Day 5 — Restaurant Pereira, football, ice cream, and instant sleep

Wednesday, June 24, 2026 • Restaurant Pereira, Cascais • seafood dinner and bedtime

Dinner at Restaurant Pereira turned into one of our best meals yet. We shared octopus salad, clams, baked cod, and grilled octopus, and everything was delicious.

While we ate, we also got to watch part of the Canada vs. Switzerland FIFA match, which made dinner even more fun. On the way back to the hotel, the boys made a quick stop for ice cream.

By then, Noah was completely exhausted. After such a fun-filled day, he went straight to bed and was asleep almost immediately.

Boa noite!

Large purple bougainvillea spilling over a yellow wall in Cascais — Cascais colour wall A huge burst of purple flowers on the way through Cascais streets.

Family toasting at Restaurant Pereira in Cascais — Dinner toast at Pereira A table toast before one of the best seafood meals of the trip.

Octopus salad in a clay bowl at Restaurant Pereira — Octopus salad Fresh octopus salad with onion, parsley, bread, and white wine nearby.

Clams, grilled octopus, baked cod, and plates at Restaurant Pereira — Seafood spread Clams, grilled octopus, baked cod, and Noah’s colouring page sharing the table.

Noah smiling beside his plate and colouring page at Restaurant Pereira — Noah at Pereira Happy, hungry, and still drawing between bites.

Clams, colouring, and Noah’s seafood focus

Noah working through the clams at Restaurant Pereira, with his colouring page and the seafood spread on the table.

Noah giving a thumbs-up beside empty clam shells at Restaurant Pereira — Thumbs-up review A very clear Noah approval rating after the clams and seafood.

Cascais beach at night with straw umbrellas, boats, and lights on the water — Cascais beach at night A quiet night beach scene on the walk back after dinner.

Mom and Noah walking along a lit Cascais sidewalk at night — Sleepy walk back The final cobblestone walk back before Noah crashed for the night.

Day 6 — Pena Palace in the clouds: soaked, foggy, and somehow magical

Thursday, June 25, 2026 • Sintra / Pena Palace • rain, fog, and a mountaintop adventure

Today was a day full of adventure that tested all of us — especially our ability to laugh while completely soaked. Mother Nature clearly had other plans, but we were not about to let a little, or a lot, of rain ruin the day.

We woke up to grey skies and rain, then headed off to Sintra anyway, determined to visit the spectacular Pena Palace. Sitting high in the Sintra Mountains, the palace is one of Portugal’s most iconic landmarks and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Built in the 19th century as a romantic summer residence for the Portuguese royal family, it looks like something out of a storybook: yellow, red, and blue walls, ornate towers, decorative battlements, and a wild mix of Gothic, Moorish, Renaissance, and Manueline details. On a clear day, the views can stretch all the way to Lisbon and the Atlantic.

As if on cue, the moment we arrived the skies opened up and it started raining cats and dogs. Thankfully, we had dressed in layers with quick-dry clothing, and between the three of us we somehow managed with just two umbrellas — thank you, Gracinda, for lending them to us. We trekked about ten minutes uphill over slippery cobblestone streets, secretly hoping the rain would let up. Instead, it poured even harder.

Thick fog rolled across the mountaintop for the entire outdoor visit, hiding the famous views but giving the palace an enchanting, mysterious atmosphere. Noah absolutely loved it and was convinced we were exploring a magical kingdom hidden in the clouds.

Noah and Catherine standing under umbrellas on a rainy cobblestone street — Rainy start Umbrellas out before the Sintra adventure even began.

Foggy uphill cobblestone road leading toward Pena Palace — Foggy climb to Pena The palace slowly appearing through the rain and mist.

Rainy arched gate entrance at Pena Palace in Sintra — Pena gate in the rain A wet cobblestone entrance with the palace hidden in clouds.

Person with umbrella walking through a stone arch in the rain — Umbrella through the arch A soaked little doorway moment on the way in.

Pena Palace walls and towers partly hidden by heavy fog — Palace in the clouds The mountaintop palace felt more mysterious than postcard-perfect.

Foggy path and arched palace gate at Pena Palace — Into the mist The path up to the palace disappeared into fog.

Noah standing inside a small shop wearing a striped shirt and cap — Dry-ish shop stop A quick indoor pause after the rainy climb.

Decorative stone archway and visitors at foggy Pena Palace — Storybook archway Rain, stonework, and the kind of entrance Noah could turn into a kingdom.

Fog-covered Pena Palace ramparts and visitors with umbrellas — Ramparts with no view The famous views were gone, but the fog made everything dramatic.

Foggy overhead view of a narrow red palace walkway with visitors — Cloudy palace walkway Looking down at the wet palace path from above.

Noah in a blue rain suit standing in a small palace doorway — Tiny palace guard Noah tucked into a little doorway while the rain kept coming.

Yellow Pena Palace tower and arched doorway in fog — Yellow tower detail Bright palace walls cutting through the grey mist.

Noah in blue rain gear standing on a stone rampart in fog — Noah above the fog Still exploring, even when everything was wet and cloudy.

Small red decorative door in yellow palace wall — Tiny red door A little storybook detail tucked into the palace walls.

Noah in rain gear standing in a yellow palace courtyard — Yellow courtyard pause A quick photo stop in the misty Pena courtyard.

Stone Pena Palace entrance and window details in heavy fog — Foggy stone entrance The palace looked like it had been swallowed by clouds.

Noah standing in an arched alcove lined with blue and white tile — Blue-tile nook A dry corner surrounded by classic Portuguese tile.

Family standing together in a tiled arched alcove — Shelter in the tiles A family photo in one of the few covered corners.

Noah touching patterned blue and white tiles at Pena Palace — Tile inspection Noah checking out the palace tile details up close.

Yellow palace wall and courtyard fading into fog — Window into the fog Even the courtyard views disappeared into cloud.

Decorative Pena Palace facade with patterned tiles and stone crest — Patterned palace facade Ornate stonework and tile made the grey day feel colourful.

Visitors walking through yellow Pena Palace walls in fog — Last misty palace look One more look at Pena’s yellow walls before heading back down.

Noah walking toward a palace cafe or service counter — Warm-up stop A much-needed indoor pause after the wet Pena Palace visit.

Day 6 — Quinta da Regaleira: wells, tunnels, caves, and secret paths

Thursday, June 25, 2026 • Sintra / Quinta da Regaleira • fantasy-garden reward after the rain

After exploring the palace, we grabbed a quick lunch before making our way to Quinta da Regaleira. Noah’s bravery, endless enthusiasm, and positive attitude throughout the morning definitely earned him a crown. Even though we were cold, wet, and our shoes had long since surrendered to the rain, we were all still smiling. Looking back, today was a wonderful lesson in endurance, grit, perseverance… and accepting that sometimes you are simply going to squish with every step you take.

By the time we reached Quinta da Regaleira, the rain had finally stopped. We had dried off a little, the temperature had warmed up, and it felt like the perfect reward after the morning’s adventure.

Built in the early 1900s by wealthy Brazilian businessman António Augusto Carvalho Monteiro, Quinta da Regaleira is one of Sintra’s most fascinating estates. Every part of the property was designed with symbolism in mind, drawing from alchemy, the Knights Templar, Freemasonry, mythology, and religion. Rather than being known for its palace alone, the estate is famous for magical gardens, hidden passageways, secret caves, waterfalls, towers, and the extraordinary Initiation Well. Despite its name, the well was never used for water. Its 139 winding steps are believed to have been used for ceremonial purposes and to symbolize a journey of spiritual transformation from darkness into light.

Walking through Quinta felt like stepping into the pages of a fantasy novel. We descended the spiral staircase of the Initiation Well, wandered through underground tunnels connecting different parts of the estate, admired waterfalls and hidden grottoes, crossed stepping stones over ponds, and explored beautiful gardens around every corner. It was one of those places where every path led to another surprise.

Path approaching Quinta da Regaleira with trees and palace buildings — Regaleira ahead After the rain, the next Sintra adventure came into view.

Quinta da Regaleira facade and stairway in Sintra — Quinta da Regaleira facade The fantasy-estate part of the day began.

Stone arches and palace details at Quinta da Regaleira — Garden arches Stone arches, carved details, and the first signs of the estate’s magic.

Horse stable stalls inside Quinta da Regaleira — Horse stable The estate’s old stable area, with wooden stall dividers and a small basin at the back.

Stone tower and walls in the gardens of Quinta da Regaleira — Stone tower paths The grounds were full of towers, stairs, and hidden routes.

Noah standing beside a carved stone creature in a garden — Garden creature stop Noah posing beside one of the estate’s carved stone creatures.

Noah walking down a tree-lined cobblestone path — Green path reset The rain eased and the gardens opened up.

Noah and Catherine on a cobblestone path in lush gardens — Garden path with Mom A calmer walk after the soaked palace morning.

Round stone tower at Quinta da Regaleira surrounded by trees — Round garden tower One of the estate’s lookout towers peeking through the trees.

Misty green Sintra hills seen through trees — Sintra hills after rain Green hills and mist still hanging around the treetops.

Noah on a wet stone terrace under a large tree — Rainy terrace explorer Noah found space to play even on the wet stone terrace.

Noah climbing stone stairs beside a small castle-like tower — Castle stairs More steps, more towers, more exploring.

Dad and Noah smiling for a selfie outdoors in Sintra — Sintra selfie A quick Dad-and-Noah selfie between garden stops.

Decorative grotto entrance at Quinta da Regaleira — Grotto entrance The garden started turning into caves and secret paths.

Close-up of an ornate stone tower at Quinta da Regaleira — Tower detail Ornate stonework hiding in the trees.

Ornate stone balcony tower surrounded by trees — Balcony tower A tiny tower balcony straight out of a fairy-tale garden.

Dad and Noah sitting in front of Quinta da Regaleira — Regaleira rest A well-earned sit with the palace behind them.

Sign pointing to the Initiation Well at Quinta da Regaleira — Initiation Well sign The sign pointed toward one of the day’s biggest hits.

Noah entering a narrow stone passageway — Narrow passage Into the stone corridors and underground paths.

View looking down into the spiral Initiation Well — Looking down the well The spiral staircase dropped into the darkness below.

Mossy stone arches and stairs inside the Initiation Well — Mossy well stairs The Initiation Well felt ancient, green, and mysterious.

Initiation Well stairs

A short clip from the mossy stone stairs inside the Initiation Well.

Upward view inside the Initiation Well with daylight at the top — Light at the top Looking up from inside the well toward the opening above.

Upward view of spiral stone walls inside the Initiation Well — Spiral well walls Stone arches circling up toward the sky.

Inside the spiral well

Noah and Catherine moving through the narrow, dim stone stairway.

Family posing together inside a grotto at Quinta da Regaleira — Family in the grotto A cave-side family pause after the well.

Noah walking through a rocky underground tunnel — Noah in the tunnel Secret passages were exactly the kind of exploring Noah loves.

Secret tunnel walk

Noah exploring one of Quinta da Regaleira’s rocky underground passages.

Decorative patterned ceiling with hanging light fixture — Ceiling surprise Even the ceilings had hidden details to look up at.

Day 6 — Back to Cascais: dry clothes, a swim, and one more Portuguese dinner

Thursday, June 25, 2026 • Cascais • last night before the Algarve

After a day of exploring, we made our way back to Cascais. The first order of business was changing into dry clothes before enjoying a refreshing swim — something we had all been looking forward to.

We finished the evening with another delicious, authentic Portuguese dinner at the same restaurant we had loved the night before. By the end of the day, our watches showed well over 20,000 steps, and we certainly felt every single one of them.

Tonight is our last night in Cascais. Tomorrow we begin the next chapter of our Portuguese adventure as we drive south to the Algarve for some well-earned beach time. We cannot wait to see what awaits us there.

Boa noite!

Noah crouching beside a painted cow statue on a cobblestone street — Painted cow stop A funny little street-side stop on the way back through town.

Exterior of Restaurant Pereira on a cobblestone street — Back to Pereira The same Cascais restaurant was worth returning to.

Noah standing outside Restaurant Pereira in Cascais — Restaurant arrival Noah outside Restaurant Pereira before dinner.

Portuguese dinner dishes on a restaurant table — Portuguese dinner spread A cozy second dinner back in Cascais after the Sintra marathon.

Noah looking into a restaurant dessert and drink fridge — Dessert-fridge inspection Noah checking the cold case while dinner winds down.

Noah smiling at a restaurant table in Cascais — Noah’s dinner smile Still smiling after a wet, wild, 20,000-step day.

Day 7 — Goodbye Cascais, hello Algarve

Friday, June 26, 2026 • Cascais → Carvoeiro / Lagoa • transfer day south

Today, we said goodbye to Cascais and began our journey south to the Algarve. We are staying in the beautiful seaside town of Carvoeiro, and Dad decided to take the scenic route in hopes of driving along the coastline.

It sounded like a great idea, but it did not exactly work out as planned. Instead of endless ocean views, we spent most of the three-hour drive on regular roads, and somehow those three hours felt much longer than expected. We all agreed we were very happy when we finally arrived.

Day 7 — A new condo, an early pizza dinner, and the perfect pool reset

Friday, June 26, 2026 • Carvoeiro • settling into the Algarve base

Our new home for the next few days is a lovely two-storey condo. The little town and the street we are staying on feel a bit more touristy than we were expecting, but we have heard that the beaches nearby are absolutely spectacular, so we are excited to explore them over the next few days.

After unpacking, we grabbed an early dinner at a local pizza shop before heading back to the condo. The swimming pool was exactly what Noah needed to burn off all the energy that had built up during the long car ride. It was impossible not to laugh watching him splash around like he had never been in a pool before.

Afterwards, Noah enjoyed a warm bath, and before long we were all ready for an early night.

White-and-yellow Algarve condo buildings and walkway in Carvoeiro — New Algarve home base The first look around the white-and-yellow condo complex after finally reaching Carvoeiro.

Noah splashing into the Carvoeiro condo pool — Pool splash reset After the long Cascais-to-Algarve drive, the pool was the perfect way to shake off the car ride.

Noah swimming in the Carvoeiro condo pool — Happy in the water Noah getting his energy back in the condo pool while everyone settled into the Algarve rhythm.

Cozy bedroom at the Carvoeiro condo with Noah asleep on the bed — First Algarve night A quiet bedroom scene after pizza, pool time, bath time, and a very full transfer day.

Day 7 — Kitchen plans, supermarket excitement, and Portugal’s summer fruit

Friday, June 26, 2026 • Carvoeiro condo • slow-travel reset

One thing Noah is especially excited about tomorrow is visiting the supermarket. Since we have a full kitchen, we will finally be able to stock up on groceries and cook some meals at home.

We have all been loving Portugal's incredible summer fruit — sweet peaches, juicy nectarines, plums, strawberries, and delicious melons have become a daily treat. We cannot wait to fill our kitchen with even more fresh local goodies.

Sometimes the best travel days are not filled with sightseeing. They are about getting from one adventure to the next, finding a new place to call home for a little while, and ending the day together, tired but excited for what is to come.

Boa noite! 🇵🇹

Day 8 — Carvoeiro Boardwalk, cliffs, and the Heart Pond

Saturday, June 27, 2026 • Carvoeiro Boardwalk / Algar Seco • cliffs, heat, and nearly 7,000 steps

Today was filled with adventure — some expected and some not — and it reminded us just how majestic nature can be.

We started our morning with breakfast at the condo. Noah proudly cooked his own scrambled eggs while fresh oranges were squeezed into homemade orange juice. It was the perfect way to begin the day.

After breakfast, we set out to explore our new surroundings and ended up walking the beautiful Carvoeiro Boardwalk. The path follows the dramatic limestone cliffs above the Atlantic, with breathtaking views around every corner.

Along the way, we stopped at Algar Seco’s famous Heart Pond / Poço do Coração, a naturally carved heart-shaped rock pool shaped over thousands of years by wind and crashing waves. Noah loved discovering it, even if it meant lots of stairs in the heat over rugged terrain. By the end of the walk, we had logged nearly 7,000 steps.

Carvoeiro beach seen through trees with cliffs and beach umbrellas — Carvoeiro beach first look A bright view down toward the sand and cliffs before the walk began.

Carvoeiro beach and town from above — Beach and town panorama Carvoeiro’s beach, white buildings, and clear blue water from the overlook.

Noah posing at a blue railing above Carvoeiro beach — Noah at the overlook A strongman pose above the beach before heading toward the cliffs.

Noah at the beach overlook

A quick clip of Noah playing at the railing with Carvoeiro Beach behind him.

Carvoeiro beach panorama

A short sweep across the busy beach, cliff, and village from above.

Noah standing beside a boat statue in Carvoeiro — Boat statue stop A quick town-side photo before heading up toward the boardwalk.

Carvoeiro coastline and white buildings from the clifftop — Clifftop Carvoeiro The town tucked into the cliffs, with the Atlantic opening out beside it.

Family walking along the Carvoeiro boardwalk above the sea — Onto the boardwalk The wooden path made the first stretch easy, sunny, and full of ocean views.

Dad and Noah looking over the Carvoeiro boardwalk railing toward the ocean — Boardwalk lookout A pause at the railing to take in the limestone cliffs and sea below.

Rugged limestone path at Algar Seco with ocean beyond — Leaving the smooth path The boardwalk gave way to rougher limestone and a much wilder landscape.

Ocean view framed by a natural cave opening at Algar Seco — Nature’s window A rock opening framing blue sky, cliffs, and sea near the Heart Pond area.

Narrow stone passage with bright daylight at the end — Narrow cave light A cool, tight passage leading back into the bright Algarve sun.

Noah standing on pale limestone rocks at Algar Seco — Rock path explorer Noah picking his way through the carved limestone paths.

Noah posing near a cliff wall with the ocean behind him — Cliffside pose Careful steps, huge views, and lots of places to pose.

Honeycomb-like holes in pale limestone at Algar Seco — Honeycomb limestone The wind and sea had carved pockets and little windows everywhere.

Turquoise water seen through a cut in the limestone cliffs — Turquoise below That Algarve blue water showing up between the rock walls.

Family standing in shade below a limestone overhang — Shade under the rock A quick pause in the cooler shade of the carved cliff wall.

Noah walking between tall limestone rock walls — Between the rock walls The path squeezed between warm limestone walls and bright sky.

Tall limestone cliff face above clear blue water — Cliff face and blue water One more dramatic edge where the rocks dropped toward the water.

Noah standing beside honeycomb rock pockets near Heart Pond — Noah for scale The carved rock pockets looked even bigger with Noah standing beside them.

Tall limestone cliff beside deep blue ocean at Algar Seco — Cliff edge and blue sea A dramatic wall of limestone dropping down toward sparkling Atlantic water.

Rocky stairs and limestone ledges above the ocean — Rocky steps above the sea The path kept winding through rough stone, stairs, and open ocean views.

Catherine and Noah framed by a cave opening with ocean behind them — Cave window portrait Catherine and Noah framed by one of the natural rock windows looking out to sea.

Noah sitting on stone stairs at a small cave entrance — Noah at the cave stairs A perfect little explorer pose at the entrance to another rocky passage.

Family selfie above limestone rocks and blue ocean — Sunny cliff selfie A hot, bright family selfie with the carved rocks and sea below.

Noah climbing narrow stone stairs between limestone walls — Narrow stairs climb Noah heading up through a tight stone corridor between warm limestone walls.

Noah standing on narrow stone stairs between limestone walls — Narrow stairs pose One more pause in the golden rock passage before continuing the climb.

Day 8 — Boneca Bar lunch and nature’s picture frame

Saturday, June 27, 2026 • Boneca Bar / Boneca Cave • cliffside lunch and sea-cave window

After all that exploring, we rewarded ourselves with lunch at Boneca Bar, a relaxed little cliffside café perched above the sea with spectacular ocean views.

Ben and Catherine enjoyed delicious piri-piri chicken while Noah chose a burger. Afterwards, we walked down to Boneca Cave, a small sea cave with a natural window carved into the cliffs. Looking out through the opening toward the sparkling blue water felt like peeking through nature’s own picture frame.

Boneca Bar tucked below golden cliffs with blue ocean beyond — Boneca Bar from above The cliffside restaurant tucked into the rocks, with boats cutting across the blue water.

Noah and Catherine sitting at a shaded Boneca Bar table — Lunch in the shade Noah and Catherine taking a break at the table after the hot cliff walk.

Small jug of red sangria on a wooden Boneca Bar table — Cold drink break A shaded table, ocean air, and a very welcome sangria after all those stairs.

Noah sitting on rough golden limestone rocks near Boneca Bar — Noah on the rocks The rugged limestone around Boneca Bar made the whole lunch stop feel like part restaurant, part playground.

Family sitting inside a sea-cave window with ocean behind — Family in the cave window A shaded pause inside one of the natural sea windows, with the Atlantic glowing behind us.

Path and stairs leading down to Boneca Bar between cliffs — Steps down to Boneca Bar The path into lunch wound between the cliffs, shade sails, and sea views.

Day 8 — Groceries, magic tricks, pool time, and terrace dinner

Saturday, June 27, 2026 • Carvoeiro condo • reset, cooking, and a home-base evening

We headed back to the condo, jumped in the car to pick up some groceries, and then spent a little time relaxing. Noah entertained us with several magic tricks he has been perfecting lately — and they are getting better every day.

The boys then headed to the pool while dinner came together: shrimp pasta with a fresh, colourful salad. We enjoyed the meal together on the large terrace before heading out one last time for a sunset adventure.

View from the condo balcony over a quiet street and sunny Algarve cliffside buildings — Condo balcony view A sunny look out over the quiet street and white Algarve buildings from home base.

Terrace magic before dinner

Noah on the terrace with Catherine nearby, keeping the condo reset playful before supper.

Pool time before supper

A sunny pool reset at the condo before heading back to the terrace for dinner.

Catherine and Noah eating pasta dinner on the condo terrace — Terrace pasta dinner A simple home-cooked dinner outside after the big Carvoeiro cliff adventure.

Day 8 — Sunset adventure at Marinha Beach

Saturday, June 27, 2026 • Praia da Marinha • golden cliffs and a spectacular ending

Our final stop of the day was Marinha Beach. The golden cliffs glowing in the evening light, the crystal-clear water, and the incredible rock formations made it one of the most spectacular places we have seen so far.

It was the perfect ending to a wonderful day. Tired from all our adventures but with hearts full of memories, we made our way back to the condo and headed off to bed.

Boa noite!

Praia da Marinha cliffs, sea stacks and beach at sunset — Marinha sunset cove Golden cliffs, calm water, and the first pastel colors settling over Praia da Marinha.

Marinha Beach rock stacks and cliff caves at sunset — Rock stacks at dusk The famous limestone stacks and caves glowing softly as evening arrived.

Marinha coastline under pink clouds with the moon in the sky — Pink sky and moon A wide cliff view with cotton-candy clouds and the moon rising over the water.

Twin limestone stacks below the Marinha cliffs at sunset — Twin stacks below A vertical look down into the cove, with layered cliffs and rock towers below.

Pink clouds over a clifftop viewpoint and the Atlantic Ocean — Pink clouds over the cliffs The sky turned soft pink above the clifftop trail and quiet Atlantic.

Moonlit Marinha cliffs A short pan across the pastel sky, moon, golden cliffs, and calm Atlantic before the final family selfie.

Family selfie at Marinha Beach sunset viewpoint with cliffs and ocean behind — Marinha family selfie One more family photo at the railing with the cliffs and sunset colors behind us.

Day 9 — Vale de Centeanes Beach, sea-cave swims, and Noah’s little discoveries

Sunday, June 28, 2026 • Vale de Centeanes Beach • slow morning, picnic lunch, turquoise water, and little explorer energy

Olá!

Today was exactly the kind of day that reminds us why we love to travel — simple, slow, and filled with the little moments that become the biggest memories.

We started the morning at a leisurely pace with our now-familiar vacation breakfast. Noah proudly cooked his scrambled eggs while Catherine pressed fresh orange juice from sweet local oranges. After fruit, eggs, and one last bit of packing, we headed to Vale de Centeanes Beach, a stunning stretch of golden sand tucked beneath towering limestone cliffs, with crystal-clear turquoise water and fascinating sea caves carved into the coastline.

Noah absolutely loved swimming in the ocean. He became quite the little adventurer, diving through the waves with the biggest smile on his face. The highlight of the day was when Noah and Catherine swam into one of the nearby sea caves — and after a little convincing, even Dad joined them for a swim. The Atlantic was about 22°C, and although that sounded cool on paper, once everyone was in, it felt wonderfully refreshing.

Even without beach toys, Noah never ran out of things to do. He happily collected seashells and carefully arranged them into little sculptures in the sand.

It is becoming more and more obvious that Noah is genuinely up for any adventure we throw his way. Long walks, endless flights of stairs, hot weather — it does not seem to matter. Today he even insisted on helping carry our beach bag, proving once again that he is growing into such a thoughtful little travel companion.

One thing that has really captured Noah’s imagination is Portugal’s incredible plant life. He has been fascinated by the towering cacti, ancient olive trees, fragrant lemon trees, fig trees, majestic eucalyptus trees, and the colourful flowers growing almost everywhere. He has proudly collected little samples of each along the way — although we have not quite found the courage to tell him that it is very unlikely they will be allowed to make the journey home with us.

Noah standing on a kitchen chair cooking scrambled eggs in the condo kitchen — Noah makes breakfast The day started slowly at the condo, with Noah proudly helping cook his own scrambled eggs.

Fresh orange juice being squeezed on the condo counter — Fresh orange juice Catherine pressed sweet local oranges before we packed up for the beach.

Breakfast table with scrambled eggs, fruit, yogurt, berries, and orange juice — Slow Algarve breakfast Eggs, fruit, yogurt, berries, and fresh juice before the Vale de Centeanes beach day.

Noah playing in the sand at Vale de Centeanes Beach with umbrellas, cliffs, and blue ocean behind him — First dig in the sand Noah settled straight into beach mode under the bright umbrellas and golden cliffs.

Beach umbrella and golden limestone cliff against a deep blue sky — Umbrella, cliff, sky A tiny slice of shade under that enormous Algarve blue.

Wide view of Vale de Centeanes Beach with turquoise water, golden cliffs, and beach umbrellas — Vale de Centeanes shoreline Golden sand, turquoise water, and the cliffs wrapping around the beach.

Catherine and Noah swimming together beside a sea cave at Vale de Centeanes Beach — Swimming into the cave Catherine and Noah tucked into the clear water beside the shadowy cave opening.

Catherine and Noah floating in turquoise water under a rocky sea cave — Inside the turquoise cave The sea cave made the water glow almost unreal shades of blue and green.

Noah and Catherine by the cave The bigger Vale de Centeanes clip: Catherine and Noah swimming in the clear water beneath the towering cliff and cave.

Sea-cave swim close-up A shorter clip from the cave swim, with the waves rolling into the rocks.

Vale de Centeanes shoreline viewed from beside a dark rock wall with clear water and golden cliffs — From the rock shade Looking back along the beach from the edge of the cliffs and clear shallow water.

Catherine smiling under a beach umbrella at Vale de Centeanes Beach — Beach shade smile Catherine enjoying a little umbrella shade while the beach buzzed around us.

Sunny sandy beach under tall golden cliffs at Vale de Centeanes — Cliffs above the sand The huge limestone walls made the whole beach feel tucked into a natural amphitheatre.

Overlook from the stairs above Vale de Centeanes Beach with swimmers and cliffs below — Looking down from the steps A final wide view from above before leaving the sand and climbing back up.

Painted Vale de Centeanes mural sign beside the road — Vale de Centeanes sign The colourful mural at the beach entrance — one last marker for the day’s main stop.

Day 9 — Condo dinner and Praia do Carvalho tunnels

Sunday, June 28, 2026 • Carvoeiro condo / Praia do Carvalho • al fresco dinner, golden cliffs, and evening beach exploring

After our beach day, we returned to the condo and made a fresh salad using delicious local produce. Noah happily helped prepare dinner, and we enjoyed eating al fresco while soaking in another beautiful Algarve evening.

As if one adventure was not enough, we headed out again for sunset at Praia do Carvalho. Hidden beneath dramatic golden cliffs and reached through a tunnel carved into the rock, it is one of the most picturesque beaches we have seen so far. Even after such a full day, Noah somehow still had endless energy, happily climbing what felt like countless stairs so he could explore every corner of this magical place.

Noah giving two thumbs up while eating salad dinner on the condo terrace — Terrace dinner approval Noah gave the fresh salad bowls two thumbs up before we headed out again.

Catherine standing inside the carved rock tunnel at Praia do Carvalho — Catherine in the tunnel The carved passage down to Praia do Carvalho felt like a secret doorway through the cliff.

Praia do Carvalho beach with a sea stack, calm ocean, sand, and tall golden cliff — Carvalho sea stack The beach opened into calm water, golden limestone walls, and a lone rock stack offshore.

Wide view across Praia do Carvalho sand, cliffs, and calm water — Evening beach under the cliffs A quieter beach scene as the light softened and the cliffs started to glow.

Catherine and Noah sitting together on rocks at Praia do Carvalho — Catherine and Noah on the rocks A sweet pause together among the rock ledges and little cave openings.

Wide sandy Praia do Carvalho beach with cave entrances and cliffs — Carvalho caves and sand The beach had pockets of shade, cave openings, and cliffs wrapped around the sand.

Catherine smiling on narrow stone steps inside a rocky tunnel — Tunnel steps portrait Catherine climbing through the rough stone corridor that leads down to the beach.

Small tunnel entrance carved into the cliff above Praia do Carvalho — The tunnel entrance The little doorway in the cliff that makes Praia do Carvalho feel hidden away.

Noah standing on the long stairs up from Praia do Carvalho at sunset — Noah on the stairs Still full of energy after a beach day, ready to climb back up from Carvalho.

Evening path and stairs down toward Praia do Carvalho with ocean and green cliffs beyond — Path down to Carvalho The walkway and coastal scrub leading between the cliffs and the evening ocean.

Carvalho cliffs video A short look around the towering beach walls and quiet evening sand.

Noah exploring the rocks Noah scrambling and playing around the beach rocks while the cliffs rise behind him.

Evening drive back along a flower-lined road near Carvoeiro at dusk — Evening drive back The road home was quiet and flower-lined as the last light faded over Carvoeiro.

Day 9 — Mint tea and a slower Portugal rhythm

Sunday, June 28, 2026 • Carvoeiro condo • warm tea, bedtime, and tomorrow’s plans

We finished the evening back at the condo, where Noah and Catherine shared a warm cup of mint tea before everyone happily climbed into bed. Tomorrow promises another exciting day as we visit a local winery in the morning before setting off to discover yet another beautiful Algarve beach.

One thing we have come to truly appreciate about Portugal is the way people embrace a slower pace of life. Meals are meant to be savoured, sunsets are an event, and time spent outdoors with family seems to be treasured. It is a beautiful reminder that sometimes the best moments are not the busiest ones, but the ones where you simply slow down and enjoy where you are.

Back at the condo, the evening finished with a quiet look across Carvoeiro from the rooftop terrace — white buildings, red tile roofs, chimneys, and the last soft light of the day settling over town.

Stay tuned for tomorrow’s adventures. Até amanhã!

Rooftop terrace view over Carvoeiro white buildings, red tile roofs, and sunset sky — Rooftop terrace sunset White buildings, red roofs, and soft sunset light from the condo rooftop terrace.

Rooftop terrace view over Carvoeiro apartments, chimneys, and pale sunset sky — Rooftop chimneys at dusk One more rooftop view across the red-tiled roofs and classic Algarve chimneys.

Day 10 — Cabrita Wines and Noah’s orange-juice tasting

Monday, June 29, 2026 • Lagoa / Cabrita Wines • family-run vineyard, Algarve whites and rosés, and a very serious juice tasting

Olá!

Today we went on a wine tour at Cabrita Wines, a small, family-run vineyard near Lagoa known for producing elegant Algarve wines, especially whites and rosés made from local and Portuguese grape varieties. The setting was beautiful and relaxed, surrounded by rows of vines and the warm southern light. The experience felt very personal, almost like being welcomed into someone’s home rather than joining a formal tour.

Even though Noah is not of drinking age, he had the best time joining in. While the adults tasted wines, he was given orange juice and fully embraced the experience. He watched closely as we swirled our glasses and smelled the wine, then proudly imitated every movement with his own juice, taking his role very seriously. It was honestly one of the sweetest parts of the day.

The tasting was paired with a generous charcuterie board, which made the whole experience even more enjoyable — cheeses, cured meats, bread, and local bites to share while we enjoyed the relaxed vineyard setting.

Adega Winery Cabrita sign beside a stop sign near Lagoa — Arriving at Cabrita Wines The roadside Adega Winery Cabrita sign marked the start of the morning vineyard tour.

Tour group walking under olive trees toward vineyard rows at Cabrita Wines — Walking into the vineyard The tour began outside in the bright Algarve sun, with olive trees and vines all around.

Olive trees and vineyard rows beside the white Cabrita Wines building — Olive trees and vines A quiet view across the gravel courtyard, olive trees, and rows of Cabrita vines.

Cabrita Wines guide pointing across rows of vines under a blue sky — Learning about the vines The guide pointed out the vineyard rows and the landscape around the family estate.

Cabrita Wines guide speaking to the group beside the vineyard rows — Vineyard tour in the shade A little shade under the leaves while the guide explained the grapes and the Algarve growing conditions.

Cabrita vineyard rows A short pan across the vines, red soil, white buildings, and wide blue morning sky.

Cabrita Wines barrel room with oak barrels marked in chalk — Barrel-room details Oak barrels stacked in the cool cellar, each one marked with chalk notes from the winemaking process.

Tour group gathered beside oak barrels in the Cabrita Wines cellar — Inside the barrel room The tour moved into the cellar, where the barrels gave the morning a quieter, cooler rhythm.

Wide view of oak barrels stacked on racks in the Cabrita Wines cellar — Rows of Cabrita barrels A wide look across the barrel room, with the arched walls and wooden casks lined up in rows.

Stacked wine barrels in a dark Cabrita Wines cellar room — Cellar stacks More barrels tucked into the dim cellar, aging quietly away from the Algarve heat.

Long wooden tasting table set with wine glasses and charcuterie boards at Cabrita Wines — Tasting table ready The long table was set with glasses, charcuterie boards, and a view out toward the vines.

Ben and Noah smiling at the Cabrita Wines tasting table with wine and orange juice — Noah’s orange-juice tasting Noah joined the ritual with his own glass of orange juice, copying the grown-up tasting steps perfectly.

Cabrita Wines tasting table with wine glasses, charcuterie, bread, and guests — Charcuterie and glasses Cheeses, cured meats, bread, grapes, and glasses spread across the table made the tasting feel generous and relaxed.

Day 10 — Praia de Nossa Senhora da Rocha, cold waves, and seashell castles

Monday, June 29, 2026 • Praia de Nossa Senhora da Rocha • limestone cliffs, chapel views, chilly water, and Noah’s shell collecting

After the winery, we headed back to the condo for a quick lunch before going to Praia de Nossa Senhora da Rocha. This beach is tucked beneath dramatic limestone cliffs and a small white chapel that sits above the sea, making it feel especially scenic and peaceful.

Unlike some of the larger beaches we have visited, this one is smaller and more sheltered. The water felt much colder, but that did not stop Noah at all — he was right in the waves, and I even joined him for a bit.

The shoreline was full of beautiful seashells, more than we have seen elsewhere, and Noah had a wonderful time collecting them. He built little sandcastles and decorated them with his finds, completely absorbed in his own little world.

Sunny shoreline at Praia de Nossa Senhora da Rocha with limestone cliffs and swimmers — Cold-water courage The sheltered shoreline looked calm and blue, even if the water felt much colder than the other Algarve beaches.

Noah swimming near the shore at Praia de Nossa Senhora da Rocha with small boats offshore — Noah in the waves The cold water did not slow him down — he was straight into the little waves.

Noah braving the chilly water A little beach video from Nossa Senhora da Rocha: boats offshore, clear blue water, and Noah heading right back into the waves.

Wide view of Praia de Nossa Senhora da Rocha cove below golden limestone cliffs — Golden cliff cove The beach sat tucked under high limestone walls, with the sea turning clear green-blue along the edge.

Family walking along the sandy beach beneath cliffs at Praia de Nossa Senhora da Rocha — Under the cliffs A slow walk along the sand with the cliffs glowing in the late-afternoon sun.

Rocha cove in motion A short pan across the sand, blue water, chapel headland, and cliff-side beach before we packed up.

Tunnel adventure under the cliffs Noah led the way through the carved rock passage, popping between shade, sandy tunnel walls, and bright beach views.

Noah sitting in the sand at Praia de Nossa Senhora da Rocha wearing a red swim shirt blue hat and sunglasses — Sand-seat break Noah paused between swims and shell hunting, half buried in his own sandy throne.

Noah lying back in the sand at Praia de Nossa Senhora da Rocha with cliffs and beach behind him — Beach relaxation mode After the chilly waves, Noah fully embraced the warm sand.

Quiet end of Praia de Nossa Senhora da Rocha beneath the chapel cliff and calm blue water — Chapel cliff view The quiet end of the cove, with the little chapel perched above the layered limestone.

Road and viewpoint above Praia de Nossa Senhora da Rocha after leaving the beach — Last look at the cove One more view over the sheltered beach, cliffs, and boats as we headed back up.

Praia de Nossa Senhora da Rocha beach with golden cliffs, small boats, dark sand, and blue sea — Beach from above Golden limestone cliffs, small boats pulled onto the sand, and the calm blue sea tucked below the chapel headland.

Catherine and Noah walking back to the car from Praia de Nossa Senhora da Rocha — Walking back to the car Catherine and Noah on the road back after the beach, still sandy and happy from the waves.

Day 10 — Salad dinner, teatime, and an early night

Monday, June 29, 2026 • Carvoeiro condo • simple dinner, quiet tea, and an early start ahead

We came back home and made a simple but delicious salad for dinner, then had a quiet teatime before heading to bed early.

Tomorrow is an early start as we go dolphin watching — fingers crossed we see some — and we will also be visiting Benagil Beach by boat.

Noah smiling and giving a thumbs-up beside a colourful salad bowl at the Carvoeiro condo — Salad dinner approval Noah giving the condo salad dinner a very official thumbs-up before teatime and an early night.

Day 11 — Albufeira, Benagil Cave, and dolphins

Tuesday, June 30, 2026 • Albufeira / Benagil Cave • zodiac boat tour, golden cliffs, sea caves, and a dolphin pod

Olá!

Today was one of those days we know we’ll remember forever. We woke up early and made our way to Albufeira for a zodiac boat tour in search of dolphins and the famous Benagil Cave. The excitement built as we sped across the Atlantic, the salty breeze on our faces while the Algarve coastline revealed towering golden cliffs, hidden beaches, and dramatic rock formations around every corner.

Entering Benagil Cave was nothing short of magical. Carved by the sea over thousands of years, the cave is famous for its enormous dome and the circular opening in its ceiling that allows sunlight to pour onto the small sandy beach below. It felt almost like stepping into nature’s own cathedral. The cave has become so popular that access is now carefully managed to help protect this extraordinary place. It also gained worldwide fame after one of its breathtaking views was featured as a Microsoft Windows desktop background, introducing millions of people to one of Portugal’s greatest natural wonders.

As incredible as the caves were, the highlight of the morning came when our guide spotted dolphins. We were unbelievably lucky: a large pod surrounded our boat, gracefully gliding through the crystal-clear water. They swam alongside us, surfaced to breathe, disappeared beneath the waves, and reappeared moments later. Some leapt playfully from the water while others rode the wake of our boat as if they were putting on a show just for us.

Watching these intelligent and beautiful animals in their natural habitat was a truly humbling and breathtaking experience that none of us will ever forget.

Back in Albufeira, we could not help but admire the colourful waterfront. The pastel-painted houses climbed the hillside in shades of white, blue, yellow, pink, and peach, making the village look almost like a real-life Candy Land overlooking the sparkling sea.

Noah smiling in a life jacket at the dolphin and caves tour check-in stand in Albufeira — Ready for the dolphin tour Noah suited up in his life jacket and giving two thumbs up before the Albufeira caves and dolphin boat trip.

Noah standing under a large Seacret Tours dolphin display before the boat tour — Under the dolphin sign A very excited pre-boat-tour photo under the Seacret Tours dolphin display.

Passengers boarding a grey zodiac boat at the Albufeira marina — Boarding the zodiac The red seats, life jackets, and marina full of boats made the morning adventure feel real.

Noah and Catherine sitting on the zodiac boat at the marina in bright sun — Ready to launch Noah and Catherine settled into the zodiac seats, sunglasses on, ready to head out along the Algarve coast.

Noah and Catherine on the zodiac with golden Algarve cliffs and turquoise water behind them — First cliffs from the water The golden limestone cliffs came into view almost immediately as the boat left the marina area.

A small boat near a sea cave in golden Algarve cliffs over turquoise water — Sea-cave approach The boat edged toward dark sea caves cut into the golden limestone cliffs.

A natural rock arch in the Algarve cliffs seen from the water — Natural arch window A huge rock arch opened through the cliff face, with calm green-blue water below.

Kayakers paddling below tall golden Algarve cliffs reflected in calm water — Kayaks below the cliffs Kayaks lined up below the layered cliffs, showing just how massive the coastline felt from the water.

Tour boats entering a wide sea cave with a sandy beach inside — Entering Benagil Cave The boats slipped into the cave opening toward the sandy chamber inside.

Inside Benagil Cave looking up at the circular skylight in the rock ceiling — Benagil skylight Inside the cathedral-like cave, sunlight poured through the famous circular opening in the ceiling.

A small motorboat passing golden cliffs and a beach along the Algarve coast — Cliffs, beach, and passing boats Another boat skimmed past the cliffs and beach as the tour continued along the coast.

Family selfie on a zodiac boat wearing life jackets over calm open water — Family selfie at sea A sunny family selfie on the zodiac, with Noah giving a thumbs-up out on the open water.

A dolphin swimming beside the zodiac while passengers lean over with phones to take photos — Dolphin beside the boat A dolphin surfaced right next to the zodiac while everyone leaned over with phones out, trying to capture the moment.

A dolphin surfacing in calm blue water while passengers watch from the zodiac boat — Dolphin surfacing One dolphin broke the surface in the deep blue water as the whole side of the boat watched in awe.

A dolphin fin visible in open blue water behind the zodiac wake — Fin across the blue A dolphin fin cut across the calm Atlantic, just beyond the white curl of the boat wake.

A dolphin swimming very close to the zodiac boat while passengers watch and film — Right beside us The dolphin came close enough to make the whole boat crowd the rail, phones and cameras ready.

Faint dolphins visible just below the surface of calm blue Atlantic water near the boat wake — Dolphins under the surface Even when they slipped below the surface, their shapes were still visible under the clear blue water beside the boat wake.

A black two-masted sailboat on calm blue water under a clear sky — Sailboat on the blue A beautiful two-masted sailboat glided across the calm Atlantic during the ride.

Day 11 — Rocha Baixinha lunch, shells, and warm Atlantic waves

Tuesday, June 30, 2026 • Rocha Baixinha Beach Restaurant / beach afternoon • fresh fish, seashells, and family wave time

After our adventure, we drove to Rocha Baixinha Beach Restaurant for lunch. Naturally, we ordered more fresh fish.

Afterwards, we spent the afternoon at the beach. The Atlantic felt noticeably warmer here, and the shoreline was covered with more seashells than we had seen anywhere else on our trip. Noah was in his element, happily collecting shells and creating little games with his growing treasure. We even managed to convince Daddy to join us for a swim, making it a special family moment in the waves.

Noah was having the time of his life jumping over the surf until one wave caught him by surprise. He tumbled backwards and landed flat on his back, scraping it against the sand. There were a few tears, but they did not last long. Before we knew it, he was smiling again and racing back into the waves as if nothing had happened.

Catherine and Noah smiling at an outdoor beach restaurant table with bread and drinks — Lunch by the beach Catherine and Noah smiling at the Rocha Baixinha restaurant table, already deep into bread-basket mode after the boat adventure.

A beach restaurant table with grilled whole fish, vegetables, pasta, bread, water, and beer — Fresh fish lunch spread Grilled whole fish, vegetables, pasta, bread, and cold drinks made the post-boat lunch feel perfectly Portuguese.

Noah smiling in sunglasses with a bowl of spaghetti at the beach restaurant — Noah’s pasta plate Noah, sunglasses on, looking very pleased with his spaghetti before the afternoon beach time.

A sandy beach with Catherine and Noah in the calm blue water near shore — Into the warm waves The water at Rocha Baixinha felt warmer, and it did not take long before they were both in.

A large collection of small seashells arranged on golden beach sand beside a towel — Shell treasure pile Noah’s beach treasure grew into a serious pile of tiny shells arranged in the sand.

Catherine hugging Noah under a blue beach umbrella with the ocean behind them — Beach cuddle break A quiet cuddle in the shade under the beach umbrella, with the Atlantic just behind them.

Wide view of Rocha Baixinha beach with umbrellas, golden sand, red cliffs, and bright sun — Wide-open beach afternoon The beach stretched out wide and bright, with red cliffs in the distance and umbrellas scattered along the sand.

Long sandy shoreline with umbrellas, beachgoers, and calm blue Atlantic water — Long blue shoreline A long, calm shoreline of golden sand and blue water — exactly the kind of beach afternoon the Algarve does best.

Wide sandy beach view toward a beach restaurant and straw umbrellas under a clear blue sky — Looking back to the restaurant Looking back across the sand toward the beach restaurant, flags, loungers, and straw umbrellas under the wide blue sky.

Day 11 — A Marisqueira shrimp, charcoal sea bass, and dessert

Tuesday, June 30, 2026 • A Marisqueira • sweet boiled shrimp, whole sea bass, and one more unforgettable Algarve dinner

To end an already amazing day, we enjoyed dinner at A Marisqueira. We started with boiled shrimp, and they were honestly the best Catherine had ever had: incredibly sweet, tender, and buttery, tasting so much like lobster that she could not stop talking about them.

Noah proudly peeled his own shrimp, something he has become remarkably good at. We also shared a beautifully fresh whole sea bass that was grilled over charcoal right in front of our eyes, making the meal feel even more special.

Of course, we could not leave without dessert. We ended the evening with full bellies, happy hearts, and another unforgettable day of adventures in the beautiful Algarve.

Noah standing beneath a huge wall of bright pink and purple bougainvillea flowers after dinner — Bougainvillea wall Noah posing under the giant burst of pink and purple flowers on the evening walk around A Marisqueira.

A restaurant table with grilled whole sea bass, boiled shrimp, vegetables, wine, water, and bread — Sea bass and shrimp feast The table filled up with grilled whole sea bass, sweet boiled shrimp, vegetables, wine, and all the little extras.

Noah smiling and eating shrimp at an outdoor restaurant table at night — Shrimp expert at work Noah proudly peeling and eating his own shrimp — one of his new Portugal specialties.

Day 12 — Quinta de Santo Estevão and the orange grove tour

Wednesday, July 1, 2026 • Quinta de Santo Estevão • orange groves, Algarve summer heat, farm stories, fresh juice, and Noah’s animal highlight

Olá!

We woke up early this morning to head out for an orange grove tour at Quinta de Santo Estevão, an Algarve farm where the owner personally greeted us and led the visit. Even though it was only 9:30, the heat was already intense and you could feel summer fully settled in.

We began walking through the orange groves while he shared stories about the land, the region, and of course the oranges themselves: how they are grown, harvested, and the importance of citrus in this part of Portugal. It was clear how deeply he loves and respects his farm.

As we moved through the property, we were surprised by how much more than oranges it held. We saw peppercorn trees, dragon fruit plants, pomegranate, almond, lime, peanut plants, cork trees, and so much more. Every stop came with a new explanation and a sense of pride from him that made the experience feel very personal and special.

We finished the tour with a tasting of fresh orange juice and homemade lemonade, along with some sweets. Everything tasted incredibly fresh after walking in the heat.

By the end, Noah was completely in love with the place and very seriously considering “moving in.” He even got a glimpse of the animals on the property — horses, donkeys, and goats — and had the chance to feed them, which was a highlight for him.

Afterwards, we headed back to our condo to cool off for a bit since we were all feeling the heat. We also started packing up, as tomorrow morning we have an olive grove tour before making our way back to Lisbon.

Wide Algarve countryside view from Quinta de Santo Estevão with orange groves and hills — Quinta countryside The dry Algarve hills and rows of citrus trees around Quinta de Santo Estevão under a bright blue sky.

The Quinta de Santo Estevão guide explaining oranges beside a fruit-heavy citrus tree — Learning in the orange row Our guide walking us through the citrus trees, with ripe oranges hanging all around him.

A sunny row of orange trees loaded with fruit at Quinta de Santo Estevão — Orange grove path A shaded path through the orange grove, with fruit tucked into the branches on both sides.

Catherine and Noah feeding goats through a fence at Quinta de Santo Estevão — Feeding the goats Noah and Catherine stopping by the animal pen to feed the goats, one of Noah’s favourite parts of the farm.

A peppercorn tree hanging over a red Massey Ferguson tractor at the farm — Peppercorn tree and tractor Peppercorn branches drooping over an old red tractor near the farm buildings.

A pomegranate tree with fruit against a deep blue sky — Pomegranates overhead Pomegranates tucked high in the leafy tree canopy during the tour.

Rows of dragon fruit plants growing on posts at Quinta de Santo Estevão — Dragon fruit rows Long rows of dragon fruit plants stretching across the red Algarve soil.

Close-up of a dragon fruit cactus plant with a flower bud — Dragon fruit close-up A close look at the cactus-like dragon fruit plant and one of its flower buds.

Noah touching a dragon fruit plant in the farm rows — Inspecting dragon fruit Noah checking out the dragon fruit plants while the orange grove continues behind him.

Family and guide gathered beside a cork tree during the Quinta de Santo Estevão tour — Under the cork tree A stop beneath the cork tree while the guide explained another part of the farm landscape.

Noah and Catherine visiting donkeys at a wooden fence on the farm — Meeting the donkeys Noah and Catherine visiting the donkeys at the fence in the farm’s animal area.

Catherine and Noah crouching to examine a peanut plant during the farm tour — Peanut plant discovery Catherine and Noah getting a close look at a peanut plant growing low in the garden beds.

An unearthed peanut plant showing peanuts in the soil while Noah and Catherine look on — Unearthed peanuts The peanut plant after it was pulled up, with the peanuts visible at the roots in the soil.

Ben Catherine and Noah standing together beneath a fruit-filled orange tree — Family in the orange grove A family photo under the orange trees, surrounded by bright fruit and summer green.

Noah standing under an orange tree holding oranges in his sunglasses — Orange harvest helper Noah collecting oranges in the shade of the grove.

Noah reaching toward an orange on a tree while holding another orange — Choosing the next orange Noah carefully reaching for another orange among the low branches.

Noah hugging several oranges against his chest in the grove — Arms full of oranges Noah proudly clutching his orange haul under the trees.

Noah smiling with sunglasses while holding oranges in the grove — Big orange-grove smile A very happy Noah showing off the oranges he collected.

Family photo in a sunny Quinta de Santo Estevão courtyard with flowers and a basket of oranges — Quinta courtyard photo One more family photo at the farm, with Noah holding the basket of fresh oranges.

White farm buildings with green shutters and a cobblestone courtyard at Quinta de Santo Estevão — Whitewashed farm courtyard The classic white buildings and green shutters around the quiet Quinta courtyard.

Ceramic tile sign reading Quinta de Santo Estevão with painted orange trees — Quinta tile sign The hand-painted tile sign for Quinta de Santo Estevão, complete with orange trees.

Noah pointing at a pomegranate on a tree beside Catherine — Spotting pomegranates Noah pointing out the pomegranates while Catherine looks on.

Catherine holding Noah beside a pomegranate tree on the farm — Pomegranate-tree portrait Catherine and Noah posing beside the pomegranate tree in the bright Algarve sun.

Day 12 — Praia da Marinha, James Bond rocks, and Noah’s dream beach mission

Wednesday, July 1, 2026 • Praia da Marinha • iconic cliffs, tricky beach access, crashing waves, seaweed rocks, and a determined six-year-old

Later in the afternoon, we made our way to Praia da Marinha, one of the most iconic beaches in the Algarve. We had actually visited it earlier in the week from the clifftop viewpoint, where we looked down over the turquoise water, dramatic arches, and golden cliffs carved into the coastline. Noah kept insisting we come back and find a way down to the beach itself after that first visit — he was determined to turn the view into an experience.

What followed felt like something out of a James Bond movie. We found the famous stairs, but they led us to an adjacent beach rather than the main stretch we had originally seen from above. From there, we decided to continue along the coastline to reach it properly.

We carefully made our way through crashing waves, around the edge of the bay, and over slippery, seaweed-covered rocks — carrying beach bags, towels, two umbrellas, and a very enthusiastic six-year-old who thought the entire situation was the greatest adventure ever.

Eventually, we made it to the dreamlike beach, soaked, a little scratched up, and covered in bits of seaweed, but completely exhilarated. The water was wild and the tide made everything feel a bit chaotic at first, but by the time we left it had calmed and the ocean had pulled back, making the return much easier and almost unrecognizable compared to our dramatic arrival.

Rocky approach along Praia da Marinha with golden cliffs and sea stacks ahead — Rocky route along Marinha The view across the rocks toward Praia da Marinha’s golden cliffs and sea stacks.

Tall golden sea stack and rocks at Praia da Marinha against a clear blue sky — Sea stack lookout A tall sea stack rising beside the water during the beach mission.

Golden Praia da Marinha cliffs and large shoreline rocks above blue water — Golden cliff maze The cliffs and boulders that made the route feel like a little coastal expedition.

Noah standing on pale beach rocks at Praia da Marinha wearing his sun hat and sunglasses — Noah on the rocks Noah climbing over the pale rocks on the way to the dream beach.

Noah standing on rocks at Praia da Marinha with cliffs and sea behind him — Adventure thumbs-up Noah giving the rock-hopping adventure his full approval.

Wide sandy Praia da Marinha beach with calm water, seaweed, giant cliffs, and beach bags — Finally on the sand The sandy beach tucked below the cliffs after the adventurous approach.

Family departure selfie on Praia da Marinha beach with bright sun, cliffs, and wet sand behind them — Beach departure selfie A sunny family selfie as we were leaving the sand, with the cliffs and water behind us.

Close-up of shell fragments embedded in the rough Praia da Marinha rock — Shells in the rock A close look at tiny shells and fragments embedded in the beach rock.

Seaweed-covered shoreline at Praia da Marinha below the beach restaurant and stairs — Seaweed crossing below the steps The dark seaweed-covered stretch we had to muck through to reach our beach.

Day 12 — La Vera dinner, pistachio desserts, a local cat, and a rescue gecko

Wednesday, July 1, 2026 • La Vera Italian Restaurant • bruschetta, clam pasta, pizza, desserts, neighbourhood cat, and one tiny gecko rescue

We went back to the condo, showered, and then headed out for dinner at La Vera Italian Restaurant. We had an excellent meal — bruschetta, clam pasta, pizza, and dessert. Noah enjoyed chocolate ice cream, Ben had pistachio cheesecake, and Catherine had a pistachio truffle dessert.

While we were there, Noah completely fell in love with a local cat that seemed to belong to the neighbourhood but spent most of its time around the restaurant.

At one point, the cat even found a small gecko and had managed to take its tail, playing with it in the garden. The boys ended up stepping in to rescue the gecko, and Noah was not too concerned about it — he calmly reminded us that geckos can grow their tails back. Hopefully that is true for this one too.

A long, hot, adventurous, and unforgettable day. Good night.

Outdoor La Vera restaurant patio with red checkered tables and Noah near a local cat in the background — La Vera patio cat watch The outdoor patio at La Vera, with Noah already drawn toward the local cat near the garden edge.

Noah sitting on the La Vera patio beside a black local cat — Noah and the La Vera cat Noah sitting right beside the restaurant cat, completely absorbed in his new Algarve friend.

Pistachio desserts on black slate plates at La Vera dinner — Pistachio dessert plates The grown-up pistachio desserts arrived on black slate plates, with pistachio crumbs and cream scattered around.

Noah smiling beside his finished chocolate dessert at La Vera — Chocolate dessert victory Noah looking very pleased with his chocolate dessert at the end of dinner.

Day 13 — Monterosa olive grove and a serious olive-oil tasting

Thursday, July 2, 2026 • Monterosa Olive Oil • Algarve countryside, extra virgin olive oil, peppery finishes, and ice cream with olive oil

Olá!

Today marked our final full day in Portugal, and tomorrow we begin our journey home. It is hard to believe how quickly these two weeks have passed.

This morning we set off for Monterosa, a beautiful olive grove nestled in the Algarve countryside. From the moment we arrived, it was clear how much pride goes into every corner of the property. The gardens were immaculate, the pathways were lined with fragrant herbs and colourful flowers, and the olive trees stretched across the landscape in neat rows. It was peaceful, beautiful, and felt like the perfect place to spend our last day.

We were welcomed with a guided tour where we learned about the fascinating process of producing extra virgin olive oil. Olives are harvested at different times depending on the flavour profile the producer is aiming for, then quickly transported to the mill where they are washed, crushed into a paste, slowly mixed, and finally separated using a centrifuge. The goal is to keep everything cool throughout the process to preserve the oil’s delicate flavours and aromas. It was amazing to learn how the variety of olive, harvest date, and even the weather can influence the final taste.

After the tour, we sampled three of Monterosa’s award-winning extra virgin olive oils. Noah absolutely loved the tasting. He took it very seriously, warming and smelling each oil before tasting it and trying to identify the different flavours. Some had a surprisingly peppery finish that made us cough a little — a sign of high-quality fresh olive oil — but Noah embraced the experience with complete enthusiasm.

One of the highlights was dessert: vanilla ice cream and pineapple ice cream drizzled with extra virgin olive oil and sprinkled with sea salt. It sounded unusual, but the combination was incredible. The rich olive oil enhanced the sweetness of the ice cream while the sea salt balanced everything perfectly. It was one of those simple but unforgettable food experiences.

Monterosa Olive Oil entrance sign framed by bougainvillea and greenery — Arriving at Monterosa The Monterosa sign tucked into the flowers and greenery as we arrived for the olive-oil visit.

Shaded walkway at Monterosa under grape vines and rustic columns — Grape-shaded walkway The first path into Monterosa ran beneath a leafy grape canopy and warm terracotta columns.

Rows of silver-green olive trees in the Monterosa grove under a bright blue sky — Olive grove rows The silver-green olive trees stretched out in neat rows across the dry Algarve soil.

Old olive tree with twisting trunk and branches at Monterosa — Old olive tree A close look at one of the gnarled olive trees, full of age and character.

Olive tree roots and twisted trunk casting shade on the dusty ground — Twisted roots The olive trees had beautiful sculptural trunks and roots, shaped by years in the hot Algarve sun.

Long path between olive trees at Monterosa Olive Oil — Between the olive rows The grove opened into long, quiet lines of trees where the oil-making story begins.

Sunlight shining through olive branches and narrow leaves — Olive leaves in the sun Bright morning light filtered through the silvery olive leaves during the walk.

Family walking along the shaded Monterosa pergola path — Walking back through the shade We followed the shaded pergola path back toward the tasting area after exploring the grove.

Catherine and Noah walking beneath pink bougainvillea on the Monterosa path — Bougainvillea path Catherine and Noah walked beneath a burst of pink flowers on the way through the estate.

Pink bougainvillea flowers forming a tunnel over the Monterosa walkway — Flower tunnel The walkway turned into a pink flower tunnel, with petals scattered across the gravel below.

Rustic Monterosa tasting room with white arches, wood ceiling beams, round tables, and visitors — Inside the tasting room The tasting room was airy and rustic, with white arches, wooden beams, and olive oils set out on the tables.

Monterosa olive oil tasting mat with three small cups of golden olive oil — Three oils to taste The tasting mat lined up three golden olive oils and walked us through warming, smelling, and tasting each one.

Noah smiling beside an olive oil tasting mat at Monterosa — Noah ready to taste Noah took his seat at the tasting table and was completely ready to take the olive oils seriously.

Noah smelling a small glass of olive oil during the Monterosa tasting — Smelling the oil Noah warmed and smelled the olive oil like a proper little tasting expert.

Cup of vanilla gelato topped with golden olive oil on a Monterosa tasting mat — Olive oil gelato The surprise dessert was gelato with a glossy drizzle of olive oil and a sprinkle of sea salt.

Noah standing in front of the Monterosa olive grove giving a thumbs up — Noah’s Monterosa thumbs-up Noah gave the olive grove visit his full approval before we headed onward.

Clusters of grapes hanging low from a leafy pergola over the Monterosa walkway — Grapes overhead Heavy clusters of grapes hung from the pergola, adding another layer of shade and colour to the path.

Ben and Catherine standing together beneath pink bougainvillea flowers at Monterosa — Under the bougainvillea One last photo together under the pink flowers before leaving Monterosa.

Day 13 — Highway back to Lisbon, rental return, and a poolside soundtrack

Thursday, July 2, 2026 • Algarve → Lisbon • final hotel, rental-car return, 43°C heat, swimming pool, and live Latin music

Afterwards, we began the drive back to Lisbon. This time we chose the highway instead of the scenic coastal route, which cut the drive nearly in half. Before long, we arrived at our final hotel of the trip.

Once we checked in, we returned our rental car and then escaped the relentless 43°C heat with a refreshing swim. The hotel’s pool area was absolutely magnificent, surrounded by lush greenery and comfortable loungers.

A live Latin band was playing, creating such a wonderful atmosphere, and to our delight they performed Chan Chan by Buena Vista Social Club — one of Ben’s and my favourite songs. It felt like such a fitting soundtrack for our last evening in Portugal.

Noah sprawled across the bed in the hotel room for the last night in Lisbon — Last-night Lisbon hotel room Our hotel room for the final night in Lisbon: a cool room, a big bed, and a few minutes to land after the Algarve-to-Lisbon drive.

Modern bathroom in the final Lisbon hotel room with glass shower and dark tile — Final hotel bathroom A clean modern bathroom setup after the long highway run back to Lisbon.

Small balcony at the final Lisbon hotel looking toward nearby buildings and trees — Balcony check A little balcony view over Lisbon before heading down to return the car and cool off.

Noah smiling on the bed in the final Lisbon hotel room wearing his green kit — Room approved Noah gave the final hotel room his full approval before the pool reset.

Noah giving a thumbs-up with a popsicle beside the Lisbon hotel pool while Catherine smiles from a lounger — Poolside thumbs-up A cold treat, a pool break, and big smiles after the 43°C Lisbon arrival heat.

Day 13 — Final-night dinner chaos, ashtray shoes, and an ice-cream victory

Thursday, July 2, 2026 • Lisbon final night • disappointing dinner, tomato sauce, ashtray disaster, frozen treats, and grateful goodbyes

Feeling hungry, we ventured out for dinner, walking through the scorching heat. Unfortunately, the meal was probably our most disappointing of the trip. As if the mediocre food was not enough, Ben somehow managed to get tomato sauce all over his white polo shirt and light-coloured shorts. Then, just as we were leaving, Catherine tripped over a standing ashtray, sending its contents flying — straight into Ben’s shoes. At that point, all we could do was laugh.

Determined to salvage the evening, we decided that ice cream would solve everything. Naturally, the grocery store we headed for had already closed. Refusing to give up, especially in the sweltering heat, we kept searching until we finally found a place still open serving frozen treats. Success. Sometimes the smallest victories feel like the sweetest.

Back at the hotel, Noah went straight to bed. He has been such a trooper throughout this adventure, embracing every activity, every beach, every early morning, and every long drive with so much enthusiasm. After days of exploring in extraordinary heat, sleep was exactly what he needed before tomorrow’s long journey home.

As we packed our bags tonight, our hearts were full. Portugal gave us breathtaking coastlines, incredible food, unforgettable adventures, kind people, and memories we will treasure forever. Tomorrow we head home, tired but grateful for every moment of this amazing family adventure.

Obrigado, Portugal. Até à próxima!

Seafood dinner table with clams, shrimp, octopus salad, and wine on the final night in Lisbon — Final-night seafood spread Clams, shrimp, octopus salad, and wine before the evening turned into a very memorable comedy of errors.

Ben taking a smiling selfie on the Lisbon sidewalk while Catherine and Noah laugh outside Cantinho do Sol — Laughing it off outside The kind of final-night sidewalk moment where the only reasonable response was to laugh.

Ben standing on a Lisbon street giving two thumbs down with tomato sauce spots on his white polo after dinner — Tomato sauce verdict White shirt, tomato sauce, thumbs down — the final-night dinner chaos documented perfectly.