INTRODUCTION TO PORTUGAL

September 2007

If you’ve ever dreamed of traveling to warm and sunny places in the Winter – this is one of the best. Located at the south-west corner of Europe, sharing the Iberian Peninsula with the much larger Spain, Portugal is the land of sea, sun, and “saudade”. This unique word is something like a bitter-sweet nostalgia mixed with resignation -- a memory of, a longing for, and a pride in the lost glories of the past, with a touch of hope for the future.

Although centuries ago its explorers and traders ... (more)

a simplified map
Shown are some of the places we will visit over the course of the next...

... magnificent sunsets
... here at the entrance to Portimao, in the Algarve;

... a winterless south
... where "snow" and "ice" are just words in the...

... and almond orchards
... stretching as far as the eye can see in the Algarve, that bloom...

... with hundreds of miles
... of pristine beaches; (The best known ones are in the Algarve, but...

... abandoned forts everywhere
... silent testimonies to centuries of Moorish occupation and near-constant...

... roman artifacts galore
... some still functional;

... monumental religious structures
... such as the Jeronimos monastery in Lisbon, shown here;

... and humble chapels
... some built by simple folk; others (such as this one) by pious princes;

... country bazaars
... such as this one along the highway west of Lisbon;

... and bustling city streets
... often paved in traditional cobblestone patterns;

... tiny fishing villages

... historic but modern cities
... some with artifacts going back as much as 2,000 years;

... heroic memorials
... to Portugal’s centuries of struggles with the Moors and its larger...

... famous universities
... (e.g. at Coimbra) as old as those in other European nations;

... and modern aparthotels
... most located in the sunny Algarve.

Life was close to nature ...
...and the sea for centuries in most of the country. Fishing has long...

Some things never change.
Shepherds still tend their flocks throughout the southern Alentejo plains and...

a 1986 Lisbon streetcar
That year was a low point in Portugal’s history, but it was also...

a vanishing sight
Although the mule-drawn cart was a customary rural means of...

just passin' through (hopefully)
Portugal is filled with tiny villages, many with names that have a religious...

typical portuguese cemetery
Ancestral ties are strong throughout the country, as can be seen in the...

an EEC dividend
This type of suspension bridge marries efficiency with beauty....

article published 09/18/2007

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Hello Fred, Thanks for the pictures. The Lisbon Street car reminded me of the wonderful tour we took on an old Lisbon streetcar. Lots of fun!
— Lee and Wayne Crowe, September 25, 2007

Hi, Fred" the photos are super. I've started packing my bag! Hope all is well. Will be in cintact soon. Take care. Thanks.
— Eleanor, September 22, 2007

Memories....
This journal brought back many pleasant memories for me. I spent 2 winter weeks there about 8 years ago, in the Algarve, & went on a tour almost every day. My stay ended with 2 days in wonderful Lisbon, which wasn't long enough, one of them on a tour north. One thing I missed was the cemeteries - darn.... Look forward to more in this series ;o)
— Lorraine Brecht, September 21, 2007

wow! Fabulous pictures! I can't WAIT until I get to Portugal!
— angie, September 20, 2007

Super photos of an interesting country. Thank you Fred. Cheers.
— Margaret Sherwood, September 19, 2007

Thanks for the 'trip' to Portugal, Fred. Very interesting - will have to put it on my wish list as a place to go in the winter ! - Barbara
— Barbara, September 19, 2007

Wanna go there
Excellent photos and overview Fred. Great shot of the cemetery. You always get such unique pictures. It's amazing that the country has had a rebirth.... a positive note in a destructive world. I'm so glad you had those wonderful trips and hey, Myrtle looks great in Purgatory!!!!
— Nanci, September 19, 2007

Every piece is a work of art.. well done..
— Jon J. Tan, September 18, 2007

Wow!
Wow Fred. What an amazingly researched and succinctly presented overview of a fascinating, enchanting and incredibly welcoming nation. I visited there in 2005 with my children and felt so relaxed every minute of the day whether in Lisboa, Oporto, the Algarve, Evora or anywhere else. The people have a stoic dignity about them and I suspect an understated pride in their history. Thanks for such a stellar presentation. Cheers! Jan.
— jan raczycki, September 18, 2007

No. 1 Son
Dad. I had a blast racing after the sun in that wee little car when we toured portugal. maybe it rained a lot that one time but we sure had fun. Nice pics.
— David Perry, September 18, 2007

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