Category: Travel

Douro Valley, Portugal

At the Porto airport, a Sixt rental agent was trying to upsell us a Mercedes-Benz. It’s only 42€/day she claimed – 18€ more than the Smart car we booked off Expedia – and it would come in handy when you drive those mountain roads. She almost had us, that is, until we reviewed the total amount and realized that, contrary to our understanding, the daily rate had now jumped to 66€ (almost tripled the amount we had initially signed up for) and we were going to be driving for 9 days. We politely declined her offer and kept our Smart.

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Copenhagen and the Faroe Islands

My days in Copenhagen and the Faroe Islands went like a dream. It wasn’t so much of a “dream” come true – because, honestly speaking, both destinations weren’t particularly high on my list – I only went because I was awarded a trip of my choice by my company with additional vacation days to spare so I wanted to do something different. What I ended up having was an amazing jaunt brimming with new discoveries and cherishable memories.

From the magnificent sunset in Nyhavn

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A Day Trip and More to Eat in Porto, Portugal

It’d been almost an hour since we’d been waiting for bus no.2 by the Braga train station. “C’est compliqué en Dimanche” – said the Portuguese woman to a French couple nearby before she jumped on her bus and took off, leaving us clueless tourists behind.

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We decided to grab a taxi, which conveniently delivered us to the hilltop of the religious sanctuary named Bom Jesus do Monte, that boasts a beautiful church

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Antiqvvm Restaurant, Porto, Portugal

It was of pure luck that I picked Antiqvvm – a Michelin one-star restaurant helmed by chef Vitor Matos – for dinner on our second day in Porto.

The restaurant sits on top of a hill overlooking the Douro river

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What to See (and Eat) in Porto, Portugal – Part 3

Ponte Dom Luis I

The iconic Dom Luis I bridge that links Porto to Vila Nova de Gaia was built in 1886 by Théophile Seyrig, a disciple of Gustav Eiffel.

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What to See (and Eat) in Porto, Portugal – Part 2

Palácio da Bolsa

The Stock Exchange Palace was built in the 19th century by the Commercial Association of Porto in Neoclassical style. It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site with a spectacularly decorated interior.

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What to See (and Eat) in Porto, Portugal – Part 1

Churches with Tiles:

Igleja do Carmo

Situated kitty-corner from the University of Porto, this Late Baroque/Rococco style church is built in the second half of the 18th century. The front façade is crowned with sculptures of the four Evangelists.

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A Walk in the Swiss Alps

I have to admit that I have a thing for snow-capped mountains – the sight of which brings tears to my eyes. 2014 was the year I saw a lot of mountains. It was the year I did Tour du Mont Blanc, hiking through the Alps across France, Italy and Switzerland.

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