Portugal
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Portuguese Adventure – Lisbon
It’s nearly eight years since my first trip to Lisbon, so after five days in the Algarve it seemed a good time to visit once again. I had originally planned a luncthime departure from Lagos but that would have wasted a good afternoon when I could be seeing some of the Portuguese capital. Trains here…
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Portuguese Adventure – Portimao
The sun is continuing to shine across the Algarve. In fact, as I write this in August 2026, the whole of Europe has been experiencing one of its longest ever dry spellls, with record temperatures in many places. Thankfully, things have calmed down to a rather agreeable 25 Celsius as I head to Lagos station…
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Portuguese Adventure – Sagres
Portugal’s Algarve may best be known for golfing holidays and beach life but it’s also great for exploring at your own pace, with smaller towns connected by a good public transport network – although planning ahead is a good idea. So having been based in Lagos for a couple of days, it seemed the right…
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Portuguese Adventure – Lagos
Arrival Raul likes fast cars and motorbikes. He enjoys taking a risk. But it’s hard to do these days with a wife and daughter, and a second child on the way. Which may well explain why he’s working as a transfer driver on Potugal’s Algarve. It’s my first trip here, and I’m pleased with things…
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Across the Water
It’s Sunday, so I guess I’d better mention Jesus. In Almeda – just across the water from Lisbon – it’s pretty hard to to ignore him since his image is 92 feet high on a 270 foot plinth. The Cristo Rei seems less popular than the city’s other attractions – there’s certainly a much smaller…
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A tower, a market and a church
Built on seven hills, each area of Lisbon has its own character, and its own reason for a visit. Perhaps none more so than the district of Belem – more of a town in its own right – and a magnet for millions of tourists. Most of them appear to be on the number 15…
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“Obrigado” not “Gracias”
Madrid’s morning rush hour is every bit as chaotic as the evening one, and as any traveller knows, taking the Metro all the way to the airport can save you loads of money, but also involves heavy lifting, swift manoeuvring of luggage through annoyed commuters and ridiculous numbers of stairs to and from platforms. It…
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Keeping it Real
I was a late arrival to travel. Or rather, a late departure. Growing up, my parents were never wealthy enough to afford anything further overseas than trips to see our relatives in Dublin. But once I got the bug, boy, was I bitten. And yet, in almost twenty years of exploring new places, I’ve never…
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