Travel stories and tips from Portugal, including things to do in Porto, things to do in Lisbon, and the best road trips in Portugal.
At Bridges and Balloons, we talk a lot about finding that elusive balance between a holiday kids enjoy and one that retains the style of travel you enjoyed pre-parenthood. Many people are put off the idea of travel altogether once they have kids, while others see package holidays as the only available “easy” option. But … Read more
It’s no secret that I have a sweet tooth, especially for cake, so a side effect of my travels is that I’ve become somewhat of an expert at finding the best sweet treats and desserts around the world. In this post, I’m sharing a round-up of my favourite international desserts and, seeing as we can’t … Read more
Set on seven hills overlooking the River Tejo, Lisbon is sometimes called the San Francisco of Europe, but I think that takes away from its own distinctive charm. The hills are certainly similar, and it shares a golden light, but much of the wonder of Lisbon comes from its history. Most of the city was … Read more
The view from the the Dom Luis I bridge sums up the allure of Porto; port wineries on one side, a colourful hodge-podge of buildings and bell towers cascading down the other, and the peaceful Douro river filing down the centre, lined with buzzing restaurants and people ambling by. The azulejo tiles, baroque and beaux … Read more
There’s nothing like a road trip in Europe to make you appreciate the diversity of the continent – buy croissants and go for a walk on a French beach in the morning then sip a spritz beside an Italian lake by sunset. From mountains to coast to cute medieval villages – there’s something to suit … Read more
The wild Atlantic coast, sounds of fado and elegant tiled architecture are just a few of the ways that Portugal enchants and beckons travellers. It’s a place you can appreciate by just being there, soaking in its rich and varied history, from the Celts to the Visigoths, the Christians and the explorers, which means if … Read more
It’s 365 days since we stepped out of our empty London home onto the early morning streets of Peckham and made our way to Rio. Twelve months and twelve countries later, we’re in Mexico with no intention of stopping our travels. It’s been an epic year and, short of reading the blog in its entirety, … Read more
My relationship with alcohol is complicated. I drink it but I couldn’t say I like it. Alcoholism runs in the family. There have been deaths, and it caused me terror in childhood. I once thought I’d steer clear of it for life, but it didn’t work out like that. I became a teenager in England; … Read more
“She doesn’t know”, “I don’t know”, “She really doesn’t know?”. My friends were shocked, on arrival in Porto, to find that I, their reliably prepared friend, had no idea what to do that weekend. I am that person – the one who finds the flights, fusses over hotels, and researches what to do. I’m the … Read more
Coming to the Travel Bloggers Unite conference in Porto was a tricky decision. I had to make the journey from Peru so it wasn’t a simple case of catching a budget flight from Europe. I agonised over it. Could I justify the cost? This was an obvious consideration – but more than that it was … Read more