Last year, we ventured from Porto, through Douro Valley, and along Portugal’s western and southern coastlines. It left us craving more time on the beaches, more time enjoying the local gastronomic scene, and more time in Portugal's interior. Of course, we're attracted to beaches over any other geographic location, but a close second would easily be sipping wines whiled surrounded by rows of beautiful vines.

One advantage of working a Japanese schedule from Switzerland is that Japan's annual Golden Week would allow for a lovely break and the opportunity to unwind locally. In addition, restrictions were lifting in early May in many areas of Europe, including one of our favorite areas, Lisbon, and its nearby Alentejo region.

We have friends just west of Lisbon who we have missed for some time. Following a quick Facetime date, the stars aligned, and we mapped out another adventure in Portugal! We flew directly from Basel to Lisbon this time, spending time with friends, then driving east toward vines, wineries, and the opportunity to recenter our headspace. This was the break we've been needing!

Related Links

Six Senses Douro Valley, A Portuguese Gem ⋆ Exploring Portugal’s Douro Valley ⋆ A Visit to Porto During COVID-19 ⋆ Good Vibes at Noah Surf House ⋆ Portugal’s Best Beaches

Unwinding in a Portugese Vineyard

Where to Stay: L’AND Vineyard

After a bit of time with friends for a couple of days, we were adequately relaxed and reacclimated back to the local time zone. So we hired a car from the airport and drove eastbound! The plan was simple this time. Relax, enjoy some wine, catch up on rest, and part from my usual go-go-go schedules. I had been interested in stayed at L'AND previously, so this was the perfect excuse! L'AND quickly stood out due to its modern white architecture with warm wood interiors, on-site vineyard, and restaurant using locally sourced ingredients. Our Sky View Room featured a built-in outdoor fireplace, a roll-back ceiling to reveal star-filled night skies and indoor and outdoor soaking tub options.

We took our relaxation to the next level at L'AND, especially compared to how I typically plot out our itinerary. I usually want to hit all the top restaurant options, check out some hidden breakfast gems, and take far too many photos. I still managed to accomplish the latter, but we enjoyed all breakfasts and dinners in L'AND's restaurant. Breakfast options included an incredible take on Egg Benedict, the perfect crépe, the trendy avocado toast, and an assortment of sweet treats, meats, cheeses, and various granola, fruit, and yogurt options. The seasonal dinner menu features fresh vegetables, delicious local products, and land vs. sea breakdown.

What to Do

While Chanel relaxed, walked the vineyard, enjoyed the soaking tub and a bottle of wine, and - let's be honest - a break from the husband, I met back up with my friend, Vinny, for a quick trip to Evora.

If you want a more productive and exploratory visit, you certainly can. Not only is Évora just an hour's drive, but vineyards and tasting rooms peppered throughout the area as well. Our trip to Évora was fabulous. Who doesn't love a Chapel of Bones? This 17th-century chapel was strange, eery, but very cool. The signage noted, "the hypothesis is that the bones of the burials connected to the convent were used in their construction," and referred to the bone usage as possibly being a guarantee for absolution of sins. The Templo Romano Évora, ruins from a 1st-century Roman temple, was also a highlight that I would recommend.

There are sleepy towns to explore, and most importantly, there's a local gastronomic must-try - The bifana. This simple slice of marinated pork nestled in fresh and crunchy bread is more than memorable. It's straightforward, merely 2 euros, and somehow so much more flavorful than I expected. It's often ordered for takeaway, but we sat down outdoors at Bifanas & Companhia in Vendas Novas for a couple of these, an order of fries, and a couple of Sagres'.