Portugal

I had dreamt about going to Portugal for a long time. In the summer of 2022, I unexpectedly got a few days off work and decided it was the perfect time to finally go. It was a solo trip, completely unplanned. I flew into Porto, and after a short stay, I took a bus to Fátima to visit the Sanctuary. But with the intense summer heat, I only lasted a couple of hours before I was melting. So I asked for the nearest beach—and just like that, I was on my way to Nazaré. I spent the afternoon there, in the beautiful long beaches with cold water and waves. Later that day, I hopped on another bus to Peniche, where I caught one of the most beautiful sunsets I’ve ever seen. My final stop was Lisbon. That’s where everything shifted—I completely fell in love with the city. Since that trip, I’ve been back to Portugal five times… and I fall a little more in love each time.