Wandering Works for Us

Date:  23 May 2024

Title: Journey to Évora: A very quick day trip

In this episode, we took a trip down to Évora in the Alentejo. We walked around inside the wall, ate some amazing food and saw the amazing Chapel of Bones. This was a short trip for us but we know we will want to return to explore more of Évora and the Alentejo.

[01:25] Introduction to Évora

[02:15] Where to Park–good to know!

[04:00] Tua Madre for lunch

[06:44] Conde Vila Flor Square 

[08:05] Évora Cathedral

[09:50] Roman Ruins (Temple of Diana)

[11:35] Praça do Giraldo

[13:00] São Francisco Igreja

[15:00] Chapel of Bones

[19:00] Chapel art museum and creepy dolls 

[23:53 Cork forests, storks, and other fun travel in the Alentejo

To follow all of our antics and adventures, please visit our social media pages and our website at wwforus.com! You can send us a message at any of these places and feel free to email us at [email protected]

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• Blog post for this episode: Journey to Évora: Ancient city of the world

Thank you to all of you who have followed us on social media, subscribed to our podcast and visit our blog. We are so grateful for you! 

Special shout outs to AL and Leanne of A Sideways Life that has given us so much help and support for the move. To Gal and Mayaan at Smoozitive with their love and support. Please check out their podcasts on Apple Podcasts 

• A Sideways Life website and podcast
• Smoozitive website (if you are moving abroad, these women are experts and will help you out!)

Wandering Works for Us Podcast

Date: 26 April 2024

Title: Douro Valley and Port wine tours in Porto

In this episode, we take you up the Douro River to the Douro River Valley and to the port houses of Vila Nova de Gaia to give you an in depth account of the tours we have taken. 

The Douro River Valley is a UNESCO World Heritage Site located in northern Portugal, is a breathtaking region renowned for its stunning landscapes, rich cultural heritage, and world-famous wine production. This picturesque valley stretches along the meandering Douro River, which carves its way through rugged mountains and terraced vineyards, offering visitors a unique and unforgettable experience.

The other end of the Port wine trade is in Vila Nova de Gaia at the port cellars. Once the wine is made, it is shipped down to Porto to age. Lucky for us, there are many cellars open for tours and tastings. 

[02:00] Douro Valley Tour 

[0700] What you get on a set up tour

[11:50] Lunch 

[14:00] Boat ride up the Douro River

[19:00] planning your own tour of the Douro (see blog post for suggestions)

[24:50] Port houses and cellars

[28:50] Sandeman tour

[33:50] other options for tastings

[39:25] Ferreira tour

[43:45] what’s coming up next!

To follow all of our antics and adventures, please visit our social media pages and our website at wwforus.com! You can send us a message at any of these places and feel free to email us at [email protected]

• Instagram
• Facebook
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• YouTube
• Threads
• Douro Valley Blog Post
• Port Cellars blog post

I mention a free sheet that tells you about the port cellars in Gaia. You can get that here.

Special thanks to all of you who have commented, subscribed, got in touch on social media, and have supported us in some way. We love you and appreciate it immensely!

Porto is one of Portugal's most visited cities — and once you arrive, you'll immediately understand why. In this episode, we walk you through everything you need to know before your visit: the best time to go, whether Porto is safe, and how to get around without a car. Then we take you through our favorite landmarks — from the world-famous Livraria Lello and the stunning azulejo tile facade of Igreja do Carmo, to Clérigos Tower, São Bento Railway Station, and the Mercado do Bolhão. We cross the iconic Dom Luís I Bridge into Vila Nova de Gaia to explore the port wine caves, and yes — we even tell you why you should peek inside the McDonald's. This is Porto the way we'd show it to a friend visiting for the first time.

Wandering Works for Us Podcast

Date: 29 March 2024

Title: Porto, Portugal

Happy 1 Year in Portugal to us! We recorded this episode the day before our one year anniversary and we are so excited to start a new season.

This episode, we go to PORTO, one of our favorite cities. We only scratch the surface with our favorite places, but these are recommended sites if you are visiting Porto for the first time or need some help planning an itinerary. We start up at the Livraria Lello and work our way down the hill, stopping at some of the coolest places. 

[03:30] Getting there

[06:00] A bit on how we travel and taking your time

[08:30] Best time to go to Porto

[11:20] Is Porto safe?

[12:55] Getting around Porto

Part 2: Places we love to visit

[15:15] Livraria Lello

Igreja do Carmo

[20:35] Clérigos Tower

[21:30] Porto Cathedral

[23:00] Porto Sign and Liberdade Square

[23:50] Mercado do Bolhão

[26:45] Vitória Lookout for pics

[27:50] São Bento Railway Station

[29:45] Check out the McDonalds!

[30:30] Take a metro or walk over the Luis I bridge into Gaia

[32:10] Vila Nova da Gaia, port houses 

[39:45] Wrap up

To follow all of our antics and adventures, please visit our social media pages and our website at wwforus.com! You can send us a message at any of these places and feel free to email us at [email protected]

• Instagram
• Facebook
• Tiktok
• YouTube
• Blog post for this episode

Thank you to all of you who have followed us on social media, subscribed to our podcast and visit our blog. We are so grateful for you! 

Special shout outs to AL and Leanne of A Sideways Life that has given us so much help and support for the move. To Gal and Mayaan at Smoozitive with their love and support. Please check out their podcasts on Apple Podcasts 

• A Sideways Life website and podcast

Smoozitive website (if you are moving abroad, these women are experts and will help you out!)

Date: 21 Feb 2024

Title: It’s the Little Things

In this episode, We take inventory of the little things we love about living in Portugal. From the incredible kindness of people to the way we take our meals, Portugal has taught us a great deal about slowing down and enjoying life.

[01:45] Lost wallet

[06:20] Lost car 

[14:20] Heating and air conditioning

[18:45] America TV vs. Portuguese TV

[20:00] Fast food

[24:45] Meals and cafe culture

[31:10] Watching the growth and the world around us

[37:00] What’s next?

To follow all of our antics and adventures, please visit our social media pages and our website at wwforus.com! You can send us a message at any of these places and feel free to email us at [email protected]

• Instagram
• Facebook
• Tiktok
• YouTube
• Blog post for this episode–there isn’t one yet but maybe I’ll write one.

Special thanks to all of our family and friends that have helped with our move, helped with setting up our new apartment and learning the ropes of our new country.

Special shout outs to AL and Leanne of A Sideways Life that has given us so much help and support for the move. To Gal and Mayaan at Smoozitive with their love and support. Please check out their podcasts on Apple Podcasts 

• A Sideways Life website and podcast
• Smoozitive website (if you are moving abroad, these women are experts and will help you out!)

Sintra is one of Portugal's most magical — and most crowded — destinations, and if you don't go in with a plan, it can feel overwhelming. In this episode, we share everything we know about visiting Sintra as locals: what to prioritize at Pena Palace, why Quinta da Regaleira is worth every minute, how to time your visit to avoid the worst of the crowds, and tips you won't find in the guidebooks. Whether you're planning a day trip from Lisbon or building it into a longer Portugal itinerary, this is the episode to listen to first.

Wandering Works for Us Podcast

Date: 08 Feb 2024

Title: Sintra: the Pena Palace and Quinta da Regaleira

In this episode, we explore two places in Sintra–Pena Palace and Quinta da Regaleira. 

Pina Palace sits high atop the Sintra Mountains in Portugal and is known for its vividly painted façade, eclectic architectural styles and breathtaking panoramic views. The grounds are incredible too!

But there is also the Quinta da Regaleira, an old mansion renowned for its stunning architecture, lush gardens and grounds and intriguing symbolism. Don’t forget about the initiation well! The estate also features a chapel and a network of underground tunnels and caves.

Both are UNESCO World Heritage sites and tourist attractions for many visiting Portugal. 

We took a day trip with our son, Eli to check out the Palace and the Quinta and have a few tips for those of you that are interested in visiting both places. 

**note-we said there is no parking at Pena Palace. There is very little parking at Pena Palace. In Dec, you might find a spot.

The name of the place we had lunch at is Nata Pura–highly recommend!

[2:40] Pena Palace (getting there and getting up there, and the palace)

[20:22] Lunch! Check out Nata Pura

[25:00] The Quinta da Regaleira

To follow all of our antics and adventures, please visit our social media pages and our website at wwforus.com! You can send us a message at any of these places and feel free to email us at [email protected]

• Instagram
• Facebook
• Tiktok
• YouTube
• Blog post for this episode

Special thanks to all of our family and friends that have helped with our move, helped with setting up our new apartment and learning the ropes of our new country.

Special shout outs to AL and Leanne of A Sideways Life that has given us so much help and support for the move. To Gal and Mayaan at Smoozitive with their love and support. Please check out their podcasts on Apple Podcasts 

• A Sideways Life website and podcast
• Smoozitive website (if you are moving abroad, these women are experts and will help you out!)

Wandering Works for Us Podcast

Date: 22 Jan 2024

Title: 3 Day Trips: Nazaré, Tile Museum, and Conimbriga

In this episode, we take a few day trips. First we went tothe lovely Nazaré to see the big waves and the beautiful beaches. We took Sheila on the first trip and visited our American friends Filomena and Rick the second trip.

If you like visiting ancient ruins (Roman one’s anyway) The Ruins of Conimbriga would be a lovely day trip from Coimbra. It took us about an hour to get there but it is just outside of the the city. The ruins boast amazing baths, a forum, many incredible mosaics, and the House of fountains is a marvel on its own.

Last, we check out the Museu do Azulejo (tile museum) in Lisbon. The tiles are a work of art and are seen all over Portugal as decorations and storytelling. The best is the large mosaic of the city of Lisbon before the earthquake of 1755.

All of these trips were at the request of guests we had over the holidays, but they are also great tourist spots. Conimbriga is a different sort of taste for tourism because Roman ruins sometimes look the same.

**a few corrections–obviously, Shelley (me) does not know how to convert celsius to fahrenheit and 17 is about mid 60’s. The tile we spoke about is NOT 115 inches, but 115 cm high. Conversions are not our thing. 

[1:55] Nazaré–both Praia do Norte and Praia de Nazaré

[14:20] Conimbriga Ruins

[24:10] Tile Museum

Next podcast episode will be about Sintra –Pena Palace and Quinta da Regaleira!!

To follow all of our antics and adventures, please visit our social media pages and our website at wwforus.com! You can send us a message at any of these places and feel free to email us at [email protected]

• Instagram
• Facebook
• Tiktok
• YouTube
• Blogpost for this episode–I’ll have to post later–it’s not finished!
• 
  

Special thanks to all of our family and friends that have helped with our move, helped with setting up our new apartment and learning the ropes of our new country.

Special shout outs to AL and Leanne of A Sideways Life that has given us so much help and support for the move. To Gal and Mayaan at Smoozitive with their love and support. Please check out their podcasts on Apple Podcasts 

• A Sideways Life website and podcast
• Smoozitive website (if you are moving abroad, these women are experts and will help you out!)

Date: 03 Jan 2024

Title: Best of 2023 and Ready for 2024

Wow, this year has gone by fast and boy what a year it was! We moved across the Atlantic Ocean to Portugal and began brand new lives. In addition to all of that, we did a bit of traveling. From the Algarve to Scotland, we set out to explore some new places, made some amazing friends, and had wonderful adventures.

[03:30] Best city–Zagreb!

[04:30] Meeting the best people

[06:50] Best places in Portugal–Benagil Caves and Quinta do Regaleira

[12:20 Best beach-Foz do Alrelho

[15:20] Best tour–Wine tour in Tuscany!

[17:00] Being grateful for everything!

[18:00] What we want to do this year. -Spain, Aveiro, the mountains and revisit the Douro. 

To follow all of our antics and adventures, please visit our social media pages and our website at wwforus.com! You can send us a message at any of these places and feel free to email us at [email protected]

• Instagram
• Facebook
• Tiktok
• Blogpost for this episode

Special thanks to all of our family and friends that have helped with our move, helped with setting up our new apartment and learning the ropes of our new country. It’s been close to a year now and we are finally settling in!

Special shout outs to AL and Leanne of A Sideways Life that has given us so much help and support for the move. To Gal and Mayaan at Smoozitive with their love and support. Please check out their podcasts on Apple Podcasts 

• A Sideways Life website and podcast
• Smoozitive website (if you are moving abroad, these women are experts and will help you out!)

Wandering Works for Us Podcast

Date: 30 Dec 2023

Title: Our First Christmas in Portugal

Spending our first Christmas in Portugal has been quite the experience. We found out about a few traditions, appreciated all the lights, drank, hung out with our new friends and learned that Christmas is more than just a day, it is a whole season.

To follow all of our antics and adventures, please visit our social media pages and our website at wwforus.com! You can send us a message at any of these places and feel free to email us at [email protected]

• Instagram
• Facebook
• Tiktok
• Blogpost for this episode

Special thanks to all of our family and friends that have helped with our move, helped with setting up our new apartment and learning the ropes of our new country.

Special shout outs to AL and Leanne of A Sideways Life that has given us so much help and support for the move. To Gal and Mayaan at Smoozitive with their love and support. Please check out their podcasts on Apple Podcasts 

• A Sideways Life website and podcast
• Smoozitive website (if you are moving abroad, these women are experts and will help you out!)

Date: 18 Dec 2023

Title: Discover the quirky magic of Zagreb, Croatia

Zagreb, Croatia, wasn’t quite on our radar as a place to visit in Europe, but it turned out to be one of the best trips we have taken since we moved. Zagreb is full of great restaurants, quirky museums, and, of course, the Christmas Market. This week, we tell you what we loved so much about this beautiful city and why we will be going back!

[1:30] Why Zagreb?

[4:00] Christmas Market confusion

[7:45] Zagreb Cathedral

[10:10] The weather was cold–so dress for it

[12:45] Mulled wine and hot gin!

[14:45] Croatian Christmas Markets

[18:15] The food was amazing! Restaurants and bars

[26:15] Upper Town

[27:20] Museum of Broken Relationships

[32:00] St. Mark’s Church, Stone Gate, old Pharmacy

[34:15] Wrap up–we loved Zagreb!

[38:00] What’s up next time

To follow all of our antics and adventures, please visit our social media pages and our website at wwforus.com! You can send us a message at any of these places and feel free to email us at [email protected]

• Instagram
• Facebook
• Tiktok
• Blogpost for this episode

Special thanks to all of our family and friends who have helped with our move, helped with setting up our new apartment and learning the ropes of our new country.

Special shout-out to KLM Airlines–best flights ever. Customer service, boarding, and flight were smooth and easy!

Special shout-outs to AL and Leanne of A Sideways Life, that has given us so much help and support for the move. To Gal and Mayaan at Smoozitive with their love and support. Please check out their podcasts on Apple Podcasts 

• A Sideways Life website and podcast
• Smoozitive website (if you are moving abroad, these women are experts and will help you out!)

Wandering Works for Us Podcast

Date: 22 November 2023

Title: Our Favourite Places in Florence

Sorry it took so long to get this episode out, but we had A LOT to talk about. In this episode, we give you our first hand account of Florence, Italy. Back in early October, we met up with some of our friends from the US and toured Florence for 5 days. We visited the Uffizi, ate great food, saw the David and the Duomo and the Santa Croce Basilica, and drank all the wine. We loved most of it, like some of it, and discovered that Florence is an amazing Renaissance city.

This episode is longer than our usual ones, but we had so much to talk about!

• [01:00] Reasons for moving to Portugal and traveling within the EU 
• [08:45] the Uffizi Museum
• [15:45] Michelangelo’s David and the Accademia
• [19:45] Piazza della Signoria
• [21:00] Piazza del Michelangelo and the other side of the Arno River
• [23:40] Ponte Vecchio Bridge
• [25:22] Duomo, Giotto’s Bell Tower, and the Baptistry 
• [30:45] Santa Croce Basilica
• [35:00] The wine and the food!
• [43:50] Chianti/Tuscany Wine Tour

** CORRECTION: We said that Napoleon's Daughters were buried in the Santa Croce. They are not–it is his niece and sister-in-law.

All of the places that we mention are linked in our blogs! Please make sure you check them out and sign up for our newsletter and updates to the blog for more details. Go to wwforus.com and sign up in the popup or the first page!

• Instagram
• Facebook
• Tiktok
• Uffizi Blog Post
• Florence Blog Post
• Wine Tour Blog Post

Special thanks to all of our family and friends that have helped with our move, helped with setting up our new apartment and learning the ropes of our new country. It has been quite the adventure!

Shout out to Laura and Renee, our Florence travel buddies and Vicki and Mac our Paris travel peeps.

Special shout outs to AL and Leanne of A Sideways Life that has given us so much help and support for the move. To Gal and Mayaan at Smoozitive with their love and support. Please check out their podcasts on Apple Podcasts 

• A Sideways Life website and podcast
• Smoozitive website (if you are moving abroad, these women are experts and will help you out!)