We visited Nazare in December and loved it, so we decided to visit Peniche a few weeks ago, thinking it would be a similar experience. We, also, found Peniche to be--meh. I'm sure there are those who love it and that's OK. That's what's magnificent about Portugal. So many options that allow different strokes for different folks.
You should consider checking out the Costa Vicentina, one of the last wild coastlines in Iberia. It has some spectacular coastline and beaches. Our local beach, Praia de Odeceixe, is one of the seven maravilhas de Portugal. If you like hiking, the Rota Vicentina is one of the best hiking trails in Europe. It goes from Cabo Sao Vicente in the south until Porto Corvo in the north. It has some excellent trails along the coastline known as the Fishermen's Trails. Our house is about a mile from the coast and there is an excellent 6 km hike from our house to Praia de Odeceixe that we have done several times with visiting guests.
Thank you for the tour of your tour. The pictures were amazing. Especially what looked like a long trek to a castle-looking building. What a hoot about the sandwich!
Try this one…”Utah” sandwich.
Wrap bread: smear with plain yogurt and drizzle of soy sauce. Lightly cook in garlic flavored oil: extra thin slices of eggplant,summer squash, cabbage, red sweet pepper. Can add caramelized onions. Top with raw spinach and cheese. It’s a fun group activity to make them with a bountiful supply of a good red wine.
Old Vine Zinn 🥰 You can also use a crusty roll; digging out the center.
Any veggie can work as long as the yogurt/soy sauce for flavor and veggies are cut really thin. I cut them almost see through. Everything blends beautifully.
Then again….maybe it’s common in Portugal….. it’s still great.
Love the story and the pics are gorgeous!!! Just finding you again in my email now that I have way too much time on my hands in the nursing home. It looks like surgery for the incision gone bad will be after this coming Wednesday, the 14th. Fingers and toes crossed!
As usual, well written and informative. You kids could be travel writers. The sandwich info amazed me. I know they have sandwiches in Britain, at least. I had a ham, cheese, tomato sandwich for lunch today.
Berlengas may not have been a dream beach, but it sounds like you had fun with friends and introduced them to gourmet picnic lunches! A lovely way to celebrate another trip around the sun.
Your comment about gourmet picnic lunches reminds me of lunches when going for a walk in the woods with mom. She would stick a couple of hotdogs and buns in a bag and put them in a pocket. When we got to the waterfall, or hemlock grove or wherever we were walking to, she'd use the kleenex she always had in her pocket to start a small fire. We'd cut sticks and roast the hot dogs. Best lunches ever.
In this warmer and more crowded world, we can't enjoy impromptu campfires like we used to, but I loved my grandmother's story about roasting potatoes in a campfire while playing during the winter (Boston suburbs, 1930s).
Thanks for sharing. Loved learning about Berlengas and Peniche. I am not surprised the Phoenicians were there - as they had a colony down the coast in Cádiz, Spain - but I would not have been sure without your helpful lesson. I suddenly am craving a turkey sandwich! Boa sorte!
We spent a few afternoons in Peniche but have not yet taken the trip to Berlengas. Thanks for sharing. Peniche has some beautiful views but I was left with a meh feeling about the town itself. And good to know about the gelato! Highly recommend Ericeira if you haven't explored it yet. (But maybe not now when everything is crowded.)
Love the Utah sandwich! Thanks!
I grew up with the tomato sandwich. White bread, mayo, THICK slice of tasty tomato. Best eaten over the sink - very messy!
Tomato 🍅 sandwich fresh from the garden! My favorite! ❤
Beautiful! I recently went to Peniche in June and stayed in a place with a bunch of baby seagulls on the roof, too! They were sooo cute to watch 😍
Aren't they! Mama Seagull was a little irked by our presence....
Love the story and the reminder that the world is full of marvelous diversity of thought and perspective. Happy Birthday!
Thanks, Moira!
We visited Nazare in December and loved it, so we decided to visit Peniche a few weeks ago, thinking it would be a similar experience. We, also, found Peniche to be--meh. I'm sure there are those who love it and that's OK. That's what's magnificent about Portugal. So many options that allow different strokes for different folks.
The variety here - all packed into such a small country - is astounding.
You should consider checking out the Costa Vicentina, one of the last wild coastlines in Iberia. It has some spectacular coastline and beaches. Our local beach, Praia de Odeceixe, is one of the seven maravilhas de Portugal. If you like hiking, the Rota Vicentina is one of the best hiking trails in Europe. It goes from Cabo Sao Vicente in the south until Porto Corvo in the north. It has some excellent trails along the coastline known as the Fishermen's Trails. Our house is about a mile from the coast and there is an excellent 6 km hike from our house to Praia de Odeceixe that we have done several times with visiting guests.
Thank you for the tip! We will definitely put it on our list of places to visit!
Thank you for the tour of your tour. The pictures were amazing. Especially what looked like a long trek to a castle-looking building. What a hoot about the sandwich!
Try this one…”Utah” sandwich.
Wrap bread: smear with plain yogurt and drizzle of soy sauce. Lightly cook in garlic flavored oil: extra thin slices of eggplant,summer squash, cabbage, red sweet pepper. Can add caramelized onions. Top with raw spinach and cheese. It’s a fun group activity to make them with a bountiful supply of a good red wine.
Old Vine Zinn 🥰 You can also use a crusty roll; digging out the center.
Any veggie can work as long as the yogurt/soy sauce for flavor and veggies are cut really thin. I cut them almost see through. Everything blends beautifully.
Then again….maybe it’s common in Portugal….. it’s still great.
Love the story and the pics are gorgeous!!! Just finding you again in my email now that I have way too much time on my hands in the nursing home. It looks like surgery for the incision gone bad will be after this coming Wednesday, the 14th. Fingers and toes crossed!
I'm glad you had something to keep your mind off it! Prayers for all going well!
Great article! You do history well, and your writing style is engaging. Thank you!
Aww! Thanks! That means a lot!
Stayed in Peniche when cycling down the west coast -- didn’t like it either. Nazaré wins hands down ...
Wow! You cycled down the coast? Sounds amazing!
As usual, well written and informative. You kids could be travel writers. The sandwich info amazed me. I know they have sandwiches in Britain, at least. I had a ham, cheese, tomato sandwich for lunch today.
HAHA!!! I love a ham sandwich exactly like your lunch!
Berlengas may not have been a dream beach, but it sounds like you had fun with friends and introduced them to gourmet picnic lunches! A lovely way to celebrate another trip around the sun.
Your comment about gourmet picnic lunches reminds me of lunches when going for a walk in the woods with mom. She would stick a couple of hotdogs and buns in a bag and put them in a pocket. When we got to the waterfall, or hemlock grove or wherever we were walking to, she'd use the kleenex she always had in her pocket to start a small fire. We'd cut sticks and roast the hot dogs. Best lunches ever.
In this warmer and more crowded world, we can't enjoy impromptu campfires like we used to, but I loved my grandmother's story about roasting potatoes in a campfire while playing during the winter (Boston suburbs, 1930s).
Oh lovely!
Thanks for sharing. Loved learning about Berlengas and Peniche. I am not surprised the Phoenicians were there - as they had a colony down the coast in Cádiz, Spain - but I would not have been sure without your helpful lesson. I suddenly am craving a turkey sandwich! Boa sorte!
Ooo! I didn't know that about Cadiz! Thanks!
Thanks for sharing your interesting time in Berlengas and area--Neat. So glad you are seeing other areas of the country. Hugs your Aunt Peggy
Hugs right back at you, Aunt Peggy!!!
We spent a few afternoons in Peniche but have not yet taken the trip to Berlengas. Thanks for sharing. Peniche has some beautiful views but I was left with a meh feeling about the town itself. And good to know about the gelato! Highly recommend Ericeira if you haven't explored it yet. (But maybe not now when everything is crowded.)
I will definitely check out Ericeira. I don't think I'd go anywhere in high tourist time!