My September 2025 European vacation began in Faro, Portugal, following a travel day that felt like it had its own time zone.
Uber from home to the airport!
light from Phoenix to LAÂ
8-hour layover in LAÂ
10-hour flight to London
3-hour London layoverÂ
2-hour flight to Faro, Portugal.Â
It was miserable. I even had loud, dry heaves when we touched down in London. I almost made it⌠But nope. We had a âgo aroundâ because apparently, someone elseâs plane hadnât moved off the runway yet. That was the end of me for the day. đ˘đ¤Žđđťââď¸
I really should cut people some slack when they say they donât want to travel like meâclearly, they have better judgment but sitting at home is not an option.
The first week in Portugal was pure exhaustionâjet lag hit hard, and I barely had time to remember what day it was before I was off on the next adventure.
Totally worth itâSpain and Portugal were both at the top of my bucket list. Iâve barely scratched the surface of either, but who cares?Â
Dropping pins does not need full coverage.
I had a great time in Faro and Lagos, just hanging out by the water and soaking it all in. But Portoâhands downâstole the show. It had been at the top of my bucket list for ages, and it did not disappoint. I also made sure to take in the short bus rides and longer train journeys along the coast, which were spectacular, pretending to be a local.
The city is split by the Douro River, and there are six famous bridges to cross at various points. The crown jewel is the Dom LuĂs Bridgeâa stunning double-deck metal arch that links Porto with Vila Nova de Gaia. Honestly, I couldnât stop taking pictures; itâs one of those âblink and youâll miss itâ moments that you also want to document from every possible angle.
I spent a solid two days in Porto walking over 20,000 steps each dayâup and down the river, soaking in the stunning architecture. The buildings lining the water are even more jaw-dropping in person. Thereâs also a gondola that gives you a sky-high view, but the line was so long I decided my legs had already earned a vacation of their own.
Want more Portugal chaos, cobblestones, and coastal views? Check out my YouTube channel for all the videosâno jet lag required.
www,YouTube.com/@NorthAmericanDarrell
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Portugal’s history: Small Country, Big Ambitions
Portugal started getting serious in the 12th century, when Afonso I declared, âIâm king now,â and voilĂ âPortugal was officially a thing. Not content with being a tiny corner of Europe, the Portuguese set sail during the Age of Exploration, sending legends like Vasco da Gama around Africa to India and basically telling the world, âWeâll take it from here.â
They built an empire stretching across Asia, Africa, and Brazilâriches, spices, and cultural chaos includedâwhile most Europeans were still figuring out how to map their own backyard. Today, Portugal is chill, gorgeous, and full of history: sun-soaked beaches, pastel-colored streets, port wine, and the occasional reminder that this tiny country once ruled the seas.