Porto & Lisbon
[01] Context
Probably not the best time of the year to go to Portugal, though the weather was not bad at all, much nicer than being melted by the sun.
It was interesting seeing how much British influence there was, fashionwise and culture wise. Portugal seems very proud of having one of the oldest alliances in the world with Britain. Walking around Porto there were many classic British red telephone boxes. Additionally, there were many monuments celebrating the alliance. It does seem like a little bit of a one-way glaze as most British people aren't aware of this "strong" alliance.
The azulejos tiling is one of the most distinct features of Portugal, its pretty aesthetic.
I don't think I'd return to Portugal as there isn't *that* much to do, I would however visit the Azores which is a Portugese territory.
Pastel de natas are genuinely great
[02] Porto
Porto was visited first followed by a daytrip to Braga. Braga is a beautiful city and definitely underrated. There are some lovely places in Porto, but it does become a little repetitive on the 2nd-3rd day depending how quickly you get around.
In Braga I'd definitely recommend taking a trip to the Sanctuary of Bom Jesus do Monte, it is a notable pilgrimmage site.
[03] Lisbon
After 1-2 days Lisbon does feel a tad repetitive. If I was to go back I'd make sure to do Sintra and Cascais, unfortunately I was short on time so couldn't.
