Glad you had a damn near perfect trip! Thanks for the review. It sound like your Algarve and Lisbon impressions match mine.
I probably overemphasize the negative in my review. My wife and daughter had glowing reviews of our 2023 Portugal trip, especially the Algarve and Lisbon. Upon return last year, they kept saying they wanted to go back to the Algarve and also go to Porto. So a month later, when I found RT June tickets for $470 each, I jumped on it. (I myself wanted to use miles and go to northern Spain, but I just couldn't turn down that price...the 2023 June trip was even cheaper, about $370 each!)
Then my wife got cold feet and started wishing I hadn't booked Portugal again. But now, she seems to have a a positive take on it all...or is at least putting on a happy face about it.
Anyway, a lot of Youtubers swear by Porto over Lisbon...I completely disagree. Nothing wrong with Porto...it reminded both my wife and I of Bologna (though perhaps prettier with worse food). But if I ever go back (definitely won't in the next five years, but I could see it happening in the next 10....), I'd definitely pick Lisbon over Porto. Also, those fucking hills of Lisbon. Love them. I don't think I'd ever have to run or ride a bike in Lisbon. I'd get enough cardio just walking the city.
I didn't really discover Madeira until after I had our first trip booked and I wondered if we should have gone to Madeira over the Azores (only went to Sao Miguel), and I'd have to say yes, I liked Madeira better. In part because of our stunning but cheap (less that $190 a night with all fees included) Airbnb but also because the hiking and scenery was more stunning. Neither had beaches worth mentioning. I'd got back to Madeira if I could get the same or a comparable Airbnb. Though there's plenty of other islands I'd like to visit where I could get better beaches, and plenty of other (mainland) places where I could get better hiking.
The Algarve, specifically Lagos, remained a favorite for my wife and daughter. Me too, but I'd call it equal with Lisbon and Madeira. Again ,we sayed in Old Town Lagos, and this time our Airbnb was a big improvement. I think overall it had four levels (three of which we inhabited), with an awesome view of the sea from the second floor balcony and third floor rooftop.
The weather was awesome too. Highs in Porto ranged from 65-75, 70-75 in Maderia, and the 80's in Lagos. (Last year we went two weeks later and suffered through a heat wave in Lisbon and Lagos.
Four of my five favorite food experiences were in Lagos/Carvoeira. Though caveat that they included an Italian place, a Thai place, an Indian place, and a seafood place. We flexed and ate some chicken, but no red meat. So not much traditional Portuguese. In Porto they have some kind of meat monstrosity called a francesinha
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Francesinha, but the closest we got to it was the vegan version my wife had at the vegan place we went to. It was...interesting.
I agree about the women. Plenty of lovely women (I'm 57, so not terribly picky either), not sure if they were native Portuguese. I don't think they were Brits, who seemed to be all over the place in the Algarve.
Had a bottle of Cantillon in Porto and on draft in Brussels. Lots of red wine everywhere. Went on a port wine tour and tasting at one of the port caves in Porto. Not a sweet wine guy, but it was pretty good nonetheless.
I think pastel de natas are more featured in Lisbon, but I had my fair share. Mostly from Pingo Doce but they were still tasty.
I think we'll probably skip Europe next year. Also, likely go on vacation without the kid for the first time since before she was born in 2007, which should be interesting (and honestly, likely with far less drama.)
