Can I tell you about ... Lisbon

STAY

Bairro Alto Hotel, a chic boutique hotel located in the heart of Barrio Alto. Sip sunset cocktails on their rooftop terrace and mingle with the locals.
 

DO

Get lost in Alfama. This postcard perfect neighborhood has a trapped-in-time quality and is said to be the inspiration of Fado songs and poetry alike. Work your way up the castle and catch a spectacular sunset.
 

EAT

Antiqu Confeitaria de Belem. This 171 year old bakery makes the best Pasteis de Belem (egg custard) in the city. Be prepared to wait in line, they're worth it!
 

MUST SEE

Igreja de Sao Roque, from the outside it seems unassuming but upon entry you'll instantly realize what a Baroque masterpiece this place of worship is. Ivory, lapis lazuli, gold and silver were used to adorn its' interiors.
 

WHAT I LOVED MOST

Lisbon is so picturesque that almost every corner and side street is a photo shoot waiting to happen. It is a city filled with bold color, decaying Art Deco and Art Nouveau reliefs found on buildings rich with history and character. You can feel the energy of this emerging city just by walking the streets of Barrio Alto and Chiado.

Can I Tell You about ... Sintra

After my first trip to Portugal several years ago I knew it wouldn't be long before I returned. Every local I had met in Lisbon said I must go to Sintra, so who was I to disagree. "Going to Sintra is like stepping into a fairy-tale!" my concierge exclaimed.
 

STAY

I stayed in a rented home on the outskirts of Sintra in a small town called Colares.
 

DO

The Pena Palace is definitely on top of my list. It's a fabulous pastiche of nineteenth century neo-moorish and neo-medieval styles; a great example of Portugese architecture during the Romantic period.
 

EAT

Buy food from the local farmers who set up roadside stalls selling produce fresh from their gardens. Everything tastes so good!
 

MUST SEE

Check out Boca do Inferno (literally Hell's Mouth). During high tide view the spectacle of the violent waves crashing on the rocks, you can see why this spot earned its name.
 

WHAT I LOVED MOST

The collection of magnificent palaces, grand homes and gardens coupled with the narrow and winding streets which lives up to Sintra's mysterious, fairytale reputation.