explore the douro valley -portugal's hidden treasure

​September is our favorite month to travel.  Summer has loosened it's grip and the temperatures have moderated.  There are fewer people and the pace seems to have slowed a bit.  It's a nice way to bid farewell to summer and welcome autumn.
 
This September we will be with a group in Portugal.  We'll begin in Lisbon and culminate with a river cruise on the Douro river exploring the the Douro Valley.  With any luck, this will coincide with the grape harvest in this noted wine region.
 
In addition to wine, this region is known for it's natural beauty.  while the  popularity pf the Douro Valley is on the rise, it's most definitely less crowded than other regions.  It's still considered off the beaten path which makes it even more appealing in our book!  We're looking forward to kicking back, relaxing and enjoying a glass of the region's bounty!
 
- Cindy -

destination of the week
douro valley, portugal

Of all the hidden European gems, Portugal’s Douro Valley is a favorite to many.   Beyond its steep terraced vineyards, meandering Douro River, and enchanting sunlight; it also happens to be a breathtakingly beautiful wine region.
Adding to its charm and scenery, the Douro Valley is a historic wine region, having produced wine for over 2,000 years. Demarcated in 1756, the Douro is one of the world’s oldest wine regions, registered as a UNESCO World Heritage Site for its cultural landscape that reflects its technological, social and economic evolution.
The Douro Valley is rightly considered a wonder of Nature, nestled in the North of Portugal just above the Douro River. The river extends for 900 kilometers throughout Iberia, as both the Douro and Duero, and carves its way from the Portuguese border to the Atlantic when it reaches Porto.
On its journey, the Douro River has carved a meandering path that is simply mesmerizing from every viewpoint. The contours of the hills and valleys seem to dance in elegant patterns around each other. It may not have the vertiginous drama of other famous fjords or canyons, but the Douro is all the more attractive for the smooth, curved elegance of the picture it has created. ​

travel tip of the week
float down the river in a rabelo boat

A fun thing to do in Douro Valley is to join a leisurely one hour river cruise in a traditional rabelo boat.  The rabelo boat was used for centuries to carry Port wine, down the Douro river, all the way from Douro Valley (where it was produced) to Porto (where it was aged, bottled and then shipped all over the world).
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It is an activity that everybody likes, from young kids to older visitors, people who love wines and people who don’t give a fig about them. It is also a great way to relax for an hour in between wine tastings.

​virtual vacation of the week

​The Douro River, the third-longest on the Iberian Peninsula, meanders through this region for 897 kilometers (557 miles). Here, microclimates create ideal conditions for growing grapes, olives, and almonds, essential components of the renowned port wine. Arriving in early fall, we marveled at the post-harvest vineyards just beginning to display their autumnal colors.
Video by It'll Be Fun and found on YouTube

what's next on your bucket list?

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