Portugal is a country renowned for its stunning coastal landscapes. While cities like Lisbon and Porto often steal the limelight, there are hidden gems along Portugal's coastline and we are on mission to discover as many as we can.
What did we do?
Vagueiro: This is where we stayed and our kind of beach town! What to do? The beach! Our apartment had two balconies with a view of a river and the Atlantic.
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| She must be hungry |
Aveiro: Known as the "Venice of Portugal." Aveiro's claim to fame lies in its intricate network of canals, colorful boats, and Art Nouveau architecture.
The city's nickname is well-deserved, as a leisurely ride on a moliceiro, the traditional Portuguese gondola, will take you through these waterways. The moliceiro boats were originally used for collecting seaweed to be used as crop fertilizer or transporting other goods. We didn't ride the moliceiros but did watch them cruise up and down the canal.
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| Loved the sidewalks |
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Church Nossa Senhora da Apresentação
Our Lady of Presentation
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| The Bridge of Ties |
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| The Bridge of Love ❤ |
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| The Bridge of Friendship |
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Many names for the bridges
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Costa Nova: Just a short drive from Vagueiro, Costa Nova is famous for its candy-striped houses. We enjoyed the beautiful sandy beach.
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| Hey Look 👀 Steps |
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Toes in the sand because she
needs a pedicure |
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| Nailed It! |
Barra Beach another short drive from Vagueiro. We didn't hang out on the beach but we did walk the fishing pier and to the lighthouse.
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| Sunset |
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| Sunrise |
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| Sunset on the beach |
Where did we eat?
We tried several Pasteis de nata (cream pastries) at several local Pastelaria's thanks to a recommendation from our friend, Peggy. OMG! We could eat these everyday.
Restaurante Caravela -- dinner was good with very large portions. Service was pretty good considering we were initially the only customers.
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Bread, cheese, olives, jam &
butter. They charge a separate
fee for each item including
the butter
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| Seabass |
Mare Restaurante & Gin Bar -- The Portuguese typically eat dinner around 8pm and most restaurants don't open until 7. For our first visit, they weren't really opened when we arrived at 6:40. We were offered drinks and snacks of bread, cheese and olives until the kitchen opened. We were happy campers. The service and food was great! It was so good that we went back a second night.
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| Caprese Salad |
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| Bolognese with Black ⚫ Linguine |
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| Carbonara - Sharon said best she has ever had |
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What could this be?
Take home sardines? |
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Creative way to present the
conta (bill) |
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Tropical Salad
Lettuce, Prociutto, fresh cheese, pineapple,
kiwi, apple, melon, & walnuts with a
cocktail sauce vinaigrette
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Tropical Salad with Prawn
Lettuce, cherry tomatoes, shrimp, pineapple,
pepper, orange, & avocado 🥑 with a
vinaigrette sauce |
Where did we stay? An AirBnB, RIAMAR Vistas - Praia da Vagueira - Aveiro. Nice and spacious with a beautiful view. It even had a lift!
How did we get there? Drove from Gerês to Vagueiro 113 miles.
When did we visit? 3 - 7 October, 2023
Aveiro and Vagueiro may not be as famous as some of Portugal's major cities, but they offer a unique and authentic experience that's worth exploring. From Aveiro's canals to Vagueiro's tranquil coast, these towns seem to capture the essence of Portugal.
"JUST GO"
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