My Favorite Portuguese Finds and Where to Get them Now that I am Back Home

By: Margaret Campbell, Sr. Director of Marketing at Mayflower Cruises & Tours

All Photos Courtesy of Margaret Campbell

Olá! I’m Margaret the Sr. Director of Marketing at Mayflower Cruises & Tours and last November I traveled Portugal for the first time to experience the Douro River valley at the height of the autumn foliage. I cruised onboard our parent company’s luxurious Scenic Azure for 10 days and indulged in all of the famed Portuguese specialties along my journey. Today, I am going to share my top five favorite things I picked up in Portugal and where I find them now that I am back home in the states.

*Margaret and her Mother, Kathy Dixon in Lamengo*

Wine

This one is the obvious choice given the region. The Douro is world famous for its Port wine. Port is a fortified wine, or wine to which brandy has been added to stop the fermentation process and ultimately leaving the wine a bit sweeter and with a higher ABV, typically around 20%. This sweet treat comes in many varieties and is often served with dessert, but I found the port tonic cocktails that our bartender onboard was serving up to be my favorite! So, whether you are looking for a Ruby, White, Rose or Tawny, try your local liquor store for bottle of Cockburns, Sandman, Croft or my favorite…Morgadio Da Calcada.

Maybe Port wine isn’t for you, don’t let that stop you from traveling to the Douro Valley for a wine adventure. This UNESCO World Heritage area is one of the oldest wine producing areas in the world and is home to more than 80 types of grapes and the quintas here produces many delicious whites, reds, roses and even green wines. Before traveling to Portugal, I had never heard of green wine but after tasting my first Vinho Verde at the Quinta da Aveleda I was converted. Their delicious sparkling Aveleda Fonte White is light, crisp and refreshing. I was pleasantly surprised by not just the Green but the white, red and rose table wines of the Douro Valley. Since being home my favorite place to pick up these regional favorites is at the Chicago land-based Binny’s stores, they have a great selection and I love sharing my finds with my friends now that the weather is finally warming up.

Sardines

Portugal is seafood obsessed and sardines reign supreme. Fresh, tinned, however you enjoy them, you can have them. The legend is that sardines gained their popularity thanks in part to St. Anthony, Patron St. of Lisbon. The story goes, St. Anthony was on expedition and while trying to gain the attention of the locals, he turned to the fish and started preaching, he captured their attention and from then on, the sardines were legendary.

Soap

Soap making is a time-honored tradition in Portugal dating back to Claus Porto the country’s first soap maker in 1887. Since then, the people of Portugal have been producing some of the best soaps in the world and packaging them in the most beautiful wrappings. My favorites include the Castelbel White Crane. I picked up a bar while shopping in Porto and it was gone almost immediately after I returned home. I haven’t gotten my hands on another bar yet, but I have been keeping my eyes out for one. I have however found quite a few other scents by Castelbels at Homegoods and World Market. These make great gifts or just nice additions to your everyday home uses.

Cork

Portugal is the largest producer of cork in the world. Now the vast majority of the world’s cork supply that comes from Portugal is made into wine stoppers, there are many other things that you may be surprised to learn are made from cork… While doing some shopping in Porto, I picked up a pair of ASPORTUGUESAS slip-on shoes, they are made from cork and wool and are 100% sustainable but did you know that Birkenstocks soles are also made using cork?

*Douro Valley Vineyards and Olive Trees*

Olives

Olive trees play an important role in the vineyards of the Douro Valley, helping to hold the steep walls of the valley in place and protecting the vineyards from washing away during the rainy season. What I found so fascinating was at each Quinta we visited the families each told stories of harvesting the olives by hand with their nets and sticks when the fruit was at the correct ripeness, either green or black. Then sharing for olive oil or eating fresh. Portuguese olives and olive oil are delicious, but they have proven to be the hardest things to find since being home. Luckily for me we live in the age of the internet and there is a wonderful Portuguese market located just outside of Boston. The Portugalia Marketplace has it all and they ship.

My time spent on the Douro on the Scenic Azure with Mayflower Cruises & Tours was amazing. I loved experiencing the culture, people and food. I cannot wait to plan my return trip to pick up a few more of my favorites and find my next five!

Find your dream vacation to Portugal with a USTOA tour operator here https://ustoa.travelstride.com/trip-list/portugal

About Mayflower Cruises & Tours

Mayflower Cruises & Tours is a division of The Scenic Group. The Midwest based tour operator has been providing travelers world-class guided holidays around the world for over 40 years. Today, Mayflower has over 100 itineraries, travels to six continents and offers many different travel styles, including river cruising, special events departures, national parks adventures, seasonal excursions, domestic and international guided holidays and more. For more information about Mayflower Cruises & Tours, visit www.mayflowercruisesandtours.comor call 800-323-7604

Ten Countries for Crafts with a Cause

By Overseas Adventure Travel

In survey after survey, up to 76% of consumers say that they’d rather spend their money on experiences than things. They further cite “meaning,” “inspiration,” “fun,” and “learning” as outcomes they seek. Travelers can count on all of the above on one of Overseas Adventure Travel’s small group adventures. These include hands-on activities that connect them to the local culture, such as visits to workshops where local artisans demonstrate traditional crafts. Visitors can roll up their sleeves and join in, and if they like, purchase the local wares.

“It’s a win-win,” says O.A.T. Vice Chairman Harriet Lewis. “Our travelers get to engage with local people and learn something new, and our hosts gain support for the industries their families rely on.” Oftentimes, the activities occur during O.A.T.’s signature A Day in the Life experiences which are woven into the trips; or though visits to sites supported by Grand Circle Foundation, O.A.T’s non-profit charitable organization. Here are just ten of the local crafts supported:

1. Australia: Aboriginal Dot Paintings

Ultimate Australia

The distinctive Aboriginal dot designs are not random, but are filled with symbols that tell a visual story. Dot painting has been around for millennia, but exploded in the 1970s in Papunya near Alice Springs, where indigenous artists used it as a secret language. Other Aboriginal communities embraced the form, and today they adhere to strict rules about which techniques, symbols, and stories belong to which tribes. O.A.T. travelers are urged to only buy authentic, ethically sourced works that bear the official Indigenous Art Code seal, the “gold standard” among reputable merchants.

2. Laos: Traditional Weaving

Ancient Kingdoms: Thailand, Laos, Cambodia, & Vietnam

While the men of the poor Laotian village of Tin Keo farm or seek jobs in the city, the women create fabulous, colorful textiles. It started as a way to be sociable with their neighbors. Today, these industrious ladies can earn a windfall of $70-80 a month selling their fabrics, all the while improving their skills and preserving an important cultural legacy.

3. Portugal: Azulejo tiles

Northern Spain & Portugal: Pilgrimage into the Past

Porto’s Banco de Materiais is an unusual bank: you can deposit antique tiles and withdraw some for free. Portugal’s signature blue and white azulejo tiles date to Moorish times. The Banco safeguards these treasures, and sometimes the fire department will even collect tiles off at-risk buildings and deliver them to the bank. Employees then study and catalog the tiles and preserve them in wooden boxes where visitors can admire or buy them.

4. Kenya and Tanzania: Maasai beadwork

Safari Serengeti: Tanzania Lodge & Tented Safari

A Maasai collar can be the shape and size of a dinnerplate, decorated with bold-colored beads in intricate patterns. But to the Maasai people, these aren’t just pretty baubles: they tell individual life stories, map out villages, indicate marital and social status, and represent the culture. O.A.T. travelers can purchase them directly from artists when they experience A Day in the Life of a local village such as Mto Wa Mbu.

5. India: Embroidery and Textiles

Heart of India

India’s Ranthambore National Park is famed as a sanctuary for Bengal tigers, and while some locals have resorted to poaching them, others have found a more ethical and sustainable enterprise. Through their Dhonk and Dastkar handicraft cooperatives, local Indian women teach artisanal skills so members may earn a living outside of poaching by creating embroidery, clothing, and gifts. Supported by Grand Circle Foundation, the cooperatives now celebrate the tigers whose allure attracts a steady stream of travelers—and crafts customers.

6. Morocco: Henna tattoos

Morocco Sahara Odyssey

Known as mendhi, the use of henna to paint the body with intricate patterns is a centuries-old Berber art believed to promote harmony and ward off evil. The (non-permanent) tattoos are also a symbol of female solidarity, as O.A.T. travelers discover when they visit the Imik Smik Women’s Association for Rural Development, which provides skills training for women in the Aït Benhaddou area. As a token of friendship, members invite women visitors to participate in a traditional henna ceremony.

7. Peru: Chinchero weaving

Machu Picchu & the Galápagos

High in the Sacred Valley, Chinchero was a 16th-century Inca emperor’s estate, as well as a resting place on the Inca Royal Road. Today, this small village is known for its weaving industry. It is entirely managed by the local women, who use plants (and in some cases, bugs) to produce their dyes. O.A.T. travelers converse with the weavers about village life and observe the process of designing and creating these vibrant garments.

8. Japan: Hakone woodcraft

Japan’s Cultural Treasures

Hakone yosegi zaiku is a form of marquetry that creates intricate patterns by joining together pieces of wood. The colors—red, white, yellow, black, and green—are not created through inks, but are the natural wood shades. Today, yosegi zaiku is popular all over Japan, but there are only about 50 artisans making it, all in the Hakone/Odawara area. O.A.T. brings travelers to the Hamamatsuya workshop to meet its fourth-generation owner, and see a demonstration.

9. Vietnam: Bat Trang Pottery and Ceramics

Inside Vietnam

The village of Bat Trang may lie on the Red River, but it’s the area’s rich white clay that has made its pottery renowned for seven centuries. O.A.T. travelers have plenty of time to browse the shops, but also visit the home and studio of an artisan family and get to make their own ceramic pieces.

10. Turkey: carpet weaving

Turkish Coastal Voyage: Greek Islands, Istanbul & Athens

Rug weaving in Anatolia began with the arrival of Turkic tribes from Central Asia, and was a prominent art form by the 12^th century. Then as now, most carpetmakers were women who worked anonymously. The process is intensively laborious, and prices are based on the intricacy of the design, quality of the materials, and the number of knots per square centimeter.

Overseas Adventure Travel is the leader in personalized small group adventures on the road less traveled. Serving all travelers over 50, the company is known for its expertise in solo travel, and has recently published 101⁺ Tips for Solo Women Travelers which can be ordered for free here.

Portugal: Step by Step

By Flash Parker, AFAR Ambassador

Marvao

Portugal is European elegance and medieval mythology, culinary excellence and fabled wine-making tradition, granite ramparts, endless rivers, and temples of skulls and bones. Portugal is a nation of quixotic charms, one best explored on foot, at a pace that allows for a deeper appreciation of people, place, and culture (not to mention wine – delicious, bottomless barrels of wine). With two feet and a heartbeat, I set out with Country Walkers on an expedition from one end of this Iberian playground to the other, on an adventure that was truly immersive, experiential, and fully Portuguese.

Parque Natural de Serra de Sao Mamede

Castelo de Vide

Portuguese is a lyrical language, and the most common refrain is bem-vindos, or welcome. I heard bem-vindos day after day, no matter where we wandered on our walking tour. We were welcomed at cobblestone cafes in the historic heart of old Porto. We were welcomed by local farmers when wandering through the cork forests of the Parque Natural de Serra de Sao Mamade. And we were welcomed by the happy people of the cozy, red-tiled village of Castelo de Vide. In part, we were welcomed wherever we went because Portugal is a friendly, vibrant nation – but the fact that we spent so much time on our feet, trekking from one destination to the next, allowed us a unique opportunity to travel deeper into the essential nature of the Portugal experience.

Quinta Nova

Douro

We had time to wander Arraiolos, a postcard perfect little village known for exquisite tapestries, made locally since the Middle Ages and based on Iranian designs. We spoke with artisans, explored shops and museums, and even had an opportunity to thread some needles ourselves (pro-tip: don’t use your thumb as a thimble). Out among the sun-splashed vineyards of the Douro Valley, we wandered into medieval-era orchards on the sprawling Quinta Nova grounds, plucking from the trees oranges, pears, and cherries. And Country Walkers made time for long, leisurely dinners, the sort people have been enjoying in Portugal for centuries. We dined out among the stars, were entertained by local concertina virtuosos, and feasted on national fare, like amêijoas à bulhão pato, a type of clam stew, alheira sausage, notable for including proteins other than pork, and, of course, delicate bites of famed Iberian ham. Fabulous table wines accompanied every meal, while port put an exclamation point on each evening; we sipped on wines from legacy producers and craft artisans like Dow’s, Cockburn’s, Taylor’s, … and more.

Herdade do Esporao

Evora

My Country Walkers experience was a throwback affair, a glimpse at travel in Europe as it may have been a generation ago. It was an opportunity to disconnect, enjoy the countryside of the rolling Douro and the rugged Alentejo, and immerse myself fully in the unique tapestry of local life. I felt welcome with every step, and can’t imagine traveling through Portugal in any other way.

Douro

Interested in learning more about Flash’s journey? Read more about it on AFAR.com the USTOA blog and check out Country Walkers’ Portugal: Porto to Lisbon.

Flash is a journalist, photographer, and author based in Wyoming. His work has been published by AFAR, GQ Magazine, USA Today, Voyeur Magazine, Reader’s Digest, Get Lost Magazine, Celebrated Living, Asian Geographic, Food and Travel, American Cowboy, and more. Flash is the reigning 2016 SATW Bill Muster Photographer of the Year.

Portugal: All the Little Things

By Flash Parker, AFAR Ambassador

Douro

Sao Pedro do Corval

Portugal is the little things. It is whistling ceramic roosters hand-made in a studio in Sao Pedro do Corval. Portugal is stomping grapes in an ancient lagares in a family-owned vineyard in the Douro Valley. It is walking miles over dusty dirt tracks between 2,000-year-old olive trees, while a towering castle stands sentinel on a nearby hillside. Portugal is grassroots agriculture and temples of skulls and bones, ancient monolithic sites and world-class cuisine, textiles and pottery and long walks over cobbled streets. Portugal is all these little things and more, little things you can only experience when you slow down and fully immerse yourself in the mystery, majesty and allure of the Iberian Peninsula. Recently I traveled to Portugal with Country Walkers, the global leader in small-group guided walking adventures, for an expedition from historic Porto to modern Lisbon, with stops to experience the pastoral bliss of the Douro Valley, the rugged hillscapes and castles of the Alentejo, and countless local wonders in between.

Quinta Nova

I knew that my Country Walkers expedition was going to be a different sort of travel experience from the moment our party stepped foot in the Douro. A UNESCO World Heritage darling, the Douro Valley region has become a tourism darling in recent years, and it’s easy to see why – from our elevated position high above the river, the Douro is a postcard-perfect vision of Old World Europe. We spent our first day walking among a verdant carpet of old wine vines, and stopped to visit an olive oil mill, and, of course, a family-run winery with a history that stretches back centuries (all the way to Britain). Too many trips are focused on checklists, when they should be focused on experiences. Country Walkers doesn’t want their guests to “see this, this, and this,” and is instead focused on “experiencing this, fully, and completely.” Our group dinners at Quinta Nova de Nossa Senhora do Carmo epitomized this ethos – our candlelight dinners were characterized by Chef Jose Pinto’s unique take on traditional fare, and included extended wine tastings, wonderful conversation, and concertina music.

Herdade do Freixo

Mosteiro do Crato

Evora

I knew that we would spend considerable time walking through vineyards and olive orchards, but I didn’t expect to wander through one of the world’s only skeleton temples, which we experienced at the Igreja do Sao Francisco, a 12^th century Gothic wonder in the heart of bustling Evora. I knew we would visit castles and ancient kingdoms, but I didn’t know that I’d stand in the center of a bullring in the castle of Reguengos de Monsaraz. I knew there would be wineries and Port and table wine, but I didn’t expect to learn so much about agriculture and eco-farming at the Herdade do Freixo do Meio, a sprawling agricultural co-op known for producing artisanal meats and vegetables. I knew there would be charming boutique hotels, but I didn’t know I’d spend my mornings in beautiful gardens and atmospheric crypts of converted monasteries, like the Pousada Mosteiro do Crato, for centuries known as the Flor de Rosa Monastery. And I knew to expect cultural marvels and historical allure, but I had no idea that we would flit between rock giants at the Cromlech of the Almedres archaeological site, where 5^th century (BC) monoliths still call out to the stars.

Capela dos Ossos

Cromeleque dos Almendres

Portugal is all the things I love about Europe – the pace, the grace, the idyllic countryside and the atmospheric medieval cities – and a thousand surprises I could have never anticipated. Country Walkers gave me an opportunity to go beyond guide books and become fully immersed in local culture, lore, and legends. I can’t think of any other way to experience Portugal.

Interested in learning more about Flash’s journey? Read more about it on AFAR.com the USTOA blog and check out Country Walkers’ Portugal: Porto to Lisbon.