- Porto : From London’s winter chill to Porto’s warm, tiled charm
- Porto : Pure Wilderness in Peneda-Gerês National Park
- Porto : A misty birthday drive through the Douro Valley
- Lisbon: Nazaré’s waves, Sintra’s fairytale palaces, and our first sunset near Cascais
- Lisbon: Train from Cascais, Alfama walks, and a sunset by the sea
- Algarve : The Seven Hanging Valleys Trail and Benagil in real life
- Algrave: Lagos, cliffside walkways, and a beach day done right
- Algarve :Waterpark fun, sunset strolls in Quarteira, and a calm goodbye in Faro
The real voyage of discovery consists not in seeking new landscapes, but in having new eyesMarcel Proust
After a packed Day 1 in Porto city and Day 2 exploring Peneda-Gerês National Park, Day 3 arrived with a totally different mood—and it also happened to be my birthday. We woke up to pouring rain, low clouds, and thick fog. The kind of morning where the sky sits so close to the hills that everything feels hushed and dreamlike.
Oddly, it felt like the perfect day for the Douro Valley.
We weren’t chasing sunshine; we wanted a slower day before the long drive to Lisbon. So we took our time, got in the car, and headed out toward one of Portugal’s most famous landscapes—only to find it looking even more magical under the mist.
The drive in: fog, hills, and that “cinematic” Douro atmosphere
The roads into the Douro were beautiful in their own right—curving through hills and valleys, with clouds rolling over the slopes and drifting between the ridgelines. The rain and fog didn’t ruin the day at all. If anything, they made the scenery feel more dramatic, like we were driving through a moving postcard.
A stunning viewpoint (and a Google Maps lesson)
Our goal was a viewpoint high in the hills: Casal de Loivos, famous for its sweeping outlook over the valley and the river below, with Pinhão sitting down in the distance like a tiny model village.
But fair warning: the drive up is narrow, and Google Maps can be a bit “too confident.” At one point it guided us into an almost dead-end, tight street with cars parked on both sides—exactly the kind of spot where you really don’t want to be doing a multi-point turn in the rain. Nothing happened (thankfully), but it was a reminder to go slow, trust your instincts, and if needed—stop, breathe, and reroute.
We parked up in the village area and walked the rest of the way to the viewpoint.
Casal de Loivos: the Douro from above
And then we saw it.
Even with the cloud cover—or maybe because of it—the view was stunning. From up there, the Douro opens out in layers: rolling hills, the river cutting through the valley, and the villages tucked along the banks. The fog moved across the landscape like a curtain, revealing and hiding parts of the valley every few seconds. It felt moody, peaceful, and unbelievably beautiful.
It’s the kind of viewpoint where you don’t need loud reactions. You just stand there quietly, take it in, and let the place do what it does best.
Down to Pinhão: quiet streets, terraces, and off-season calm
From the viewpoint, we carefully made our way back down toward Pinhão. The village was almost deserted—it was rainy, cold, and clearly off-season. But that quietness had its own charm. We could really notice the details: the surrounding slopes carved into terraced fields, the patterns of the land shaped by generations of farming, and the unmistakable feel of being in a region built around wine and the river.
The Douro is world-famous for its vineyards, but with Addy with us (and the weather as it was), we skipped wine tastings. Addy had one mission: help make my birthday feel special.
A simple birthday celebration in a tiny café
We found a small café in Pinhão—quiet, warm, and humble, especially with many restaurants closed for the season. We kept it simple: a muffin, a hot drink, and a little moment together. It wasn’t a big celebration, but it’s one I’ll genuinely remember—my birthday in the Douro Valley, in the rain, with my little family.
The Pinhão to Régua drive: one of the most beautiful stretches
From there we drove toward Peso da Régua (Régua). This stretch is often called one of the best drives in the region, and it’s easy to see why. The road follows the river closely, with the Douro beside you and the terraced hills rising up on the other side. Even under grey skies, it felt scenic and serene—water, hills, vineyards, and that slow, steady rhythm of the valley.
After that, we headed back to our farm stay. It wasn’t a long day, but it was a memorable one.
The next day was all about resting before our drive to Lisbon. We stayed around the farm, enjoying the simple things: horses, friendly dogs, ducks, and the calm of the countryside. There were orange trees everywhere, adding color to the landscape even in winter, and Addy loved just being outdoors—watching, exploring, and playing.
It was exactly the reset we needed.
Next up: we leave the north behind and start the drive down toward Lisbon—so stay tuned.
This is Aldrin and my partner Amoli. We bring you "Earths Pilgrim" - a unique insight into our travel escapades while leaving life in a cubicle. If you are looking for some inspiration to break the shackles of a regular life, then you are the right place. Read more about us- Click here.