The Wanderer's Chronicles: The Wanderer's Chronicles

JANUARY

January started with a cold weather and came to an end under the rain, and although I quite enjoy those sunny but chilling winter days, walking around the city (photos from Bairro Alto neighborhood), rainy days invite me to stay home, close to the fireplace with a hot cocoa on my hands.

Bairro Alto - Lisbon

The January blog posts make me revisit some beloved places of Paris and Rome, and Lisbon was brought to you in a city guide with simple tips and useful information.

FEBRUARY

The winter days invited to in-house activities like visiting art exhibitions and museums. I've been for the first time at the Chiado Museum and really enjoyed the amazing exhibitions on the work of Amadeo de Souza Cardozo and Almada Negreiros, two of the most important Portuguese modernist artists.

I've started a new series of posts on Best Things to Do in Lisbon, like Art Exhibitions, Walking Tours, Concerts or anything that I usually like and expect that you will like to know about if you are visiting the city.

Palácio Foz - Lisbon

February was also Valentine's month and the post with my choice of Lisbon's hotels for a romantic retreat was a success. Of course, these hotels are amazing for staying all year round and more detailed posts on what you can experience in each one of them have been published or are planned to.

Corinthia Hotel Lisbon

Santiago de Alfama Boutique Hotel

Four Seasons Ritz Hotel Lisbon

As scheduled, the Paris City Guide went online this month and is already a success.

MARCH

Spring arrived, the time became warmer and the days invited to nice walks around the city. It's unbelievable that after so many years I can still find something that I had not discovered before in Lisbon.

Started working on a series on the modernist Portuguese artist Almada Negreiros and presented some of the main sites of a Lisbon itinerary of his works. For those of you passionate about art and architecture is a must see and a must go if you're visiting Lisbon.

Almada Negreiros @ Gare da Rocha do onde de Óbidos - Lisbon

Almada Negreiros @ Fundação Calouste Gulbenkian - Lisbon

Almada Negreiros @ Four Seasons Ritz Hotel Lisbon

Just before the month ended, the Barcelona City Guide went online and I hope it can become a success like the Paris and Lisbon Guides.

APRIL

A sunny April was perfect to visit some places around Lisbon and check some nice day trips to present you. With the Wine Tourism series on my mind, visited some outstanding locations that I've shared with my readers.

Quinta da Bacalhôa - Portugal

Palmela Castle - Portugal

I also walked along memory lane and recalled some sweet moments spend in Algarve (South Portugal) years ago, bringing it to you on an article about my Favorite Hotels to Stay with Kids. Your feedback warmed my heart and I made the promise to come back to Algarve in 2017.

In April, the blog started a new series called Tea for Two and (you guessed!) is on some great spots for having a delicious afternoon tea.

Articles on Instagram are always a success and April's post on the Top 10 Instagram Spots in Lisbon was no exception.

MAY

With Summer around the corner, May took me to many interesting places, that I have shared with you.

Wineries @ Península de Setúbal - Portugal

Herdade dos Grous Winery - Alentejo, Portugal

Jardim da Estrela - Lisbon

Looking back on May it's easy to find out my foodie side. With several brunch suggestions, an afternoon tea (on Tea for Two series) and a new restaurant review on our Food Chronicles series, all in one month it's difficult to disguise. You can also argue that I'm partial on a good wine. Well, I am! Visits to some great wineries and a few more posts on the wine tourism series make that irrefutable.

But I also love the simple beauty of nature and the splendor of Spring. When you live in the city, the best place to find it is on the nearest garden, so I didn't forget to give you my suggestions on my favorite gardens in Lisbon.

JUNE

I have been around Lisbon most of the time and brought you some suggestions on places to go, like Largo do Carmo, on places to eat, like Bairro do Avillez, and on things to do, like Festas de Lisboa. Although it's not usual, bring to you not one but two lists - a hot one on some of my suggestions for Summer, and on what to eat (and drink!) if you're visiting Lisbon.

Festas de Lisboa

Largo do Carmo

JULY

July was kind on me and although I've been feeling quite lazy these days, I've managed to explore some places and experiences closer home that can be great ideas for those visiting Lisbon.

A sunset cruise on river Tagus and a wine tasting along the Arrábida coast were two amazing experiences that I've already shared with you. A visit to Cabo Espichel was also so enjoyable and a post with my best tips for a visit is long overdue (is a promise for 2018!). A couple of years ago, I've visited Rome (in July!) and this July I've brought you my favorite fountains on the Eternal City. Thinking of my foodie readers, I've created a new blog page featuring all the restaurant reviews and food-related articles. You can find my Food Chronicles there!

Sunset Cruise @ Tagus River - Lisbon

Cabo Espichel - Portugal

Sunset Wine Party @ Arrábida Coast

AUGUST

August was surely a busy month. Not here on the blog, but on the road! Revisited old places and get to know some new ones. The month started at the Alentejo (South of Portugal) for a "girls only" gathering with some of my dearest cousins. You can't imagine how much fun we had! The Portuguese Southwest coast and the Atlantic coast near Lisbon were also some of the places I visited. On the last couple of weeks of August, we went to Andalusia: Seville, Cordoba, and Granada are amazing cities with lots of places to visit and things to do.

Praia do Malhão - Southwest Portugal

Praia da Ursa - Lisbon Coast

Granada - Spain

SEPTEMBER

September was time to reunite whit old friends (some more restaurant posts soon), to return to Alentejo and to have a go at the grapes harvest at a winery near Lisbon. Was such a great experience that included crushing the grapes with my bare feet in order to make wine. The end of September was also time to visit a fantastic Medieval Fair in Palmela (less than an hour from Lisbon) and although it wasn't our first time at such an event, we had the best of times.

Alentejo - Portugal

Harvest Time @ Península de Setúbal

Medieval Fair @ Palmela

OCTOBER

Although the calendar tells us that Autumn was there, the weather insisted on its summery vibe and the sunny, hot days persisted until the end of the month. Great days to go to the beach and to walk around the city. Knowing how Lisbon is on everyone must go list, started a new monthly series to bring you my Curated Lisbon Hotels.

No matter Fall didn't seem to be there yet, I indulged in some experiences with a clear autumnal mood - a late afternoon in a gorgeous Lisbon's wine bar and an Halloween afternoon tea - both great opportunities to share some good moments with dear friends.

Adega do Palácio Wine Bar - Lisbon

Halloween Afternoon Tea @ Tempus Bar - Lisbon

NOVEMBER

November was a month with lots of work and so much fun! Started the month with a wine tasting and music at Quinta de Alcube, tried a few new restaurants with my good friends and revisited some old favs with my family, went south to Olhão and stayed at the gorgeous Real Marina Hotel & SPA, and to close the month big way, attended a fantastic party at Corinthia Hotel Lisbon to the presentation of their Festive Season Program.

Wine Tasting @ Quinta de Alcube - Portugal

Olhão - Algarve, Portugal

Real Marina Hotel & SPA - Algarve, Portugal

DECEMBER

December was a busy month with lots of things to do at work, but still, I manage to spend a couple of days in Porto (one with a dear friend from Brazil!) and to walk around Lisbon, to get in the Winter and Xmas mood and to visit Sintra once more. Now the year is ending and while looking back the time that went so quickly looks well spend and full of great memories and achievements. You have been kind to me 2017... Thank you!