 Nazaré is a coastal town located in the central part of Portugal, a region known as Beira Litoral. It comprises 3 main areas - Pederneira, Sítio da Nazaré and Praia da Nazaré - and other smaller and more recent neighbourhoods.
In Nazaré there is an undeniable connection to the ocean. During a long time fishing and its related industries were the main income source and Nazaré was also a summer holiday destination because of the chilled vibe and nice beaches. However, this tendency shifted when the bombs of Praia do Norte became known worldwide and winter became the prime time to visit Nazaré. This odd mix ageneates a cool and laidback atmosphere and has put Nazaré in the map when it comes to tourism.
0 Comments
 Sintra-Cascais Natural Park is a protected area with 145 square km that includes not only an incredible natural heritage, but also very rich historical sites. It's close proximity to Lisboa, explains why it used to be the chosen holiday retreat for the royal family and many other wealthy families, who longed for fresh air during the summer.
Nowadays it remains a perfect relief from the hustle and bustle of the city and a great place to disconnect and get immersed in nature, no matter the season. Even winter is a great time to visit it, mainly due to the fact that during the colder months it is very quiet and the misty landscapes become even more magical. These are some of the reasons why you should visit Sintra Cascais Natural Park!  The islands of Pico, Faial and São Jorge belong to the central group of the azorean archipelago and they're known as the "islands of the triangle" since they form a triangular shape when connected.
Although located close to each other, they're three very distinct islands with a lot to see and do and together they perfectly sum up some of the best reasons to visit Açores: nature, biodiversity, hiking, beaches, great meat, fresh fish and seafood, wine and welcoming people.  These troubled times pose difficulties when it comes to traveling and as a consequence they have a serious impact on our day-to-day at My Bookpack. Initially we were apprehensive but... 'when life gives you lemons you make lemonade', right?
During the lockdown we had to stop our regular tasks so we started brainstorming and decided to rescue old ideas and side projects that were stored away in the back of our minds. After long conversations we came to the conclusion that we wanted to build a fun and educational product aiming the mini explorers. And so we did! We trusted our gut, rolled up our sleeves and created a children's book named "Vamos explorar Portugal" (which literally translates to "Let's explore Portugal").  Douro Verde is our chosen destination for August 2020. This so-called part of the Douro Valley is located between the urban Douro landscape around Porto and the Douro wine-making region in the upper part of the Douro Valley.
Being just over an hour from Porto makes it a great weekend break destination, but it is also a great place to spend some longer holidays immersed in nature, good gastronomy, excellent wine and a valuable historical and cultural heritage. August is always a tricky month when it comes to travelling, but this area remains quite unexplored and peaceful even during peak season. Plus it's almost harvest time, which means this territory has a special aura as the locals anticipate the vindimas.  Óbidos and Peniche are our destinations of choice for June 2020. Even though travelling entails extra care, these two towns remain a safe bet and combined they make up a delightful mix of what Portugal has to offer: traditional architecture, water sports, fresh fish and natural scenery.
They're located only half an hour driving from each other and there's plenty to do around the area, so spending your holidays targeting Óbidos and Peniche is a fantastic idea. We'll tell you why below.  Portugal has a very long history which explains the diversity of buildings that can be found across the country, some of which date back to 2.000 years b.C.. There are signs of the presence of many different peoples, from Celts to Romans and Moors and this "melting pot" is part of our heritage. Along all these different periods architecture suffered many changes, ranging from solemn and simple constructions to intricate and ornamented ones.
In this article we write in more detail about the ones that are more iconic and also the most renown Portuguese contemporary architects.  We chose Viana do Alentejo as our April 2020 destination, mostly because of the horseback parade of pilgrims that takes place during this month. Apart from this curious yearly tradition there are many other reasons to venture to the heart of the Alentejo during Spring.
 They're Portuguese and they're part of our style. It's impossible to wander in any Portuguese town and not be gobsmacked with the amount of beautiful tiles. They're everywhere, from floor to ceiling, and they're part of our historical and cultural heritage for over 500 years.
 Ponte de Lima is our destination of choice for March 2020. It's a fantastic time of the year to venture to the Minho region and explore this adorable village!
|