When Andrea and I started planning our trip to the Algarve, I had heard many good things and had a general idea of what we would see…sun, coastline, good food. You know, the usual highlights you see when you Google Portugal or speak to people who have travelled there.
What I didn’t expect was how much I’d fall in love with everything in between.
Not the big “must-see” spots, although we did visit some tourist areas, but rather the quiet roads, the tiny towns, the details you only notice when you relax and slow down a bit.
We flew into Faro and had our driver bring us to the Viceroy at Ombria near Loulé, about a 30-minute drive from the airport. I chose the Viceroy at Ombria Algarve for its excellent reviews, but more importantly, for its quiet surroundings. This property is tucked into green rolling hills, citrus groves, fig and cork trees, limestone cliffs, beaches, and tiny cobblestone villages. All I can say is wow! It was perfect. It had a calm, serene vibe—exactly what I was looking for.
We’ve had a brutally cold and snowy winter here in the Greater Toronto Area, so the warm sun, white-washed buildings, terracotta rooftops, rich Terra rosa walls, and hand-painted tiles were such a treat! Exactly what I needed. As a bonus, the resort was only about half full since we were there during shoulder season in late March/early April.
We rented a car and spent some time wandering the old town of Faro, which honestly felt like the perfect way to ease into the trip. Cobblestone streets, soft pastel buildings, little doors and windows that looked like they’d been painted and repainted over decades (maybe centuries?). It had that worn-in charm that you just can’t replicate.
And of course, I’m always on the lookout for inspiring ways to repurpose old furniture.
We stepped into the Faro Cathedral for a bit—partly to cool off, partly because I’m always drawn to these spaces. There’s something about old buildings…you can feel the history surrounding you. And the entire time I was thinking—they don’t build them like this anymore. Not just structurally, but thoughtfully. Attention to every detail.
We visited the Bell Tower, Chapel of Bones, and I was in awe of all the hand-painted tiles.
From Faro, we made our way to Albufeira, which was a bit more lively but still beautiful in its own way. We found that if you went out early or later in the evening, you could still get those quiet, almost magical moments before the day picked up speed again.
But if I’m being honest, my favorite parts of the trip weren’t in the towns at all.
They were in the driving.
We spent a lot of time just getting in the car and heading inland without a plan. And within minutes, everything changes. The coastline disappears, and you’re surrounded by hills, cork trees, olive groves, and these tiny villages that feel like they’ve just stayed the same. Simple. Functional. Beautiful without trying.
We’d pass homes with colorful doors and hand-painted tiles, and I kept thinking about how much craftsmanship goes into something like that. These aren’t trends. These are traditions that have lasted for hundreds of years.
And can we talk about the gardens?! Oh my goodness! It seemed every home had such a lush, lovely garden filled with produce, colorful flowers, and orange trees! And the smell of the orange blossoms? It was everywhere. Light, sweet, and just part of the background in a way that made you realize how disconnected we can be from simple, natural things.
It made me pause a bit.
One of my favorite moments (and I’ll never forget this) was pulling over on a quiet road and picking fresh oranges right off a tree. Just reaching up, grabbing one, peeling it, and eating it right there. They were warm from the sun, so ripe and juicy, a little imperfect, and honestly…the BEST orange I’ve tasted in my life!
It’s easy to pack in too much into a week’s vacation. To try to see everything, do everything, maximize every minute. But the moments I enjoyed the most were the slower ones. Sitting with a cappuccino and Pastel de Nata. Walking in nature. Driving the winding roads, taking in all the scenery, and not rushing to the next thing. It made me think about how rarely I give myself that kind of space at home.
And maybe I should.
Food, of course, was also a highlight (as it should be in Portugal). We leaned into local dishes—seafood, simple ingredients, things that didn’t need to be overly complicated to be incredible. We had this traditional Portuguese seafood cataplana one afternoon that was just…perfect. Not fancy, not overdone. Just super fresh, flavorful, and meant to be enjoyed slowly.
And that’s kind of the theme I kept coming back to. Nothing felt rushed. Not the meals, not the towns, not the people. And it made me realize how much of my own life tends to run at a pace that doesn’t leave a lot of room for noticing the small things.
Because inspiration isn’t usually loud or obvious. It seems to be in the small details and often pops up when you least expect it.
It’s in cracked hand-painted ceramic tiles, a tended garden, or an old painted piece of furniture. The texture of a wall. The layout of a small home or a hand-sewn quilt that’s been loved for generations. The way something old is repurposed rather than being replaced.
There’s so much creativity in that!
And I found myself thinking about how to bring a bit of that home. Not in a literal “let’s redecorate everything” way (although that’s tempting), but more in how I approach everyday things. Slowing down enough to notice and letting inspiration come from real places instead of just scrolling past ideas online.
And also—giving myself permission to step away from work long enough to actually feel inspired. Because that’s the other thing this trip reminded me of. Rest isn’t unproductive. It’s necessary.
And maybe that’s something we don’t talk about enough. We don’t have to earn rest. We need it in order to do our best work, to think creatively, to feel connected to what we’re doing.
Thanks for reading and happy painting, sweet friends! 💙
Denise x
Hello again... I'm so happy you dropped by! Let's keep in touch! Follow me on social media or sign up for a dose of furniture painting inspiration and diy tutorials. :) 
Hi Denise. Your trip with your sister to Portugal looks beautiful. Those skies are the most gorgeous blue! One day I hope to travel there myself.
Thanks Monique! Sister time is always the best and ya, I highly recommend. I really hope to go back one day and explore the north of Portugal and cross over to Spain. Enjoy your weekend my friend. XOXO
Thanks for sharing your travels to Portugal in your latest blog. The pictures were beautiful, and happy to hear how inspired you got from the trip. Can’t wait to see what rolls out from the results of this trip! I really enjoy the transformations you create.
Hi Janet!🤗 So happy you enjoyed the post and pics because I loved sharing them with you! When it’s not painted furniture post, there’s a little voice in the back of my head that says “maybe you shouldn’t post this”… even after 14 years of blogging/publishing. But if you all enjoy these types of posts sprinkled in, I’d love to write more. Have a great week. XOXO
Hi Denise !!!
I`m so glad you`ve enjoyed your visit to Algarve !!!
Slowdown is a must, and daily routines often make us forget about …
I live in the south of Spain, in Malaga, an your writing touched my heart, you describe with the eyes of an artist the light, the colours, the scents, the flavours …, all wrapped in history and traditions…
I dare to suggest you to discover Spain …, next time … 😉
Kind regards
Pilar
Spain is definitely on my list of places I’d love to visit – it looks stunning! And I just Googled Malaga and there is so much to see and do… and it’s the birth place of Picasso.😊 Thanks for reading (and suggesting!) and have a wonderful week Pilar!
I loved reading about your vacation to Portugal and taking time for the simple things in life. A great reminder and so true. Everything looks amazing, and your R&R is well deserved!
It really was a great reminder and thank you Nicki! I’m so happy you enjoyed and I appreciate your support over the years. Have a fabulous week my friend. XOXO
Hi Denise…I misunderstood and posted my name n email….and I am already a subscriber.
I saw the Green nox that said….The goof proof guide to furniture painting” and I assumed if I added my name n email I would receive a download with that topic. Apparently it seems to have meant just to subscribe….lol.
Totally enjoyed the Portugal mini read….I went and spent 14 dsys and just became enamored with Portugal! The captivating , castles, coastlines n cafes were awesome…..and the history magnificent. I would go again in a heartbeat! I appreciated reminiscing my own trip today. Thank you!
Hi Dawn!🤗 I would go again in a heartbeat as well! I’m so glad this post brought back lovely fond memories of your trip to Portugal!🇵🇹
And no worries about the filling out the green box for the goof-proof guide. If you’re already a subscriber, it only registers you once.😊
Thank you for sharing your photos and memories of your trip to Portugal. What a wonder respite from everyday life!
Hi Donna and thanks for sharing them with me as well! It was a wonderful trip and so happy and grateful I got to experience it with my sister. Enjoy your week. XOXO
Wow. That sounds amazing. Natural surroundings are sooo refreshing.
And you are so right… Enjoying the slow moments and simple joys / foods are the most memorable.
Thank you for sharing your adventure ! Now, I almost feel as if if I’d been somewhere that I’ve not been 🙂
I hope you are able to bring some of that peace and restfulness home with you. You deserve it.
Aw thank youuu P, it really was amazing.Those oranges…OMG!🍊🤩🍊 It was a great reminder appreciate the simple things – slow down and enjoy. Wishing you a great week. XOXO
Wow, a much deserving trip for you. Looks beautiful!
Glad you had a wonderful time! The weather looked awesome.
Thanks so much! I can’t tell you how thrilled I was to have the sun on my face, temps in the mid 70’s with a beautiful breeze. And color! The greenery, blue skies, blossoms… such a nice break from grey winter skies and cold temps.
I absolutely loved reading your post today. You are so right, our bodies, mind and soul need rest.It doesn’t need to be earned: we just need to do it more often. I find myself doing that more as I become “more vintage”. 😊 (That’s the term I’m now using instead of “older”.) It’s so important to notice and enjoy the small things in life like eating an orange you picked off a tree, admiring our surroundings and new uses for vintage furniture. What fun y’all had. Do it more often. Take this new inspiration and apply it daily. What a joy to read about your trip.
Thank you, and I’m so happy you enjoyed the post Kathy! I was hoping this may hit a chord with a few of you. Because I’m sure I can’t be the only one who gets caught up in daily tasks and ‘forgets’ to slow down and enjoy. And I love your ‘more vintage’ term… I think I’ll start using that one as well, lol. My Dad used to say he was a ‘recycled teenager’ which always made us laugh.