JOANA MIRANDA STUDIO

My husband and I just arrived back from a visit to my homeland of Portugal.  This visit was unusual for us since we went in November – a time that we’re usually tied up in New York with work, and also a time that’s considered more “off-season” in Portugal due to the chance of rainy weather.  However, Portugal is so beautiful, that even the gloomy, rainy skies have a poetry all of their own.

Shortly after we arrived, we went for a twilight stroll to the Praça do Comércio…

And then on to buy some fresh roasted chestnuts…

Outside the Rossio train station!

From there we meandered up to the elegant streets of the Chiado shopping district.

Fortunately, we’re both in good shape, so we didn’t need to rely on the Elevador da Glória funicular (just one of the historic trams running through the city) to propel us up the hills of the city, but we have ridden the trams for fun in the past.

Lisbon isn’t the only city with a night life, though!  In the Praça do Giraldo in charming Évora, a world Unesco heritage site, the tourists and locals mingle in the town square to catch up on news, happenings and even death notices.

(We caught up on our people watching there!)

We were lucky enough to stay at the Pousada Convento de Loios, a former convent now turned luxury hotel.

I confess I felt reverent as we descended into the lower courtyard each night…

To make our way to the dining tables for our dinner.

P.S.  Splitting a Queijada da Evora (a sweet cheese filled confection) turned out to be the perfect way to cap off the meal.