A Short, Simple Way to Have a Beautiful Day
Greetings from Portugal!
As I write this, I’m trying to stop time… because… look at this view from my hotel room:
Unbelievable.
I’m perched on our hotel room balcony, where the temperature is perfect and the air is crisp. It’s the best seat in the house for people watching and soaking up Marina life here in the Algarve of Portugal.
And while I’m not here as a tourist, it certainly feels like a holiday as Eric and I have spent the past 10 days eating, drinking, and golfing our way from Lisbon to the Algarve, thanks to our wonderful hosts at Visit Cascais, AlmaLusa Hotels, and TeeTimes Golf Holidays. We’re here on a 12-day tour (staying at nine hotels and playing seven rounds of golf) to uncover all the reasons Portugal is the perfect destination for golf, wellness, recreation, culture, and relaxation.
The verdict?
Portugal is a beautiful spot for all of that, and it’s also the perfect place to recalibrate.
As one golfer from Ireland told me, “We came here for a reset.”
My biggest takeaway from the trip?
Other than realizing I need a six-month course in putting and chipping, I’ve concluded that Portugal deserves a spot on everyone’s bucket list.
It’s a gorgeous country, and the people who live here only enhance its beauty. I’ll be sharing stories and takeaways from the trip, but for now, let’s talk about the quote mentioned above.
This is not just a day.
This is a beautiful day.
You’re never going to forget this day.
These were the first words that the cart driver, Carlos, said when he took us from the parking lot to the clubhouse to prepare for an epic round of golf at Palmares Golf.
(With the ocean as a backdrop, how can a round not be epic?)
Carlos was all smiles when we got in his cart, and had the kind of positivity that grabs you, and you have no choice but to join in the fun.
And, wow, was Carlos right. It was a gorgeous day, from the natural setting to the manicured grounds to the beautiful course… to the great company. ❤️
It was one of those “pinch me” moments that I wanted to appreciate and take advantage of, even before Carlos opened his mouth.
But the thing is, Carlos really didn’t need to tell us it was a beautiful day.
That was pretty obvious.
It was more like Carlos was there on a mission to remind us that while stunning natural backdrops and elegant, aesthetic surroundings sure do help, they’re not prerequisites to a beautiful day.
Yes, I will remember that Palmares Beach Resort was gorgeous and the weather was perfect, but that’s not what made the day so memorable.
It was Carlos, and his simple formula for a beautiful day….
By making people feel welcome, it becomes a beautiful day.
By having a positive attitude, it becomes a beautiful day.
By leaving people with a huge smile, it becomes a beautiful day.
And that beautiful day becomes something you’ll never forget.
Kind of like a trip to Portugal, where beautiful days are made, thanks to people like Carlos.
Wishing you all a beautiful day, wherever you are.
XO,
Abbey
P.S. In the spirit of beautiful days and positive vibes… I’m removing the paywall from today’s piece. Enjoy!
Sharing a couple of pics, a few links, and a promise I’ll be back next week with more.
Sleep can be tricky when traveling or at home. Here’s a chic, French hack that will send you into dreamland, the stylish way.
Speaking of sleep, there’s bed head and then there’s… travel head. (Bad hair while traveling.) If you suffer from this like I do, you might want to try a new technique called “reverse washing.” Check it out, it works!
If this newsletter inspires you to schedule your holiday travel, here are the best times to book your airfare.
We’ve been enjoying amazing food… so much so that when I get home, I’ll be looking for some light, clean soups to reset me from my reset. (IYKYK) Starting with one (or several) of these 11 cleansing detox soups, this miso-ginger-sweet potato, and will roll into winter with one of these (18!) clean chili recipes.
Since we’re talking food, here’s a travel hack for the first day of your next trip. Book a food tour. We took one through Eating Europe, and on our first night in Lisbon, we not only learned about the food and wine of Portugal but also had the chance to ask questions about the city, things to do, and learn about the local culture. Our guide, Amanda, was actually a food historian, so our trip was packed with fun facts.
Chin-chin(the way to say “cheers” in Portugal) from Senhor Uva’s in Lisbon, one of the stops on our food tour - a great place for wine and tapas. Another way to learn about a country’s food scene is to take a cooking class. Since Eric is the cook in our family, he cooked, and I took pics and video at the Cascais Food Lab. A great way to spend a couple of hours!
One of the standouts on our tour was Aires Estoril, an Argentine restaurant with standout food and an atmosphere that makes you wonder, 'Am I in New York City?' London? Argentina? We loved the hip vibe, electric tango playing in the background, and the authentic Argentinian food. Plus, the staff couldn’t have been more delightful.
Back at home, we’ll definitely be trying to recreate this Portuguese tomato salad, as well as many of the other flavors of the trip.
And as I write this, we’re still in Portugal, and we’ve got a teetime… so I’m signing off for now.
Signing off for now with a promise of more about our trip and inspiration, tips, and tricks for you.
Até mais tarde (unitl later),
Abbey