Hoosier Cruiser

portugal

April 28-30, 2026

Portugal is a fascinating country with a rich history. We made stops in Lisbon and Porto over three days. Some tours went inland as far as Seville. On one of mine, I visited the medieval village of Obidos about 1:15 north of Lisbon. There is so much I could say about these three locations, but my journey is drawing to a close, and with much to prepare for departure, I must be succinct.

Even though it was crowded with tourists, Obidos still felt like an authentic step back into medieval times. Enormous walls surrounding an assortment of dwellings, churches, public spaces and shops. There was even a shop dedicated to scores of different brands of sardines. You couldn’t depart Obidos without trying a molded chocolate cup filled with the local cherry liquour. There was even a Roman era aqueduct.

Our Lisbon tour was devoted largely to the city’s role in kicking off the Age of Discovery in the 15th CE. The Belem Tower, a UNESCO heritage site, was built in 1519 by Manuel I. He is the namesake of the Manueline architectural style found throughout Lisbon. Nearby the tower is the Monument of the Discoveries, a massive edifice celebrating the work of Prince Henry the Navigator and the explorations he sponsored. Across the road was the Jeronimos Monastery. These monks were beneficiaries of Portugal’s golden age of exploration. Unfortunately, our time was short and the lines were long. Our final Lisbon site was Edward VII park which had nothing to do with exploration, but very photogenic.

If Lisbon is the sophisticated financial capital of Portugal, Porto is the blue collar fun-loving sibling. Here we visited the university district including a bookstore where JK Rowling drew inspiration for her Harry Potter series and later the Douro riverfront.

OBIDOS GALLERY