Can I get by with Spanish. Well, this might seem like wearing a Yankee’s hat to Fenway Park – but it is not a bad idea. While younger Portuguese speak English quite well, most Portuguese understand Spanish. But the issue is, they may not speak it back to you – and Portuguese might read a little like Spanish, but it sure does not sound like Spanish. Read more →

One of the most popular songs to ever come out of Portugal got renamed, and it is a bit insulting. It started as a 1937 musical review tune by Raul Portela and  José Galhardo - the team behind "Coimbra" and "Lisboa não sejas francesa." The song as a fado/march. But when Amália Rodrigues recorded it in the 1950's the unique melody caught on.  Read more →

The A330neo is a true new generation aircraft building on the A330’s success and leveraging on A350 XWB technology. It incorporates the highly efficient new generation Rolls-Royce Trent 7000 engines, and a new higher span 3D optimised wing with new sharklets fully optimized for the best aerodynamic performance. Read more →

Madeira is a semi-tropical island rising from sea level to over 6,000 feet. Its steep pitch gives the island six distinct climate zones. The ancient Laurissilva cloud forest at the highest elevations is classified as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. In fact, 2/3rds of Madeira is conservation land. It has mountain plains, valleys, high peaks, streams, rocky coastlines, and tidal pools. The island has a unique landscape accessed by a modern roadway system of new tunnels, and the older mountain roads they replaced that wind along the hillsides.  Read more →

Portugal's most famous song? "Coimbra," penned by Raul Ferrão and José Galhardo, had been recorded more than 200 times around the world. And, it is often called "April in Portugal." Here is the story... Read more →

Sometimes, vacations aren’t enough to regroup, unwind, or spend time with loved ones. Whether you need an extended break to avoid burnout or because you’d like to travel the world, go back to school, or start a side business, sabbaticals benefit people in many different ways. Read on to explore the ins and outs of how to do a sabbatical -- from how to afford it to inspiration on what to do. Read more →

So, Portuguese is not an easy language to pick up.  Yes, it comes from Latin – much like French and Spanish, but the route is not a non-stop. Read more →

The Algarve, Portugal’s southernmost region, is known for its superb Atlantic beaches, glamorous hotels and resorts, challenging, beautiful golf courses, and whitewashed fishing villages on low cliffs overlooking sandy coves. Algarve’s central coast, between Lagos and Faro, is lined with villas, hotels, bars and restaurants while the region's western Atlantic coast and rugged interior are less developed. Read more →

A small but yet diverse country, the so called “Garden planted by the sea” by the famous poet Fernando Pessoa, Portugal has all kinds of ‘flowers’ in its garden: the mountain, the big city, the beach, the rural village. It has the fish, the meat, the cheese and the yummiest bread you can find. Read more →