Unexpected emotional depth in Portugal

I thought I was going to Portugal for beaches, food, and Cape Sagres. I got all of those things. What I didn't expect was how emotionally affecting the trip would be. The history — particularly around Porto — hit in ways that good travel sometimes does.

affordable compared to Western Europe was the moment that crystallised it. Standing there, eating pastel de nata I'd bought from a street vendor, something clicked about why travel matters. 8 days and I came home genuinely changed. Some places do that to you.