What nobody tells you about visiting Portugal

After a lot of research I thought I knew what to expect from Portugal. Some things matched: Pena Palace is as spectacular as every review says, and Faro has a genuine energy I'd read about. The Port wine obsession is completely justified.

What I wasn't prepared for: affordable compared to Western Europe. That element genuinely surprised me and added something I hadn't seen in any review. Also: cobblestone streets tough on feet. That part the reviews undersell. Overall a wonderful trip — just a more layered experience than I anticipated.