The sun was setting over the Douro River valley in Portugal, casting a golden glow on the terraced vineyards that stretched as far as the eye could see. My sister Michele, our aunt Patty, and I stood in awe, sipping wine and marveling at the beauty before us. It was day four of our adventure with NextTribe in Portugal, and we were already feeling transformed. Little did we know that this moment of tranquility would be balanced by the excitement and challenges that lay ahead in our journey.

NextTribe takes small groups of women ages 45+ on fun, transformational trips. Learn all about our next adventure in Portugal here.

When NextTribe announced their trip to Portugal, it didn’t take much convincing for my sister and I to sign up and then to talk our aunt Patty into joining us. We thought we knew what to expect: stunning architecture, delicious food, and great adventures with our group. But Portugal had so much more in store for us—a tapestry of experiences that would challenge our preconceptions and bond us in ways we never anticipated.

Exploring Portugal: The Rule of Three

Our journey was a story of threes: We were three travelers, visiting three cities in a country shaped by three catastrophic events. As we would learn, Portugal’s history was forever altered by the great earthquake, tsunami, and fire of 1755. Similarly, our trip would be defined by the three distinct experiences of Lisbon, the Douro Valley, and Porto—each leaving its unique imprint on our hearts and minds.

We stayed right off the beautiful Carmo Square where the Carnation Revolution in 1974 ended nearly five decades of dictatorship.

Our stay in Lisbon started at the Carmo Hotel, right off the beautiful Carmo Square in the vibrant Chiado district. We learned that Carmo Square was where the Carnation Revolution in April 25th, 1974, led to the end of nearly five decades of dictatorship. The story goes that carnations were put in guns instead of bullets and it was a peaceful overthrow of the government. It just so happened that our visit was timed with the 50th anniversary of the Carnation Revolution. Carmo Square is home to Carmo Church which stands as a beautiful reminder of Lisbon’s past because the church was one of the largest Gothic churches in Lisbon until it was destroyed by that 1755 earthquake. Today, the ruins of Convent de Carmen at Carmo Square and its Gothic arches are an architectural masterpiece to view.

Falling in Love With Lisbon’s Art and Culture

Tiles, tiles everywhere! From the moment we arrived in Lisbon, we were struck by the ubiquitous azulejos, the painted tiles that seem to be Portugal’s calling card. They were everywhere! On the front of houses, on the walls inside restaurants, and all over the sides of businesses. These tiles became a metaphor for our entire trip: beautiful on the surface, but with depths of meaning and history just waiting to be uncovered.

Like the tiles that adorned countless fronts of houses, buildings and shops, our journey would be composed of individual moments, each beautiful in its own right, that together created a stunning and complex picture.

We marveled at the tiles everywhere in Lisbon and got to create our very own, an experience that became a metaphor for this magical trip of discovery.

Our guide Jeannie Ralston, NextTribe’s CEO and Founder, had arranged for us tour the to create our own tiles at a woman-owned ceramic shop in the Alfama district of Lisbon. As we sat there, paintbrushes in hand, each creating our own design, I couldn’t help but think about how this experience mirrored our trip. We had each come to Portugal with our own expectations, our own “designs” for what the trip would be. But like the tiles, the real beauty emerged when we allowed ourselves to be shaped by the experience, rather than trying to control it.

The first evening, we took a sunset sail to see Lisbon from the Targas River.  Afterward, we found ourselves in the van, singing into the microphone and sharing stories, with our other travel guide Lilia warming up to the spirit of 16 women traveling together.

Eating and Drinking So, So Well

One of the highlights of our time in Lisbon was a visit to a fabulous cooking academy. Under the guidance of two enthusiastic female chefs, we learned the secrets of Portuguese cuisine, our hands busy chopping, stirring, and seasoning. The experience was more than just a cooking lesson; it was a window into the soul of Portuguese culture, where food is a celebration of life and community. As we sat down to enjoy the fruits of our labor and to celebrate the birthday of our fellow traveler Barbara, the room filled with laughter and conversation, I realized that this was exactly the kind of immersive experience our trio had been craving.

From Lisbon, we journeyed to the Douro Valley, a Unesco World Heritage site and the oldest demarcated wine region in the world. The Douro Valley is where luxury and tradition intertwine like the grapevines that covered the hillsides. Our stay at the 5-star Quinta Nova hotel was nothing short of magical. Perched on a hill overlooking the Douro River, the winery chateau offered breathtaking views at every turn.

In the Duoro Valley, we stayed in a magical hilltop winery chateau and participated in a deeply satisfying grape harvest.

We arrived during the grape harvest season and we were invited to participate. With straw hats on, we took to the vineyards, carefully selecting and cutting clusters of grapes. It was hard work under the Portuguese sun, picking a bucket of grapes while trying not to slide down the sloping land, but deeply satisfying. Aunt Patty, at 79 years old, surprised us all with her enthusiasm and endurance. And the wine tour and wine tasting afterward added to the overall ambiance.

The Good Life, Portuguese-Style

The meals at Quinta Nova were a gastronomic adventure. Each dish was a work of art, showcasing the best of local ingredients and culinary traditions. One evening, we were treated to a special demonstration of how to open vintage port wine using heated tongs—a dramatic and fascinating process that added an extra layer of ceremony to our meal.

What I appreciated most was the time to relax and reflect; to small the scent of ripening grapes and listen to the leaves rustling in the breeze.

Yet what I appreciated most about our time in the Douro Valley was the opportunity to relax and reflect. We spent peaceful afternoons by the infinity pool, gazing out over the terraced vineyards. We painted watercolors, did yoga in the morning, listened to the bird song, and took a walk to the chapel down by the river, breathing in the scent of ripening grapes and listening to the gentle rustle of leaves in the breeze. It was a chance to slow down, to absorb all we had experienced so far, and to deepen our connections with each other.

Exploring Portugal: Next Stop, Porto

Our final stop was the city of Porto, where our mettle would be tested. As we arrived, wildfires raged in the surrounding areas, filling the air with smoke and covering outdoor tables with ash. It was a stark reminder of the realities faced by the country we were visiting, beyond the picturesque scenes in travel brochures.

Yet even in this challenging situation, the spirit of Porto—and of our group—remained unquenchable. The NextTribe experience is all about women coming together, finding joy and connection even in unexpected circumstances.

Throughout our journey, we were continually struck by how little we had known about Portugal’s rich history. We learned about the various peoples who had populated the country over time, the old kings, and the profound impact of the 1755 catastrophe on Lisbon’s architecture and culture. Each day brought new discoveries, challenging our assumptions, and expanding our worldviews.

But perhaps the most profound discoveries were the ones we made about ourselves and each other. Traveling together, navigating new experiences and occasional frustrations, we found our relationships deepening in unexpected ways. We saw new sides of each other: I recognized my enthusiasm for every new experience, as well as Michele’s newfound passion for port wine and Aunt Patty’s adventurousness.

Family Bonding Plus New Friends

As we reflect on our Portuguese adventure, it’s clear that this wasn’t just a trip—it was a transformative experience. We came seeking beautiful sights and good food, but we left with so much more: a deeper understanding of a fascinating culture, stronger bonds with each other, and a renewed appreciation for the power of stepping out of our comfort zones.

Travel like this allows us to see new things and also to have new eyes with which to view our world.

Our advice regarding this kind of trip? Do it. Pack your sense of curiosity along with your comfortable shoes. Be prepared for your preconceptions to be challenged, for your heart to be opened, and for your worldview to expand. Portugal, as seen through three pairs of eyes (mine, my sister’s and my aunt’s), was not just a destination but a journey of discovery, both of a captivating country and of yourself. Travel like this not only allows us to see new things but to also have new eyes with which to view our world.