Three Week Itinerary; Paris to Portimao

We had three weeks to spend in Europe and wanted to visit places we hadn’t been before. We'd been to France several times; two Viking River Cruises and a driving trip through the country in search of Templar Knight sites with our teenage son, but we never were able to take the time to visit Mont Saint-Michel or the Le Marais area of Paris.

So our first stop became Paris and we planned a day trip to Mont Saint Michel from Paris. Terry had been to the Cote D’Azure frequently in the Navy but I had never been there so we picked Nice, France as our second stop with a day trip to Monaco so that we could see the Formula One race course.

We originally wanted to tour the Pyrenees area of France but found we didn’t have enough time to do that and visit Portugal as well, so we decided on stopping in Madrid for a few days before heading to Portugal. Spain has a rich culture and history and wonderful food. We spent three lovely days touring the city and surrounding area.

Portugal had been on our list from the very beginning of our planning. My grandparents immigrated from Portugal to the United States and my parents always wanted me to see the country. So we planned to see as much as we could, flying into Porto, Portugal, exploring the Douro River Valley, Lisbon and ending up in the Algarve.

The Eiffel Tower

Paris, France

Paris, often referred to as "The City of Light," holds a special place in our hearts as one of our favorite cities in Europe. Its timeless charm, rich history, and cultural vibrancy never fail to captivate us. Each visit to Paris feels to us like a new adventure, offering something fresh to discover and leaving us with cherished memories.

If you’ve never been to Paris, you could be forgiven for being slightly cynical about it. Countless Hollywood movies romanticize the city to such a degree that to visit Paris might seem corny or schmaltzy. Many tourists go to Paris expecting it to be exactly like what they have seen in the movies, as though Paris hasn’t changed since the Fin du Siecle. In fact, there is even a psychological condition – the aptly-named "Paris Syndrome" – in which the dissonance between the reality of modern-day Paris and what tourists expect is so great that it triggers an emotional breakdown.

To view this amazing city, click here to view our Paris page.

Mont Saint-Michel Abbey

Paris to Mont Saint-Michel by Train

We could only allocate a single day for our Mont Saint-Michel visit, and we did not want to rent a car until we reached Portugal. So we researched extensively to learn about how to do this as a "day trip". We found a lot of mis-information about how to get there & back, so we invite you to jump to our page and read about how we made the trip work, and how beautiful Mont Saint-Michel is.

Come view our Mont Saint-Michel page, where you will find a complete blueprint of how to do this day-trip.

French Riviera along the Cote d'Azure

Nice, France

Our next stop was Nice, France, the capital of the French Riviera along the Cote d'Azure. A city of rich culture and history with a laid back vibe. A vibe very different than Paris. We caught an Air France flight at Paris CDG Airport bound for Nice and from the time we stepped off the plane we knew we had made a good choice in destinations.

Come view our Nice, France page, where you will find how we explored this interesting area.

The Principality of Monaco

Principality of Monaco

Oh Monaco! For any Formula 1 racing fan, visiting Monaco is near the top of anyone's bucket list! Monaco is only a short train ride (~20 kilometers) from Nice and is more scenic than the images we took could possibly capture. We found that it was small enough to leisurely walk around and enjoy its’ hillside beauty with vistas of the harbor and magnificent yachts while taking in the race course and high end cars as well. We saw all of the top end cars within the first 30 minutes of being in town; Lamborghini’s, Porsche’s, Ferrari, McLaren, etc.

Come view our Monaco page, where you will find out how we did this as a day trip from Nice.

Madrid, Spain

Madrid, Spain

After exploring the beautiful cities of Nice and Monaco, we were thrilled to continue our journey to Madrid, the dynamic capital of Spain. Having never been to Madrid before, we were eager to discover its unique charm and character. The city did not disappoint, offering a perfect blend of rich history, vibrant culture, delicious food, and stunning green spaces.

Come view our Madrid page, where you will be able to enjoy what we experienced during our explorations there. Our time in Madrid was unforgettable, and we can’t wait to return!

Toledo, Spain

Toledo, Spain

This was a day bus trip we took from Madrid, because Toledo is only 72 kilometers from Madrid. This trip became a perfect day trip for us filled with history, architecture, and cultural richness. Once the capital of Spain, Toledo is often called the "City of Three Cultures" for its historical coexistence of Christian, Muslim, and Jewish communities.

The Spanish Inquisition, established in 1478, had a devastating impact on the Jewish population of Toledo and across Spain. Toledo, once a thriving center of Jewish life during the medieval period, faced severe persecution under the Inquisition's policies, which aimed to enforce Catholic orthodoxy.

Come view our Toledo page, where you will be able to view this interesting and historical city.

Our Portugal Adventure

Our Portugal Adventure

This destination was the centerpiece of this trip to Europe. Culturally interesting and, for us, we had more curiosity about it due to my grandparents being from mainland Portugal and hearing many stories over the years. I grew up with probably thirty first cousins and aunts and uncles on my Mom’s side of the family alone. My grandparents spoke Portuguese but unfortunately it wasn’t passed on to any of the grandkids. I spent some time with Duolingo attempting to pick up some of the language. It was time consuming but I thought it was worth it. It gave me a deeper appreciation for Portugal and the people. Portugal had some wonderful surprises. The food was fantastic and the pastries were to die for. We’ve not seen a prettier coastline anywhere in Europe.

Come view our Portugal page, where you will be able to view our explorations there.