Mentioning to anyone that my parents live in Portugal confuses the heck out of whomever decided to ask. They’ll look at me and, if they’ve just met me, wonder whether I’m from Portugal. But my name’s not really European. So what gives? (Things get really confusing when they ask where my parents are from and I say East Africa…)
The long and short of it, my parents have (semi) retired in Portugal. For as long as I can remember, every year, we’d be in Portugal at least twice a year for holidays. Usually the same place by the sea. After years or living and working in London, who wouldn’t want to live where there’s infinitely more sunshine?
Portugal is very much a second home for me. Arriving at the airport there, it feels like coming home, not being on holiday.
So here are a few photos from my last trip home I wanted to share with you. Just like in Lost, I want to go back!

Cody – one of her more common “this is the face of a goober” moments.

One of the things that I really love going back home? The fresh fruits and vegetables. There is nothing like eating strawberries that were picked seconds ago.

This tree – I adore it. It’s totally dead and the folks have said they want to cut it for firewood, but it always looks so magical to me.

Those impressive sunsets just make everything look better. Even weeds.

Sunset – check. Beautiful countryside in the background – check. Horses – check.

Cody in one of her rare moments where she looks pretty damn majestic.

The other side of the Algarve, in Portugal. The side I rarely, voluntarily go to see. But it’s always fun to wander down memory lane and see how things have changed.

Vilamoura – the sanitised version of the Algarve.

That dramatic smoke from some nearby but a little faraway forest fires. That night the air smelt very heavily of the burning. Least the fires got put out.

Impressive sunsets made even more impressive by some dramatic smoke in the skies.

You just have to jump right in. That’s what this is telling you.
Where’s your home that’s not actually home?
Nice pictures! London can be pretty grey, so I can understand the appeal of sunny Portugal
Cheers Chris! Yes, very grey. Don’t blame them for heading to sunnier climes.
such lovely photos Jaina, such eye candy
Thank you Leila 🙂
Your “magic hour” photographs remind me of the films of Terrence Malick. Beautiful!
I’ve never been fortunate enough to visit Portugal. My home that’s not actually home is Lake Como in Italy.
Thank you, Paul! I’ve only seen a couple of Terrence Malick films – and his visuals blow me away, so I am flattered! (Though never been a real fan of his films…)
Never been to Lake Como, just seen gorgeous photos of it. One day!
Beautiful beautiful beautiful! I’d retire there :). Love the weeds in the sunset! My home is Philadelphia, which is actually my home. But I think I could call Chicago my home as well even though I only visited once. I felt so comfortable there.
Thanks, Lisa! And yes, retirement there is kinda a no-brainer 😉 Haha.
Love those sorts of places that just feel like “home”, you know? There’s few places that. Such a lovely feeling when you do have that though.
??????
That was supposed to be all heart emojis.
Apparently my blog isn’t emoji friendly.
These are fabulous Jaina! I love posts like this – seeing other parts of the world that are new to me.
Thanks Keith!
[…] At the beginning of July I was in a whole other country on a whole other continent. The beginning of the month saw the tail end of my trip to see my folks in Portugal. […]