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Hey Reader,
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While Katie’s off cruising down Portugal’s rivers, living her best life, I’ve been holding down the fort in Porto — and honestly? I got bored.

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So I did what any castle nerd would do: hopped on a train and set off for Guimarães (seriously, super pretty)— a medieval gem just an hour outside the city.

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This town is known as the birthplace of Portugal, and it absolutely lives up to the hype. I wandered castle walls, explored a 15th-century palace, ate some pastries, and spent the afternoon roaming stone-lined alleys and quiet courtyards.
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​Some highlights from the trip:

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• 🏰 Guimarães Castle (not huge, but worth the climb)
• ⛪ The chapel where Portugal’s first king was baptized
• 🏛️ Palace of the Dukes of Bragança — swords, chandeliers, the works
• 🌿 Zona de Couros — the old leather district, surprisingly peaceful
• 🍽️ A seriously good meal at Resves Guimarães
• ☕ And, of course, a Portuguese pastry and espresso to wrap it all up

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Now, while we were exploring all of this, something else was in the works…

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We’re building our most ambitious Google Map yet — over 300 pins across Portugal of our favorite views, restaurants, bars, coffee shops, photo spots, and more.

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We’ve never built something like this before and have poured hours (upon hours) of firsthand travel experience and research into it.

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Here’s our question for you:

More Portugal stories coming soon — I'm heading to Braga this week and then Katie is coming back and we are going to explore a few new cities together.
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Until next time,

— Joey & Katie

Our latest favorites Things:
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• ​🎧 Dune on Audiobook (via Audible): I finally started the Dune audiobook and I’m fully hooked. It’s dramatic, immersive, and surprisingly easy to follow for such a dense story.
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• ​📷 Small Camera: Lugging around gear is fun… until it’s not. Lately I’ve been loving a tiny point-and-shoot — pocket-sized, no back pain, and still good enough to grab photos I’m proud of. Might never go back.
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• ​🧦 Merino Wool Socks: I know… wool socks in summer sounds like a bad idea. But trust me — it was 85°F the other day and my feet were still dry and comfortable. Merino wool breathes way better than cotton, and Darn Tough’s are basically indestructible. Game changer for travel days, hikes, or just walking around town.

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• ​📶 Airalo eSIM: This is our first time using an eSIM and—wow—total game changer. We bought a data plan through the Airalo app for just a few bucks a day (way cheaper than our American carriers), followed a few quick steps, and had full internet + texting access instantly. No physical SIM swap, no hunting for Wi-Fi. Never traveling without one again.

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• ​Cute Porto Apartment via Booking: I’m staying solo in a rental in Porto’s art district, and it’s so good. Lofted bed, comfy couch, a little patio for reading, washing machine, and (bless it) A/C. It’s walkable to everywhere but tucked away just enough to be quiet at night. Highly recommend.

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