Nov 12, 2026
Two Weeks in Lisbon
Two weeks into a month in Lisbon: an Alfama apartment by the water, tram 28 under the cathedral, a Halloween rave in a park pavilion, fado, and sunbathing in November.
On the road · Oct 19, 2026 – Jan 15, 2027
Portugal Winter 2026 / 27
Three months following the warm coast south — a week of ADE in Amsterdam, a month living in Lisbon, a detour to Marrakesh for the film festival, December in the Algarve, and New Year's fireworks over Madeira.
- Right now
- Lisbon, Portugal
- Next up
- Costa da Caparica, PortugalNov 25, 2026
- Stops
- 8
The route
Oct 19 – Oct 26, 2026Amsterdam, Netherlands
NetherlandsThe week is built around ADE — the Amsterdam Dance Event, Oct 21–25 — the biggest electronic music festival on earth, with 300+ venues turning the whole city into one dance floor. Days for the canals and the old city, nights for the music.
Oct 26 – Nov 25, 2026Here nowLisbon, Portugal
PortugalThe city month, timed for the mildest, most golden early weeks. Basing in Alfama, the oldest neighborhood in the city — steep lanes and stairways, tram 28 rattling past the cathedral, rooftops tumbling down to the Tagus, and a serious late-night scene when the mood strikes.
Nov 25 – Dec 2, 2026Costa da Caparica, Portugal
PortugalA friend flies in from home, so it's a week across the river on the Atlantic side: miles of open beach just south of Lisbon, surf shacks and seafood, and the city skyline a short hop back over the bridge.
Dec 2 – Dec 4, 2026Casablanca, Morocco
MoroccoHere because Casablanca is my favorite movie, and some pilgrimages you just have to make. A couple of days in the big, modern city on the Atlantic is plenty: the Hassan II Mosque standing out over the ocean, a drink at the closest thing to Rick's I can find, and a first taste of Morocco before heading inland.
Dec 4 – Dec 14, 2026Marrakesh, Morocco
MoroccoThe side quest. Ten days of souks, riads, mint tea and the great square of Jemaa el-Fnaa coming alive at night, with the Atlas mountains on the horizon. A fun dose of noise and culture shock after a month of easy, English-friendly Lisbon.
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Dec 14 – Dec 29, 2026Lagos, Algarve
PortugalThe December home base — the warmest, sunniest corner of the mainland, gold sandstone cliffs and hidden coves, deliberately saved for the coldest, wettest stretch of winter. Side-trips out to Tavira and Sagres when the mood hits.
Dec 29, 2026 – Jan 12, 2027Funchal, Madeira
PortugalFlying out before New Year's, then settling in for two weeks. Subtropical and evergreen — one of the warmest, sunniest spots in all of Europe in December — and a record-breaking fireworks show over the bay to ring in the year. Levada walks, sea cliffs, and Madeira wine.
Jan 12 – Jan 15, 2027Lisbon, Portugal
PortugalA few last days back in the city to wrap up — a final round of the places that made the first month.
From the journal
- Nov 10, 2026
A Week Inside ADE
Canals by day, clubs by night, and a party on a moving train: a week in Amsterdam during ADE, following my friend Aneya Rose to three DJ gigs.
Nov 9, 2026Pasadena to Portland, the Long Way
Twelve nights and thirteen hundred-odd miles up Highway 1 and 101 from Pasadena to Portland: the last leg of an RV adventure that started in Florida, before the RV went into storage and I flew to Europe for the winter.
Oct 25, 2026Seven Thousand of My Friends
A week at Lake Perris in two halves: four days building Same Same But Different as a volunteer, then three days watching everyone else fall in love with it.
