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Porto, Portugal

Visti Porto, Portugal (Wikitravel)

Date: July 2016 Get in: Bus from Lisbon via Rede eXpressos (approx. 3hours)

It is only in retrospect, that I have come to realise, that Portugal is quite HIGH in my list of favourite countries in the world! It's never the fancy places that impress me the most, it's the places that have vibrant food cultures, friendly + outgoing people and it doesnt hurt that these places are usually along the sea, with amazing weather ;)

Recommendations

Eat Francesinha, enjoy it and tell the locals you love it! (this is Porto's baby)

Visit Livraria Lello - there's a small fee to enter, pre-book if possible to avoid waiting in line! (inspo spot for J.K Rowling)

Walk down to the Port, find a locally recommended seafood restaurant and eat all the octupus

Have a couple of midday drinks at Base

If you are on a budget with the Port tasting, visit the restaurants south of Douro River on R. da Praia. With your meal you can order a couple of Ports to taste, that way you can enjoy the view, the food and all the Port!

Stay at an airbnb, it usually works out a lot cheaper and the Porto locals are so amazingly friendly, you will get some awesome recommendations!

If visiting in summer, wear a hat! This place gets incredibly hot!

Watch the Porto kids jump off Ponte d'Arrábida into the Douro River

Nice, France

Date: May 2016 Accomodation: Airbnb

We all wonder how people in the South of France live, when we finally see it, we realise there's a reason why people do not leave.

Recommendations:

Use Bla Bla car to get around France!

Somtimes Airbnb is the best option

Go to the old town for a meal!

Visit all the boulangeries!

Do a day trip to Cannes

Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

Date: Feb 2015 Hostel: Hostel New Ipanema

I was probably Brazilian in a different life, or atleast I hope I was! I have not met a people so passionate and positive about life. Rio as I call it, is, "Bondi on crack" - if you're Aussie you will understand this, everyone on this beach is beautiful and they know it!

Recommendations:

If you're going during Carnival, book in ADVANCED!

Enjoy acai and the fresh fruit juice EVERYDAY!

Be careful and safe

Climb Morro Dois Irmaos

Visit Sugarloaf mountain

Eat #feijoada

Eat #salgados

Go to a couple of block parties

Malaga, Spain

Date: March 2016 Hostel: Casa Al Sur Terraza

Recommendations: