Portugal - from a bands perspective

Level & Tyson in Portalegre, Portugal.

Touring can be a great way to visit new places and get a pre-taste. Of course you don't get to see everything you want to, because you're not there on vacation.

I used to play in a band called Level & Tyson and we went touring in Portugal twice. On one of these tours we did like 19 gigs in 18 days. Some of the cities we visited were Coimbra, Braga, Porto, Lisbon and Portalegre, just to mention a few.

We got to know some really cool people, not to mention check out a bunch of venues. But needless to say, there were a lot of touristy stuff I didn't get to do, and some of the best views were seen on the road, from the window while riding our shabby tour car.

On the road to Portalegre.
On the road, on our way to CAE Portalegre

Here comes the pre-taste part.

Even though we were always on the go, and it felt as if we saw Portugal in the speed of light - I did see enough to understand that Portugal is a cool destination that I would like to visit again. Next time I go, I want to visit just as many cities as when we were touring, but stay there longer. So that I can experience Portugal slower and to its fullest, If that even is possible. At least I want to try.

I promised you Portugal, from a bands perspective, so here are a bunch of photos I took while touring.

Casa D' Avenida in Setúbal, Portugal.

This is a photo I took of our drummer Jun at Casa D' Avenida, an art gallery in a charming old port town called Setúbal. Apparently there are great hiking and biking options here, and flamingos(!).

Coimbra, Portugal.

Coimbra is one of my favorite cities in Portugal. I even have sort of a nickname for it, I call it "the city of typography", because you'll see cute signs like these everywhere.

This city is a historic, cultured beauty and here you'll find everything from medieval ruins and Romanesque style buildings  to the the best pastry you've ever tasted: Pastel de Nata. An egg tart pastry with dusted cinnamon. I think we ate those everyday, and I'm so thrilled we now have a Pastel de Nata-bakery in Oslo!

Porto, Portugal.

We were in Porto very shortly. The city where people and the tiles are beautiful. I remember thinking that the old people here were more stylish and elegant than old people back home.

Anyway, Porto is Portugal's second largest city, and is known for its food and especially wine. One of Portugal's internationally famous exports, port wine, is named after Porto since the metropolitan area were responsible for the packaging, transport and export of the wine.

***

When you're playing in a band you almost become family, and sharing all these trips and memories is special. Even though I don't play in L&T anymore I'm still friends with these people, and writing this Portugal guide made med somewhat nostalgic. An so I'll end this post with a music video we made at Nada Skate Co. in Coimbra, Portugal.



Want to read a more detailed guide? Check out this one.

Comments

  1. I totally know how it feels to be in a place but not really able to tour it fully because you're there to work and not to relax. But most of the time, I just think of the positive side that at least I got to visit the place since I don't know when I can come back. Lol. And Portugal is on my list too! Hope I can visit this beautiful country one day.

    xo, Janine | Off-Duty Mama

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    1. Exactly, that's what I think as well! Besides, you always get to see SOMETHING, and something is so much better than nothing <3

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  2. I have never been to Portugal and hope to go someday. I knew twin sisters from Poland who studied and lived there for a while in Coimbra. They loved it so much! I should plan a visit there soon

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    1. Yeah, I also know someone who used to live in Coimbra, so there absolutely something about Portugal that makes people stay.

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  3. That's quite a differently beautiful perspective on Portugal...getting to watch real live flamingos could be great
    - Nandita

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    1. Thank you, and yeah, dreaming about those flamingos

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  4. I love Portugal, and I hope you get to visit again when you have time to explore each city. Nice photos.

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  5. Sometimes a second visit can actually let you explore to the full potential. Portugal sounds like a great place to visit.

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  6. I have just booked a vacation to Portugal and Spain end of this year and glad to learn about so many things here. I hope I got a chance to visit the city of typography - checking out all the cute signs.

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    1. that sounds fun! i hope you get to check out coimbra too!

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  7. Portugal is such a great place to visit. It is a bittersweet I suppose when you have to work and not get to tour the place fully but at least you do get to visit with great friends!

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    1. yeah, i still had a blast - and the thing is - the side of portugal i did get to see - I wouldn't get to see that side as a "normal tourist", cause there's something magical about band-touring as well <3

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  8. That's so cool that you got to go there and meet so many people! Sometimes touristy stuff can be overrated, but it's definitely nice to have time to just wander.

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    1. True that, I did have an amazing time, but would have loved to wander and have like more than like one day in each city. Next time!

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  9. This looks ahamazing! Portugal is definitely one of those places I'd love to visit.

    xx Tatyanna
    htttp://www.apopoflifecom

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  10. It must be such a whirlwind adventure to go on tour, especially if you do 19 gigs in 18 days. That's impressive! Also, I totally wanna see the city of typography now.

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    1. Yes, definitely a whirlwind! It was intense but exciting and fun too!

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  11. Portugal is amazing and we always see it's hint when we visit Goa and it has so much of influence. I would love to visit Portugal someday when i plan a Europe trip. Nice perspective btw :)

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  12. I completely agree about Portugal, it is indeed mesmerizing! I haven't been to the north of the country like you have but the south is astonishing too!

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