Wandering Portugal: Finding Connection In The Unknown

There’s a beautiful kind of magic that happens when you step into a place you’ve never been, a town you couldn’t pronounce a month ago, streets that feel like a maze, and a rhythm of life completely different from the one you left behind. Traveling through Portugal has reminded me of that magic again and again.

There’s something special about meeting new people whose stories unfold not through perfectly shared language, but through gestures, smiles, laughter, and that universal human willingness to try. I’ve found myself standing in bakeries, cafés, museums, and tiny corner shops, communicating through a mix of English, Portuguese, hand motions, and the occasional guesswork.

And when it clicks, when the other person suddenly understands what you were struggling to say, and you understand their response....it’s pure joy. That spark of connection reminds you that the world is wide, yes, but not nearly as divided as it seems.

Mornings in a New Place

Mornings are my favorite, especially while traveling. There’s a calmness that settles in before the day begins, and today, as I sit outside in a new town with a cup of coffee warming my hands, I feel it deeply.

No conversations.

No noise of routine.

Just the world waking up.

I hear seagulls squawking overhead as if announcing the sunrise.

I hear the soft, rhythmic dip of oars cutting through the water as a team of rowers glides past.

And somewhere nearby, someone is speaking to their dog in Portuguese. soft, affectionate, completely wholesome.

It’s these small moments that make travel feel like a slow inhale after years of holding your breath.

Exploring, Learning, Growing

Travel isn’t just about the big sights or the famous landmarks. It’s the tiny discoveries, the taste of a pastry you’ve never had before, the unexpected friendliness of a stranger, the way you get lost and end up finding something better than what you were originally looking for.

It’s about laughing at yourself when you mispronounce obrigado.

It’s about trying again anyway.

It’s about realizing that growth doesn’t come from comfort, growth is the discomfort, the curiosity, the choosing to step forward.

To Those Afraid to Travel

So many people tell me they’ll never travel to Europe because they’re afraid or anxious. And I get it, newness can be intimidating. But fear shouldn’t get the final say.

I always tell them: LIVE.

See the world if you can.

If you can’t see the world, see another state.

If not another state, then another town.

And if not another town, explore a new neighborhood you’ve never visited.

You don’t have to cross an ocean to broaden your perspective. You just have to move toward something unfamiliar.

Because travel, any travel, changes you.

It expands your thoughts, your opinions, your curiosity.

It reminds you that life isn’t meant to be lived inside the borders of what you already know.

Stay Alive to the World

Don’t be afraid of change.

Don’t be afraid of new things.

These are the very things that keep us alive, awake, and refreshed.

Whether you find yourself wandering the streets of Portugal or simply sitting in a café a few blocks from home, take in the sights, the sounds, the people, the culture. Let it all become a part of you.

Because connection, true, human connection, can be found anywhere, even in places where you don’t speak the language.

Especially there.

And when it all comes together…

There’s nothing quite like it.