Hi everyone!
We’re Ana and Paulo, a couple of IT engineers from Portugal who started using HomeExchange 11 years ago and never looked back! 
We live in the south coast of Portugal, a place famous for its sunny beaches… but with a lot more to offer. We love birdwatching, riding our bikes, playing boardgames and just exploring the world at a slower pace.
Nice to meet you!
Hi there! Welcome to the forum, hope you’ll enjoy it!
Hi Ana and Paulo! We like birdwatching and playing board games too, but, though we’re living in The Netherland, THE country to ride a bike, we prefer hiking in nature. But we do use our bikes as a meaning of transportation, of course. 
With our children, we prefer not to travel too far, but when they have moved out, we might go further away. Portugal might be on our list. It does seem like a beautiful country.
Hi Trenke! Nice to meet you here!
Although Portugal is not great for riding bikes, the southwest coast is very nice for hiking, especially in the cooler months. I really recommend the Fisherman’s Trail, which we’ve completed some years ago, The views along the rocky cliffs of the coast are spectacular!
Right now, I’m on a mission to walk the southern coast of Portugal from one tip to the other. Only about 40kms to go!
Welcomeeeeee 
We are spending 23 days in Portugal in October – 16 in Quarteira - 3 in Porto and 4 in Lisbon - our first trip. We have recently started trying to find cooking classes in local cuisine on our European trips. If you know of any or any other tips about the Algarve I would love that
Welcome to Portugal! We hope you like it here!
October is a really nice month to visit the south, since it’s not as hot and busy as the summer. Quarteira puts you right in the middle of Algarve — halfway between the beautiful cliffs of the west coast, and the more rustic towns of the east side.
As a tip, not many people know that all lighthouses in Portugal are usually open for visitors on Wednesday afternoons (between 2 and 5pm), for free! You just have to show up. They’re really worth a visit — especially the one at Cape St. Vincent, in Sagres, which used to have the largest fresnel lens in the continent. Enjoy!
eep! that is a great tip I am so excited. WE LOVE lighthouses and photographing them thank you so much!!