022209portugal00.jpgGreetings from Portugal! I've been here since Tuesday attending a press event (details coming this week here and at Unplggd), spending a couple additional days in Central Portugal for always welcome personal leisure. This certainly isn't the norm in our lives, but getting away to Europe for only the second time in our lives, we'd be lying if we said we haven't cherished every dear second here on the other side of the pond.

We're writing this a few hours before making our return flight back to Los Angeles, so pardon the scant details: exploring the architectural details of a city which just emanates with historical beauty; stuffing ourselves silly with delicious confectioneries from Casa Pastéis de Belém's (puff pastry egg custards are our new favourite), all the while previewing a slew of technology lifestyle products with a panel of home, design and technology bloggers from around the world. How could I turn down an opportunity like that?

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The central coast of Portugal reminds us geographically of California's coastline (as you can see from the snapshot above from Cabo da Roca), but with an unmistakable European historical, architectural and cultural flavour that has charmed us with flirtatious ease from our first taste of Cascais seafood, to our first eye full of uniquely tile covered homes in Lisbon, and especially the undeniable pull of a coastline whose natural beauty has guaranteed a return trip.

I've got over 300 photos to scour through during the flight back so keep your eyes out this week for several posts inspired by our Griswaldian European work-cation. In the meantime, enjoy this week's hottest posts from AT Los Angeles below...