Nousmadic

30/08/2026

Odemira is a charming town in Portugal’s Alentejo region, set among rolling hills along the Mira River. With its historic streets, riverside landscapes and viewpoints overlooking the town, it offers a quieter and more authentic side of southern Portugal, away from the main tourist routes.

29/08/2026

Odemira, Portugal | A Charming Town We Didn't Expect to Love

Today we're exploring Odemira, a lovely little town in southern Portugal that left us with a surprisingly positive impression.

We wandered through the old town, climbed up to the windmills for views across Odemira and explored some of its quieter streets. Down by the river, there's also a purpose-built park-up that's particularly handy when you're travelling by campervan.

The town feels clean, well looked after and thoughtfully developed, with new footbridges, public spaces and plenty of signs that the municipality is investing in the area.

We came to have a look around. We left genuinely liking the place.

26/08/2026

Azenha do Mar is one of those tiny places on the Portuguese coast that feels a world away from the usual tourist hotspots.

We wandered through the village, found a couple of local restaurants, climbed up to the viewpoints and took in the spectacular Atlantic coastline. There’s also a small fishing area and a local fish-sales post operated by Docapesca.

And tucked below the cliffs, we even found a little stone beach.

Just a quiet afternoon exploring another corner of Portugal.

20/08/2026

Refilling Our GasBank Was More Complicated Than Expected! | Portugal Vanlife

Finding a petrol station with GPL in Portugal isn't always easy, and finding someone who knows how to refill a campervan GasBank can be another challenge.

Luckily, this time the man at the station knew exactly what he was doing. We struggled a little to connect the nozzle, and after some remaining gas accidentally escaped inside the van, our gas alarm suddenly went off while we were refilling.

A slightly stressful moment, but also reassuring. At least we now know our gas alarm is working perfectly!

Mission accomplished, GasBank refilled and, most importantly, we can have dinner tonight. Vanlife problems.

18/08/2026

We Couldn't Believe Our Luck in Mafra, Portugal

We arrived in Mafra on a Monday evening and somehow managed to drive straight past the palace… before accidentally finding a park-up right next to it.

And then we realised Mafra Palace is closed on Tuesdays.

What are the chances?

After a long day on the road, you might think we'd just call it a night. But arriving somewhere new always seems to give us a second wind. No matter how tired we are, there's always enough energy left to go and explore.

Another little bit of unexpected luck from life on the road in Portugal.

17/08/2026

Pastel Sunset Among the Wind Turbines

On our way towards Cádiz, we stopped near the La Castellana wind farm just as the sun was going down. The pastel colours of the sky, towering wind turbines and strange-looking pine trees created a landscape that felt almost surreal, somewhere between futuristic and dreamlike. Even the trees looked like giant broccolis.

15/08/2026

We Found Portugal's Wildlife at Lidl?! 🐐 | Unexpected Vanlife Moment

We pulled into Lidl in a small Portuguese town expecting a quick supermarket stop… and found a huge flock of goats and sheep casually wandering through the car park.

No shepherd. No countryside. Just goats and sheep passing through Lidl like they owned the place.

Portugal's wildlife? We’ll let you decide.

Another completely unexpected moment from life on the road.

14/08/2026

Cascata do Pego do Inferno, one of the Algarve’s hidden gems. A beautiful little waterfall surrounded by lush greenery, and a reminder that Portugal has plenty of wild places beyond its famous beaches.

Cascata do Pego do Inferno, one of the Algarve’s hidden gems. A beautiful little waterfall surrounded by lush greenery, and a reminder that Portugal has plen...

14/08/2026

Watching a Solar Eclipse From Our Van | Portugal

On Wednesday the 12th of August, we sat outside our van with our ND filters, staring up at one of nature’s most incredible spectacles: a solar eclipse.

From where we were in Portugal, the Sun was obscured by 97%, creating an almost total eclipse. Watching the light change and seeing the Moon slowly cover the Sun was absolutely incredible.

Sometimes vanlife puts you in exactly the right place at exactly the right time.