Registrations are open for Stephen’s Travel Writing Course in the Algarve: https://stephenpowellauthor.com/travel-writing-course-in-the-algarve

Check out Stephen’s book “Walking Europe's Edge - Reflections on Portugal”: https://www.silverwoodbooks.co.uk/walking-europes-edge-by-stephen-powell

In this episode, we sit down with former Reuters journalist Stephen Powell at his home in the Algarve to discuss his incredible journey walking the entire length of Portugal. Stephen shares his path from acting aspirations to global journalism, and why he decided to write "Walking Europe's Edge" after hiking 1,500km through Portugal's lesser-known interior.

Discover fascinating stories about unique Portuguese towns, hidden Muslim history, and what motivated this Welshman to make Portugal his home after Brexit.

Takeaways

Before his 27-year Reuters career, Stephen originally wanted to be an actor but chose journalism after traveling the world for two years

Stephen decided to walk Portugal's interior rather than coastal areas to discover places most tourists never see

The Douro Valley's beauty is partly natural but also man-made, with thousands of laborers shaping the terraced vineyards

Tomar brands itself as the town of Knights Templar - Portugal's king simply renamed them when the Pope abolished the order

Mértola celebrates its Muslim heritage and has a museum showing cultural similarities between southern Portugal and Morocco

A unique Sufi warrior monks settlement once existed near Aljezur - the only one in Europe

Brexit was a major factor in Stephen's relocation to Portugal in December 2019

Stephen found Portuguese bureaucracy challenging but values the cultural differences

Chapters

00:00 Introduction & Stephen's background

00:41 From acting aspirations to journalism

01:49 Two years of world travel

03:52 First radio journalism experience

05:41 27 years at Reuters as global correspondent

09:42 Transition to writing travel memoirs

11:07 The Caucasus calling - first book

15:05 Why walk the length of Portugal?

16:50 Walking tradition in travel writing

19:32 Focusing on Portugal's interior

20:03 Most memorable places: Douro Valley

22:36 Tomar and the Knights Templar

25:25 Mértola and its Muslim heritage

27:22 Sufi warrior monks near Aljezur

30:53 Brexit's influence on relocating to Portugal

32:44 Moving just before COVID lockdown

35:30 Comparing Portugal to other relocations

37:30 Advice for people relocating to Portugal

38:33 Cultural differences in efficiency and service

39:54 Portuguese bureaucracy challenges

41:58 Stephen's travel writing retreat

43:48 Rural depopulation in Portugal

45:44 Decline of traditional Portuguese industries

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