A glass of red wine in the sunset

Small moments • True gems • Real Portugal

Summary

December 2025 · Praia Azul, West Coast of Portugal

Price for a glass red wine: €1.25

Many people carry a glossy image of Portugal with them.

Endless holidays, long lunches, no worries.

The truth is that most of the time, life here is just everyday life.

And then, once in a while, you stop and notice where you are.

Like today.

Late afternoon at a small, local place by the beach.

A few locals, a few neighbours, people visiting to enjoy the sunset.

No music, no concept, no effort to impress anyone.

Just the Atlantic, the light, and the end of the day.

I live in an area where tourism hasn’t taken over.

Restaurants are simple. Cafés are honest.

Nothing is staged to look “cosy” or “authentic” — it just is.

That’s something I’ve come to appreciate deeply about Portugal.

What you see is what you get.

And then there’s the moment you order a glass of house red wine.

You watch the sun drop into the Atlantic.

And when you pay, it’s €1.25.

Not because it’s a bargain.

But because that’s simply how things still work here.

This is a small moment.

But it says a lot about the Portugal we live in.

Jorgen/Living on the West Coast of Portugal

Small moments • True gems • Real Portugal

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