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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