This spring I’m hosting a 5-day Travel Deeper Retreat in Porto--one of my very favorite cities on the planet. I’ve been dreaming of running this sort of retreat for ages so I’m super excited to finally be able to share the details with you!
You’ll spend 5 days in Porto far from the well-worn tourist path, exploring all my favorite hidden corners of this gorgeous, soulful city. Just FYI: I will not be guiding you around holding up a red umbrella or talking to you with a tour-guide microphone. (Because who wants to travel like that?!?!? And also a microphone headset would mess up my hair and, as I’m sure you understand, we can’t have that.) This will be a group of 6-8 like-minded adventurous ladies. Think of it as the girls-trip you’ve always wanted to take.
Now let’s pause for a minute to chat about Portuguese food, shall we?
You are going to fall hard for the soft-ripened cheeses, which rival some of the best I’ve had in France. You're going to want to stuff your suitcase with the smoky charcuterie. Then there are all the sultry wines. There’s a whole world of Portuguese wine beyond the el cheapo vinho verde that they sell at Trader Joe’s.
And the seafood! Portugal is a country that understands seafood. Like on a quasi-spiritual level. I like to think of it as a country of natural born fish-whisperers. The cod and octopus and clams and sardines in Portugal are without a doubt the freshest and most delicious I’ve ever tasted.
And last but definitely not least (if you love carbs as much as I do anyway), you won’t believe all the Portuguese bread and pastries. We're talking freshly baked loaves from little villages smelling of wood smoke and hay. And rich, eggy pastries that have been handmade in convents for the past 500 years. Your mind is going to be blown by the deliciousness of it all, sister.
Each day, we’ll also gather for what I like to think of as a Get Lit Session, designed to help you figure out what’s standing between you and your best, most fulfilling, most holy-shit-I-didn’t-know-this-was-possible life. And light a fire inside you that will guide you there.
I’ll share the tools and techniques that helped me:
Leave a job that was killing my soul
Start a successful blog
Run my own creative business
Gain more work/life balance
Lead 15 international workshops & retreats in the past 5 years
Travel more than I ever dreamed I’d be able to
Live and work abroad for 6 months this year
Stop hating my body and start feeling like the beautiful, sexy, empowered woman I am
Build a loving, rock-solid relationship with the man of my dreams
Plan even more exciting projects for the future
There’s nothing exceptional about me. (Well I am exceptionally hard-headed, but that’s as much of a hindrance as it is a help. Just ask my husband.) So if I could pull my anxious, perfectionistic, self-hating ass together to change the way I live my life and accomplish all of these things, you can too baby. Yup, you.
We’re talking big stuff here, people:
How to plug into the megawatt energy source that is your creativity (even if you don’t think of yourself as a particularly creative person)
Why pleasure and play are as important as structure when it comes to reaching your goals (And if the word “pleasure” makes you cringe, you need this one more than you know, sis.)
How to turn down the negative self talk that takes up space in your head like a troop of angry baboons
Ways to grow confidence in your beautiful, radiant, badass self
Tips for avoiding the nasty quicksand of perfectionism and comparison
Goal setting techniques that will leave you feeling like you are crushing life instead of like a massive failure who should probably throw in the towel right now and commit to a life of being a crazy cat lady in a dank basement apartment
Why authenticity and having the courage to be yourself is the key to EVERYTHING
Soooooo. If spending your days in a gorgeous corner of the world, with a supportive group of women, lighting a path to your best life sounds like something you want in your life, this retreat is for you.
And because I know you want the deets on all the fun, delicious and inspiring things we’ll be doing, here’s a full list of all the goodness I have planned for you:
Meals at my favorite restaurants featuring authentic Portuguese food
Tastings of Portuguese cheese, wine, bread and tinned fish with local experts
Trips to local bakeries to discover the world of delicious pastries that lies beyond the pastel de nata (plus a few of those too, for good measure)
A visit to the workshop of a local artisan to learn about the rich tradition of handicrafts in Portugal
A field trip to a local village so you can experience the beauty of the Portuguese countryside
Neighborhood walking tours highlighting the beautiful tiled architecture and history of Porto
Daily discussion sessions to help you get unstuck and live BIGGGGGGG
All lunches + all dinners (except for one) out at my favorite spots or cooked by myself or a local chef
One evening free to relax, recuperate or explore on your own. Gotta give our introverts the space they need to re-center and re-charge. #introvertfistbump (Don’t worry, I’ll provide recommendations for restaurants, bars and things to do for all my non-stop extraverts as well.)
Visits to some of Porto’s most unique shops and markets
5 nights of accommodation in a beautiful 19th century family home turned guesthouse, featuring modern Portuguese design
Your own spacious apartment. So you can chill when you’re tired of being around other people and get a great night’s sleep. (Unless of course you want to room with a friend/sister/mom/daughter/partner. Because sometimes time away with someone you love is even better than time away on your own.)
All ground transportation within Porto when you’re with the group
Down time every day to make sure your brain doesn’t get fried
A list of my favorite Porto spots--in case you arrive early or stay on afterwards and need a little help figuring out what to do
The sense of community and belonging that come from traveling with a small group of amazing women who share a love of travel and the desire to live deeper
Have a question? Check out the FAQ
There’s no better time than now to start investing in yourself and in your own happiness and fulfillment.
So many of us (especially women) put off nurturing ourselves until we have “more time” or “more money” or “a better plan”. ⠀⠀
Then (surprise, surprise!) that day never comes. But when you make the leap and invest in yourself, big things happen. If you hear that little voice inside you telling you you need a change, it’s time to start listening.
Have a question? Check out the FAQ
What happens next?
Click the button above and pay with credit card, debit card, PayPal or Apple Pay. Once we receive your deposit, you'll get a welcome email with further details on the trip. As we get closer to the workshop, you’ll also get:
A Portugal-inspired movie list (in case you want to get into the spirit of this beautiful city before you arrive)
A detailed packing list to take the stress out of deciding what to bring
The full itinerary of our time together so you can plan any extra activities you’d like to fit in
What past guests have to say about traveling with me
It was a very special and memorable experience. I've been dreaming about the next time I can go back to all of the wonderful restaurants Olaiya took us to. Thank you so much for all the thought and care that went into planning such a lovely time!
Katie Rogers
Food + Table
I adored Olaiya’s vision on Paris! This city that I love so much has so many beautiful corners and I feel privileged she took us to so many extraordinary places. I would highly recommend her workshop! It's prepared like a pro but still has this easy going feeling.
Griet
Antwerp, Belgium
Still on the fence? Send me a note here
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: I don't have a specific project or goal in mind to work on. Will this retreat help me?
A: Absolutely. This retreat will help you connect with your inner voice (You know the one. The little voice buried under a pile of bills and work deadlines and laundry that never leads you astray if you take the time to listen to it ). And figure out what brings you the most joy. That knowledge will help you get unstuck and start living WAY bigger. If you have something concrete you’d like to work on, that's great. If you just have a feeling you need more positive vibes and self love in your life and need help figuring out how to get there, this workshop is for you, too.
Q: I don't eat seafood. Will there be something I can eat?
A: No worries. There are plenty of other delicious options if you're not feeling the seafood vibe.
Q: I don't eat pork or drink alcohol. Is that a problem?
A: Nope. We've had several guest who don't drink alcohol or eat pork and we can make sure there will always be options for you to choose from at our group meals.
Q: I have other dietary restrictions. Will that be a problem?
A: Probably not. I want to make sure you have an amazing time in Porto and some dietary restrictions (like a vegan diet) are pretty hard to accommodate in Porto. Shoot me an email before booking to confirm.
Q: When should I arrive and leave?
A: The workshop will start with lunch on Saturday, May 23. at 12.00. So you can choose to fly in that morning. But if you can swing it, I highly recommend flying in a day or two before the workshop starts, especially if you’re coming from far away, so you won't be as jet lagged and can get more out of the first days. On the 28th, we end with a group breakfast. You might want to take the day to enjoy Porto on your own or head to Lisbon to explore. But if you need to get back then this is a good day to fly out early.
Q: What's the best way to get to Porto?
A: You can fly in to Porto directly (Francisco Sá Carneiro Airport). Or if you decide to explore Lisbon (or elsewhere) beforehand, you can rent a car and drive or take the train. Trains run often and you can book your tickets here.
Q: I'm arriving early/staying after the workshop. Can you recommend where to stay and/or things to do.
A. Absolutely! Just shoot me an email.
Q: I'm not really interested in all this "live big" or "find your inner voice" stuff. I just want to eat delicious pastries and drink amazing wines.
A: You're welcome to join us and skip the personal growth/community section of the day. But I'm gonna go ahead and say this probably isn't the right experience for you. We're going to be eating tons of delicious food and tasting some amazing wines. But you'll also be spending time each day honing your vision and figuring out how to live your best life. If you're more interested in a Portugal culinary trip, shoot me an email and I can design a custom experience just for you! :)
Still not sure this is right for you? Get in touch here
My favorite part of the workshop was seeing Paris through Olaiya's eyes. She easily navigates through the city sharing all of her favorite places whether they be patisseries, chocolatiers, restaurants, markets or shops. Many of the places she took us I had not been to before or were not on my "to-do" list. By traveling with Olaiya I was able to feel like a Parisian instead of working my way around the city in my broken French.
Michaela Hundahl
Home Dwelling
The trip for me was a measure of time that feels like a really good dream I keep going back to in the midst of to do lists and carpools.
Denice Gardner
Burlington, WA
