Lisboa - Sintra

Our host said we must go to Sintra because it is very beautiful, but we knew it would be crowded. We arrived after a forty-five minute train ride to hilltops and castles hidden in a fog, huge crowds and very cool weather.

Suddenly the On-Off bus looked a good option as 'when in doubt, ride around the loop.' I bought a pashmina to ward off the wind and away we went. At the first three stops there were very long queues to enter the palaces and gardens ... not for us! We swapped to the red line however a section of the road was closed so the one place we had decided to visit was unavailable. In the end we had a very pleasant long drive in the country, going to Cabo da Roca on the Atlantic Ocean.

         This was a real traffic jam where the buses, cars and tuk tuks just had to be patient.

This poor collection of photos was taken as we wound our way around the bends of the picturesque forested areas. Compared with the much dryer landscape of much of the Iberian peninsula I can understand why  Sintra has been considered a very beautiful place. The Moorish Castle, the many palaces and their harmonious gardens have combined to have Sintra proclaimed a World Heritage site.

We returned to Lisbon and visited the Monumental Arch of Augusta. From the viewing area you can get a 360 degree view of the city. 

We were in the Clock Room at 5 pm when the attendant came to wind the clock and adjust the time. A fascinating process.

The Lisboa Story is a visual display with personal headsets to follow the history of Lisbon. The most interesting part was the story of the 1755 earthquake which destroyed the city,  and the subsequent re-building. Portugal was once a mighty power with their sea exploration, especially in India and Brazil.

And to finish off, a little bit of local culture and more wine tasting.