A day in Sintra

The beauty of this trip is that we are not rushing anywhere.  We have our morning routine like we were home, the only difference is we eat breakfast at home and then we go out for our coffee. You can't beat the prices and its freshly made just for you, we sit with the locals and take our time planning the day. I take my "cafe leite" and Ed takes his double expresso €2 for both. Also you don't tip here in Portugal and for the most part in Europe. We only do it at the restaurants but 5% or rounding the bill per local advice.

                           

We walked to the Rossio train station, bought our tickets to Sintra and in 35 minutes we were there. What a beautiful town, up on the hills where the nobility used to escape. It reminds me of Carmel, CA but it has more majesty to it with the castles, villas and gardens. I can also compare this place a little but to Breckerindge, CO but with much cooler weather. A little pricey compared to Lisbon, but now it's more a touristic place. 

Rossio Train Station, even inside that station you find the cobblestones.

                   

Sintra is a very special place. Ed commented that he could see himself living here. The town has been described by poets as something out of a fairytale. Lord Byron called it a paradise.  The only place we have seen where people live at homes not apartments. Narrow streets everywhere, the bus driver needs to anticipate and showed incredible skill while navigating the narrow winding street going up the mountain. There are many single family homes with huge gardens. 

                                                           

    

Palacio Nacional de Pena - built in the 19th Century by King Ferdinand II, considered the crown of Sintra.

     

Castello dos Mouros - the Moorish castle - Impressive goes back to the 8th or 9th Century AD, restored in the 18th Century by one of the kings. It's like the Portugal wall!

                 

The furthest point west of the European continent.

                                      

Same place looking at the light house, we had a foggy day, therefore not the best pictures but spectacular views! 

                            

We walked home up the hill from the train station, Ed was having trouble keeping up, about 30 minutes at a very step incline, but we made it home.