Time to Say Goodbye

We caught the train to Sintra after finally figuring our their ticket machines...not really to hard but it helps if you actually read the directions. It was a quick trip and we arrived before lunch. We started walking as soon as we got off the train and finally sat down for some food and drink around 5:30. There are a lot of things to see in Sintra and they all seem to be uphill. We walked uphill for 45 minutes until we got to the Moorish Castle. We bought our tickets and started walking up all the stairs to the top of the castle walls...great views. Especially interesting views through the crenellations of walls when you're bent over trying to catch your breath.

From there we walked downhill a bit and then back up hill to the Palace of Pena. An interesting castle with a very eclectic architectural style. Mostly built by King Fernando II after he took it over when the monks gave it up. The whole setting had a bit of a Neuschwanstein feel to it.

After this we walked for another half hour back into town to catch a bus out to the park and palace of Montserrate. The first construction of this palace was done by Gerard de Visme, an English merchant. William Beckford rented it in the 1800s and did some major works in the gardens, which included creating a waterfall. It was finally taken over by Francis Cook who did the major work on the palace and created a very interesting garden. We found the Mexico garden the most interesting.

We ate in Sintra, caught the train back to Lisbon, did a final stroll and returned to our hotel after encounters with some very persistent and aggressive panhandlers. We've found a lot more of this is Lisbon than anywhere else on our trip.....which is quickly coming to an end.

Tomorrow we fly back to Madrid for a couple of nights before flying back to Vancouver on Thursday. On Wednesday we hope to make a day trip to Toledo.

K&M

Location:Largo de São Domingos,Lisbon,Portugal