Day 15:
Lisbon (Sintra)
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| Our going-away photo |
POTD: Tomorrow:
Amanhã
Weather: Sun, sun, sun: coolish in the morning up high in Sintra,
perfect the rest of the day
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| Who is the white-haired guy? |
Everybody is groggy this morning, just a bit too much food
and drink last night. That doesn’t keep THB from the fitness center or from
eating breakfast. For the first time the entire trip, someone else is in the
fitness center, and he’s riding the elliptical so THB has to shift to an exerbike.
Does it mean THB went further? Yes, it does! 8.5 miles this morning. And, the
guy on the elliptical was part of a foursome that was at Belcanto last night!
We’re off to Milan tomorrow so checked in on-line for our
flight on TAP, Portugal’s airline. OOOOPS! Check-in doesn’t work. The desk
can’t get it to work. DB calls Amex on Skype and finds out that the tickets
were never purchased (our e-mail says CONFIRMED on it). Amex does a bit of
research: there was a second booking for us, and that one was actually paid
for. Now the desk can check us in AND print boarding passes. The service here
at Bairro Alto hotel has been very good, and very friendly. They are also
packing us box lunches tomorrow for our 4:45AM hotel departure (DA and SA are leaving at 3:45AM!).
At 9:30, our group tries to regroup with Anabella and
Paulo. Wait…Paulo? Where’s Consalvo. No matter, we’re off to Sintra. It’s a
“palace” in the sky a bit northwest of Lisbon, above Sintra, The place was put
together by King Ferdinand II, a German married to the queen, in the mid-1800s.
This was their summer home, atop a hill kept cool by ocean breezes and fog and
clouds. It is unique, intentionally so, as Ferdinand decided odd and eccentric
was perfectly okay. While we’re early, there are ton of tours and tourists
here.
The castle shots:
The castle shots:
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| Statue on highest peak across from castle |
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| Note the line/butt-brush factor awaiting entrance to King and Queen quarters |
How bad was the butt-brush factor? THB got this shot of the young woman next to him in line:
After the tour, we head back to Sintra for the local
dessert specialties: a small nut tart (2) and something like an apple turnover
done in crispy phyllo dough (2, comes with a side of ice cream). With coffees
and a coke, 38E
We make brief stops to view the outside of other eccentric
buildings or vista points and proceed on to the coast through what might best
be described as the Sintra 17 mile drive loaded with big houses on a narrow
winding row.
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| It is blowing at gale force seven |
We hit another landmark: the most western point on the
European continent. It also features a gorgeous beach and high high winds (and
there are a few parasail surfers being blown around).
During the ride we find out that Anabella and Paulo speak
at least four languages each. When Anabella finds us a lovely and spectacularly
pretty seafood restaurant along the coast, we invite them to join us for lunch.
After much “are you sure…it’s not necessary” refusals, we convince them that we
do really want them to join us.
Both are delightful lunch companions, plus Anabella helps
with the ordering, Paulo is a wine expert that guides us to another excellent
Portuguese white, and the waiter keeps us from over ordering. One of the best
eating experiences on the trip, on a trip with several other dining highlights.
Back to town following the coast, with Anabella pointing
out various fun facts (e.g., where Ian Fleming wrote the first Bond book, the
Lisbon Riviera, etc.). At the hotel at 4pm to start our packing for tomorrow.
SA and DA are heading home, Paulo is picking them up at 3:45AM. DB and THB are
heading to Milan, Paulo is coming back for us at 4:45AM.
One last meal together at…. And then early to bed for our
early wake-up tomorrow. Dinner at the Mercado de Ribeira: chicken and frites and
a G&T for THB and DA, salad and tuna lightly seared and wine for DB, pizza
and a coke for SA.
The camera battery runs out!!
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| The guy with white hair is the same guy from our hotel, Belcanto, the fitness center, and now in Sintra |
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