Perhaps one too many copo de vihno tinto, we felt a tad seedy this morning. The magnificent sunrise view from our window helped get us going though.
We had arranged for a car to take us to Sintra, so we got organized and out the door by 10. Lovely chap with excellent English drove us down the Coast stopping at Carcais - a pretty beach side town which must have lots of British expats from the number of English bars - and Cabo da Rica, the most Westerly point of Europe, some 10 kilometers more west than Finisterre. Finisterre feels more like the end of the continent though. After admiring the dramatic views of the coast, we headed off along an impossibly narrow road up to the Pena Palace, perched high on mount Sintra. Sure is a unique creation, monastry meets Disney, a dizzying collection of different styles. Grand Designs on steroids. It was super crowded on a lovely Saturday afternoon, lots of Portuguese and lots of tourists.
After a squeezy shuttle bus ride, we headed down to explore the pretty village of Sintra. A bit like Ravello, it would probably be a nice place to spend a few days. It was filled with Portuguese people having a relaxed afternoon eating pastry and drinking beer, which seem to be important national customs.
We retreated home after that, and after a rest headed out again to get Via Viagem cards - the stored value travel cards - for tomorrow. These cards have proved to be an intelligence test which so far I have failed abysmally. But hopefully I have finally cracked it and the Lisbon public transport system will be at our disposal.
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