Hi Readers,
Well today was very different from the previous 9 days on tour. Rather than wander around the streets we took a few trains and buses and headed to a nearby city called Sintra that is a major tourist hub. Castles, Palaces, you name it, Sintra has it.
Firstly, we had to learn how to use the local subway, and after 10-15 minutes we had it nailed and we were on our way.
A lot of our research into our trips says to use public transport wherever possible, otherwise you'll spend most of your days just walking around. Today proved that. We had our transport plan well organised ( or should I say, Jen did!!) and it paid off big time.
In little more than an hour after leaving our digs we were at Sintra and ready to explore.
The thing that greeted us first was the sheer size of the castle, and then the sheer size of the mountain under it!!
We could have chosen to walk the two km's to the top, but we wimped out and took the shuttle buses, and were glad that we did.
Speaking of shuttle buses, something that has stood out wherever we go is that people just push in wherever they can, regardless of where you are in a queue.
For example, today we were near the front of a queue to get on a bus when this Chinese woman rushed past me at the last second to get in front of me. The queue gradually grew and there were about 30 people behind us. A few minutes later she started beckoning to two other friends in the distance who started walking towards us. As they got closer, one of them started supporting the other as it didn't appear that she could walk properly.
They very quickly shuffled in front of us despite me not moving an inch to let them in, and within 5 minutes the one who could not walk was moving around very freely. Fast forward 30 mins and we are getting off the bus and there is a bit of a rush for some reason. As I was approaching the door I caught the 'lady who couldn't walk' out of the corner of my eye rushing for the door and pushing people around. I quickly stepped in front of her and blocked her path, then deliberately got off as slowly as I could, all the while making her exit as slow as possible.
Not nice I know, but by this time I'd had a hurtful of people just pushing wherever and whenever they could without any fuss whatsoever.
Once inside the castle and Palace there was even more climbing to do, and it became clear very quickly which tourists caught the shuttle and which ones walked from the base!!
Now this is where things started to become tricky. Jen has dodgy knees ( and I could be put in the same basket after so many ops, but they are good at the moment) and I am terrified of heights.
I could be accused of getting scared standing on a bath mat!!
When we started scaling the castle walls, I had no problems whatsoever with the effort as I try to stay reasonably fit. On the other hand, Jen found the really steep ones a bit hard on her legs. But when it became really steep and high, Jen kept sailing along while I tended to go super slow and hug the walls, much to the amusement of other tourists.
So, we spent a few hours going up and down castle walls, each of us attending to our own little hassle in the best way we could. When we sat down to lunch ( at about 3.00 pm mind you!) we were both totally knackered and hobbled out of the cafe after our meal. Walking on rough cobblestones all day certainly does have an effect on the legs I can tell you.
After getting back to our digs we were both ready to crash and rest as we had been on the go all day, but I just couldn't help myself. I had to throw the runners on and go and pound the nearby hills for an hour, because walking all day just doesn't seem like exercise to me. I have to go and do 'real' exercise and get the aerobic levels up.
I know, call me obsessive, but that's just how I am.
And I felt great afterwards!!
At the beginning of the Moorish Castle in Sintra.
Beautiful blue skies at the Moorish Castle.
Yep, today's obligatory selfie!!
Looking over Sintra from the castle.
Getting ready to climb to the top.
Part of the walls that we climbed around.
The steepness of the walls, combined with the fact there are very few handrails on the side that also has a long drop scared the life out of me.
A very awkward moment occurred when a lady had to let us pass on a very narrow section. She clung to the wall while we edged around her, with a very long drop behind us. Jen accused me of groping her...innocent!!!!
Jen is nearly to the top.
Looking over Sintra.
These people had me panicking. There was a massive drop just over this wall, the bravest I could be was going as far as the second last level!!
Looking across to the Pena Palace which we went and visited as well.
The view from the top of Moorish Castle.
Part of the Pena Palace.
The amazing colours if the Pena Palace against a brilliant blue sky.
A double treat, another selfie!!
The Pena Palace.
A jet flying over the Pena Palace. That is one thing that is amazing in Europe, at any time one might see up to 7-8 jet trails in the sky, such is the volume of air traffic here.
Looking down from the Pena Palace.
Another shot capturing the colours of the Pena Palace.
Looking up towards the castle from the National Palace of Sintra.
Amazed at the range of colours and designs of the houses not just here in Sintra, but all of Lisbon.
The view from the National Palace.
The chimneys from the kitchens at the National Palace.
Sadly Readers, no sock photo today 😩
I must have been so engrossed in the heights we were scaling that I clean forgot to bring them out. And what great photos they would have been in!!
So, if you are one of the many 'Fans of the Sock', trust me that I will rectify this tomorrow.
The fog lifted today for the first time since we have been in Lisbon and we are beginning to see more of this beautiful city. Hopefully tomorrow we will see more of the ocean and bridges nearby.
Until my next post...
Cheers!!
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