Sintra
- pirre
- 15.6.2018
- 3 min käytetty lukemiseen
So, I'm back in Lisbon. This time it's time to search out the secrets the city has been hiding from me until now.
The first thing on my list was to visit Sintra. After traveling for over a month more or less by myself I figured it would be nice to let someone guide me and figure out all the stuff for me. So I booked me a tour from the hostel.
There was a bunch of us, we packed ourselves into the van and started our way towards Sintra. Our first stop in the morning was either the Moorish Castle or the Palace of Pena. I chose to go to Pena (and so did everyone else). The Moorish Castle was somehow similar to the castle I visited in Tomar, with all the walking on the wall. I wanted to do something different now.
The Pena Castle is lovely. You can see the resemblance to Neueschwanstein Castle. Before dropping us off our guide told us that both castles were actually designed by the same architect.
After seeing the castle we took a hike down the hill. I was wearing my flipflops, but I didn't let that bother me. I walked happily down the hill, slowing down at times, when there was need for that.
The paths were really beautiful climbing down the mountain. Comparing to few of the prettiest paths I walked during my Camino.
In the historical center of Sintra we walked around for a bit before heading back to the van and heading to lunch. Apparently the lunch place is a secret and surprise, so I won't spoil it here for the rest of you. I must say that the lunch really exceeded all my expectations. After the lunch we sat there for a good while enjoying some cheese and port wine.
After a relaxing break it was time to head back to the van again. We gathered ourselves and headed towards the next destination. Our guide suggested we go to Quinta da Regaleira. The garden there was a lovely maze with hidden secrets all over the place. There was statues, outdoor theaters, hidden pathways, lakes and waterfalls. I walked around, got lost and found the initiation well. From Templar knights castle a few days ago to a place where the Freemasons once held their inition rites. Such an exciting trip from historical point of view.
I stood there, on the upper level of the well just staring down. It looked amazing. The people walking up and down with their flashlights on. It was somehow stunning.
I forgot the time standing there and needed to eventually force myself out of the well and walk back to the pickup point.
Our tour continued to the western most point of the Continental Europe. It was yet another hike I wasn't really prepared for, but I was happy to get some kilometers on my feet again on an uneven ground.
The wind was blowing hard from the Atlantic and there was some very narrow places where falling down would make you fall meters down to the rocky ocean. My fear of heights was kicking in and I had to take a few deep breaths to keep myself going.
It was worth the hike. As I stood there, watching the cliffs on both sides I felt amazing. I was now at the end of the Continent. I don't usually take pictures with myself in stupid poses, but this felt like a right place and right moment to do so. (Sorry for the filters, I wasn't able to get it better than that.)
After the hike back we continued the tour to a beach, where we had a break, a few drinks and then continued our way back to Lisbon. On the way back we made one last stop in Belem so we could get ourselves the world famous Pasteis de Belem. It was very good.
When we got back to the hostel, it was time for me to change into another hostel for the night and find something to eat. After a nice dinner with someone I met on the tour it was time to call it a day.
It was a good one.
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