Portugal…it was on our list and we are trying to cross off each destination on our list before we reach our two-year mark, which is scheduled for April 2009 (yeah, it has already been one year). Time goes quickly and we are realists and are aware that we may not have the opportunity to visit each destination on our
“To Do” list, but we will have fun trying.
Portugal...
We didn’t know much about the country and the more we travel the more places remind us of where we have been (maybe that just happens naturally). Portugal was a fusion of Monterey, California, Santa Barbara, and many other places we have visited in our time together. We stayed in Sintra, Portugal among the sequoia trees, which was peaceful and tranquil. We felt right at home when the scent of eucalyptus trees moved gently through the air. We stayed in a great inn and were close to everything. During our week, we visited many towns, met great people (the people of Portugal are beautifully kind, warm and welcoming) and had a fabulous time exploring a new country.
We are still very aware of what a great opportunity it has been for us to live in Europe.
Sunset from our room...
Lisbon or as the locals refer to it as... Lisboa
Lisbon
Cathedral doors in Lisbon
Cascais...coastal town 18 miles outside of Lisbon
The coast is beautiful
Lighthouse at Cabo de Roca
Mystical Sintra forests
Cascais
Robert enjoying the views in Cascais
Cascais
Old fort of sorts in Cascais
Cabo de Roca...Western most cliff in Europe
Random rental car shot...it pays to get full insurance...our car was almost stolen the first day of our trip...
Monastery in Sintra
View from the Monastery
More beautiful coastal shots
View from Cabo de Roca
So beautiful...we miss the sea
Rocky coast line
Perfect flower
Pena Palace...view from our room at night
Small, narrow roads made driving in Portugal quite the experience...Great work Robert.
Another coastal town...what was the name again?
In the town of Sintra
In Sintra
Quintas de Sequoia...our inn
The inn
More to come on Portugal....
Sunset
Nice old church
Robert and Luna...Luna lived across the street from where we were staying and loved to hike with us. We could have brought Luna home!
Big shrooms in Portugal...
Amazing monastery right on the edge of the ocean
Back of the monastery
Old wall taken from the monastery
Front of the monastery
Rocky cliff
Beautiful old castle above Sintra
Melinda at the old castle
Relaxing beach
View from the monastery
Cross at the monastery
Castle shot above Sintra
More castle
Amazing butterfly
Melinda walking down the castle stairs
Pena Palace - Portugese monarchy ruled until 1910
Pena Palace...a bit Disney Worldish
Front of Pena Palace
Pena Palace...we could see the palace from our room
Lisbon
Pena Palace at night in the fog
Church in Sintra
Robert and Melinda in front of Pena Palace
