Days 30-33: Part 2: Lisbon to Sintra and back
Disclaimer: All voyages in this blog are being taken safely in the comfort of our imaginations - based on our plans and intentions for travel in 2020. What is reality after all?
Following on from Part 1, on Sunday we again arranged to meet Rita and Tiago in Sintra. We walked across to Rossio to pick up the train - about a 50 minute ride north and west to this hilly and historic town.
The train arrived at the main station in Sintra:
where we met Rita and Tiago and some friends:
We marvelled (again) at the azulejos covering the station's walls:
before heading off for a walk:
Very quickly, discussions arose as to which way we should go (and we became the terminally bewildered):
but directions were settled and off we went on the roads (paths really) less travelled:
We could see the faux castles on the peak, and the various towers looming above the trees:
We soon encountered what are called the 'Moorish walls' (whether they are or not) and posed in various forms of silliness:
But down again, passing more tiles on walls:
and houses:
- so much so that we can only collage some of the street signs:
We could see the Royal Palace and other buildings downhill in the distance:
but had been here before (when we also met Rui Junior here ... again in those prehistoric times). This time, we were on a different trail - different tourism. That involved lunch:
and of course more tarts:
In the afternoon, we headed off on our own (having worn out our local guides) and found a tramway (thanks Marie Brennan for the tip-off):
An old historic tram (sort of like our fabled toy tourist trains - only a bit more 'authentic'):
took us about 13 km to the seaside to Praia das Maçãs - through a rollicking, jolting ride on a quaint journey through the winding hills - for 3 euros each one way:
After a quick wander around there:
we were ready to head back. There's apparently just one tram, on a 50-60 minute timetable - so went to the terminus again and waited for it:
Back in Sintra, we found our way back to the train station (that's always a miracle):
and headed back to Lisbon and to rest.
Tomorrow we hope to catch up with another old friend and see a little more before departing for Coimbra on Tuesday.
Following on from Part 1, on Sunday we again arranged to meet Rita and Tiago in Sintra. We walked across to Rossio to pick up the train - about a 50 minute ride north and west to this hilly and historic town.
The train arrived at the main station in Sintra:
where we met Rita and Tiago and some friends:
We marvelled (again) at the azulejos covering the station's walls:
before heading off for a walk:
Very quickly, discussions arose as to which way we should go (and we became the terminally bewildered):
but directions were settled and off we went on the roads (paths really) less travelled:
We could see the faux castles on the peak, and the various towers looming above the trees:
We soon encountered what are called the 'Moorish walls' (whether they are or not) and posed in various forms of silliness:
But down again, passing more tiles on walls:
and houses:
- so much so that we can only collage some of the street signs:
We could see the Royal Palace and other buildings downhill in the distance:
but had been here before (when we also met Rui Junior here ... again in those prehistoric times). This time, we were on a different trail - different tourism. That involved lunch:
and of course more tarts:
In the afternoon, we headed off on our own (having worn out our local guides) and found a tramway (thanks Marie Brennan for the tip-off):
An old historic tram (sort of like our fabled toy tourist trains - only a bit more 'authentic'):
took us about 13 km to the seaside to Praia das Maçãs - through a rollicking, jolting ride on a quaint journey through the winding hills - for 3 euros each one way:
After a quick wander around there:
we were ready to head back. There's apparently just one tram, on a 50-60 minute timetable - so went to the terminus again and waited for it:
Back in Sintra, we found our way back to the train station (that's always a miracle):
and headed back to Lisbon and to rest.
Tomorrow we hope to catch up with another old friend and see a little more before departing for Coimbra on Tuesday.
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