We were very excited to have Cherry join us in Lisbon for a long weekend, and enjoyed having someone else sight-seeing with us after being on our own for so long. One day we went to Sintra - a lovely town with a Moorish castle crowning the hillside and several royal palaces. This is apparently where the royalty took their vacations and is particularly pleasant because of the lush foliage. We also went on a day trip to Óbidos - a walled village with charming white-washed walls accented with azure blue and golden yellow. After exploring the streets we sampled a local cherry flavoured liquor presented in a chocolate 'cup'.
In Lisbon itself we have explored the Castelo de São Jorge on the hill, the monastery and Torre (tower) of Belém, and the Commerce Square where royalty and ambassadors used to arrive at the city from the river. Reuben and Cherry also sampled a Portugese meal called a Francesinha. This, as Janet accurately described it, is a 'heartattack on a plate': steak, ham, and sausage sandwiched in a big bun with melted cheese poured over the top and topped by a fried egg. mm mmmmm.
It is a strange feeling to be nearing the end of our trip: we are both so looking forward to returning home, but feel sad that our much anticipated travels have nearly come to an end. Travelling is so exciting and gains you access to the most amazing places and experiences, but also comes at a cost to your personal comfort which can become quite hard after weeks on end. It will be with mixed emotions therefore that we start our journey homeward soon.
View of one of the royal palaces at Sintra - note the cool oversized chimneys for the kitchens!
Óbidos.
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