Sintra

[John 2]

While we were in Portugal, we visited a small mountain town called Sintra. It is known for being the place where the Royals had built their Summer Palaces in the years prior to the May 1926 Revolution when Salazar created the Republican dictatorship. Its attraction is its position in the mountains northwest of the capital making it a few degrees cooler in the summer. It boasts about five palaces and a Moorish Castle. I had visions of a hop on - hop off tour which in fact it was but hadn't realised that after you "hop off", you still have to emulate a mountain goat to get to the actual Palace/castle. Didn't help that the temperature was 35deg (yes I know that nothing to some of you but I'm acclimatised to the UK). The images below are of and around the Moorish Castle and you can see that unlike most castles in the UK, the battlements follow the contours of the land and so even when we finally got there, the climbing didn't stop. Plenty of exercise but a great day out though. If you are in the area, don't miss it.

1. A shot of the castle from the second destination of the day just to illustrate its position in relation to the coastal plain. If you can find it, somewhere, my hat is winging its way down on the wind.


2. Once in the Castle, it was a climb up to the Battlements (those Moors must have been fit!)


3. Four image panorama. The next destination is the tower on the horizon.


4. The route along the battlements. Only about three foot wide with a shear drop to the inside. Health and safety...huh! You can see what I mean just above the rock in the FG.


5. The last mile was definitely the longest mile.


6 But the view was worth it - Sintra, down below.


7. Next destination and another climb.

[deetheturk]

Wonderful series John, I'll bet your legs were aching after that climb!

[John 2]

Jellyfied - if that's a word.

[Shadowman]

Nice series.

[ST1]

Good series, thanks for reminding me of the walk around that castle and Sintra John

[IzzieK]

Wonderful journey...I probably wouldn't want to go up that steep top....or I will be sleeping all day and a half after. Is the colour of your hat orangy or brownish in colour???

[bnnrcn]

Beautiful and very interesting set John, thanks for sharing

[John 2]

Thanks all for your comments.

Peter, your welcome. I'm sure your memories are good. It's a place worth seeing and I know we enjoyed it.

Izzie, me too. The following day was a very quiet day by the pool.

[Ziggy]

Very nice, thanks for the tour.

[John 2]

You're very welcome Jim.