TRAINS, TROLLEYS and TAXI CABS
Excursion to Sintra, the quaint town in the hill’s beyond Lisbon and a UNESCO World Heritage site. The Sintra Palace once served as the summer home of Portuguese royalty. Our guide was Annabella, who we all thought would be a great EF tour guides handling kids. Directive would be a good word to describe her. She steered us towards a pastry shop and then almost got into an argument with Roberta over which pastry was best. I ended up going with her suggestion only because Roberta's had almonds in it.
After Bica and pastries in Sintra, we took a trip down the hill to the Atlantic Coast. Several of our group were disappointed that we didn’t have more time in this area, so Roberta gave us the option of staying in Cascais and taking the train back to Lisbon, or going back on the bus with her. Most of us stayed in Cascais for a new adventure. that would have never happened on an EF tour.
More narrow streets. I like the wave effect.
Our lunch view.
and of course, tourists (Ceil, Bev & Julie) with their feet in the Atlantic.
The trip back went very well considering none of us new what the heck we were doing and it was "rush hour". We had to change trains about 2 stations after Cascais, but the next trip was right behind us.
We got off in Belem and attempted to find the Starbucks. After significant walking, we did. It was right across the street from the Monsteiro dos Jeronimos, one big-honking church built in 1502. Barbara, Carol, Pat & I went in to the Church, prayed for World Peace. When we came out the monastery and museum was closed, so we headed back to Starbucks. Met up with Julie, Karen and Jennifer and decided to tag along with them to find a place to eat. They guided us to the trolley, which we rode to the end of the line and then walked up hill to the Barrio Alto to eat. I almost thought I wouldn't make it. Ceil and Virginia took pity on me and stuck with. Which almost got Ceil hit by an ambulance when it when up on the sidewalk to get around the traffic that wasn't moving out of it's way. The 7 of us ate at a very nice sidewalk cafe and were given mega-attention by the waiters. Although I didn't have it, this was my introduction to Garlic Soup, which I had several times following. After dinner, Julie, Karen and Jennifer hung around and took the metro back to our hotel. Ceil, Pat, Virginia and I completed our multi-mode of public transportation with a cab ride.
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