We took the train out of Lisbon for a day trip west to Sintra. I expect the photos will speak for themselves, suffice to say that what we saw today was breathtaking. In particular the Castelo de Mouros (Moorish Castle) and the Palacio Nacional de Pena (Pena National Palace) were amazing. I've upload a small sample of Marias excellent photographs ... Again the colours are spectacular.
We had some good advice from our helpful hotelier today about food too. He told us which areas to avoid (tourist trap food) and told us we just 'had to' try some particular little tarts from a bakery in one of the narrow, steep back alleys of Sintra.
So as well as being immersed in ancient architecture we jumped head first into Portuguses food today too. For lunch we had grilled sardines and baked codfish (shredded with tomato and potato) and washed it down with the unbelievably refreshing sangria, of which we drank a full jug. Mmmmmmmmm.
Then for desert we found the recommended bakery, I had the obligatory coffee (standard issue good quality espresso), and we ordered a couple of said tarts as well as a standard Portuguese custard tart. After you've had these it's hard to imagine every eating a custard tart back home again, as good as they are they pale compared to the real thing.
For amateur foodies like us, a great afternoon. After I emerged from the bath (yes our daily habit is to soak in the tub before dinner) Maria announced that we're going Italian tonight ... For her and me now too, Italian food has a kind of 'centring' effect.
