I'd say Quinta da Regaleira it's a place that leaves you with a lot of questions and no answers. Composed of a neo-gothic ornate mansion, and gardens filled with symbolism, it could be just a way for the wealthy to satisfy their eccentric tastes or maybe a bit more than that. I like to think … Continue reading Sights of Portugal: the mysterious Quinta da Regaleira, Sintra
We were admiring the interiors of Pena Palace when a really nice lady from the staff monitoring and safeguarding the tours told us our tickets also included a visit to the Chalet that was built specifically for Edla, the second wife of king Ferdinand II. We weren't aware of such fact. She said "it's just … Continue reading Sights of Portugal: Countess Edla’s Chalet in Sintra
There is a lot more to Sintra than its palaces and castles. One even has the feeling that land has indeed something supernatural to it, but I'd say it's just that Nature is so abundant, so healthy, so green, that you feel you're walking in a magical land, that was indeed gifted with fertility and … Continue reading Sights of Portugal: the ethereal Pena’s Natural Park, Sintra
You may be lost in the beauty of Pena Palace while you explore its grounds, trying to absorb every single detail, romanticising about the times when Kings and Queens stepped on the same grounds and potentially admired the same sights. But while you walk through its verandas and terraces, your eyes will eventually turn and … Continue reading Sights of Portugal: the Castle of the Moors in Sintra
In an attempt to try to stay sane one must take advantage of the few (but yet existent) possibilities. As any returns to normal travelling might be difficult to foresee, as the future remains cloudy, I must try to preserve any remains of mental health. Many have heard of Sintra. The first time I visited … Continue reading Sights of Portugal: Pena Palace in Sintra
Green lands contrasting with the blue sky. The photo was taken from the top of the Castle of Montemor-o-Velho, a little town in central Portugal. The streets were deserted on a Sunday afternoon, as the sun was also a bit shy.
As the year advances, the less likely it seems I’ll be able to get on a plane to travel for the simple joy of it before the end of 2020. I might as well accept it and get over it. However, I found myself getting excited with the new opportunity of spending this time in … Continue reading Sights of Portugal: Passadiços do Paiva
Lately, I have been paying more attention to my surroundings. Going for walks in places already familiar after being away for a long time, has given those places a different mystery. It's like I'm re-reading a book with a different age. Having lived and experienced more. You always find little details you didn't see before. … Continue reading Plants by the sea
With this situation, most of us have felt for the first time what it is to have our freedom taken away. I've been lucky enough that I didn't have to live during war times or under a dictatorship. Born and raised in democratic countries, educated to believe in freedom of movement within Europe, spoiled with … Continue reading Constants
Lisbon, or Lisboa in my language, is one European city that has been getting a lot of buzz in recent years. The capital of my country was always perceived as the big city in my mind. The place where I was going in school trips to visit museums, palaces, convents and so on. Basically, the … Continue reading Lisbon, 2014
