HI FELLOW STEEMIANS
During my travels, I have been to quite a number of places, some with much significance and others just for the sake of traveling around. But, today, I feel like I came to an extra special destination The Edge of the World.
However, as well all know, there is no real edge of the world. The edge that I'm talking about is the archaic perception of the edge of the world before we knew the world was actually round. But, once I got there I can see why they thought it was the end!
Let me take you through my long and adventurous day...
DAY TRIP TO SINTRA
The plan for today was to take a look around Sintra and Cabo da Roca. To accomplish this we first needed to get there and I'll go through that in the steps we took
Step 1: Go to Rossio station
The station is close to the city centre so it'll be easy to get to. Look out for a Starbucks because its right at the entrance!
Entrance to Rossio station
You go up this escalator
Then you go up this one too
Step 2: Buy a Sintra day ticket
This will be more convenient when taking the bus around Sintra and to Cabo da Roca. The price itself won't be all that much cheaper but you won't have to keep taking your money out so its worth it :)
Where you can buy the ticket
The tickets cost 15.5euros each (including the 50cents for a new card)
Step 3: Board the train!
The train ride is around 30-40 min and you get off at the Sintra station. It'll be easy to know when to get off, just follow everyone else!
All aboard!
Step 4: Get on the 434 bus
The bus is to the right when you exit the station. Hurry because everyone else will be going to it too!
Castelo dos Mouros
If you did all the above steps properly then you'll be on the 434 going up the slope that you could never walk up. After about 15-20min on the bus you'll come to the stop for Castelo dos Mouros. This is the first major stop after getting on the 434 and a lot of people will be getting off so just follow them.
There is a ticket off right next to the bus stop where you can buy tickets for the Castelo dos Mouros and Pena Palace. There is a 5% discount if you purchase them together so be sure to do that!
<The lower price is for the Castelos dos Mouros and the other is for the Pena Palace.
The Castelo dos Mouros (The Moors Castle) is a ruinous castle that is set amidst the lush forests of the Serra De Sintra and is a popular tourist attraction of Sintra. The Castelo dos Mouros was established during the 9th century by the North African Moors to guard the town of Sintra but it fell into disrepair after the Christian conquest of Portugal. The castle was restored in the 19th century by King Ferdinand II, who transformed it into a romantic ruin and a major feature of the gardens of the Pena Palace. The castle retains the charm of an ancient ruin, with dense forest surrounding the crumbling battlements that offer spectacular views over the Sintra region.
A scale model of Castelos dos Mouros
The entrance!
Where's Peter?!
@kellykim peekaboo!
So bright I can't open my eyes
A short meal to wrap up this part
Pena Palace
After you've had a good look over Castelo dos Mouros you can exit the area and start heading up to the Pena Palace which is about a 10min walk uphill. You can take your time going up since it is pretty steep but just keep in mind that the hike will be worth it. Pena Palace is one of the most beautiful buildings I have seen up till now, it was so colourful and bright that it looked like something out of a fairytale.
A little more extensive overview
The Palacio Nacional da Pena is one of the finest tourist attractions of Portugal and exemplifies the 19th century Romanticism style of architecture. The palace is a hedonistic mix of vividly painted terraces, decorative battlements and mythological statues, all of which stand at stark contrast to the lush greens of the forests that encircle Pena. The interior of the palace is equally as fascinating, being restored to reflect the decor of 1910, when the Portuguese nobility fled to Brazil to escape the revolution. The forested park lands that surround the palace continue the Romanticism design ideals of the palace, with hidden pathways, ornate features and stunning view points.
@kellykim says hello
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A cold beer to refresh
Time to head over to Cabo da Roca
Right outside Pena Palace is the stop for the 434 bus. It comes every 15min and you have to take it all the way down to Sintra again so you can catch another bus, the 403. It'll be the to the right when you exit the bus, you just have to walk a couple of metres down for its stop.
The Sintra day pass will over the cost of the 40min bus ride there. If you're tired then I suggest you take a nap on the bus to recuperate.
The scene when you arrive will be Cabo da Roca will truly make you feel like you're at the edge of the world. A wide open ocean with nothing in the distance makes you feel so calm inside and relaxed that you just want to sit back and stare out into the sunset.
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The trip back involves a bus to Sintra from where you got off and then a train from there back to Lisbon. NOTE: Be careful since there are two trains that go to Lisbon, one goes to Rossio and one goes to Oriente. You want to catch the one that goes to Rossio so be sure to check!
The one thing I regret today is not having more time to enjoy Sintra. There were still so much more to see but I didn't get to see them!