Goodman's Journey
  • Home
  • Blogroll

Bus Driving 1-0-1

12/5/2005

1 Comment

 
Picture
5 December ’05, Monday.
If your king thought Sintra, (in Portugal) was his favorite summer retreat, then most likely (if you were a “noble”) you would feel the same way. Back in the 15th century, King John I (João), did just that and just about every king and nobleman from that time on, followed suit and built their summer palace in Sintra to be close to the King and his court. Today we had a chance to wonder through the village of Sintra, have an expensive lunch (at least for our budget), and hike and ride the hillsides to see some of the wonderful palaces of the past and present. Like most of the small villages we have been to, the streets are very narrow and the cars that do drive through them are driven by “crazy people” that are out to kill as many tourists as they can. Fortunately, most of us are quick enough to dodge out of the way at the last moment and try to live for the next village. Getting back to our lunch, we ate at a place that silver napkin holders, two dishes that you didn’t eat on, 4 glasses (3 of which we didn’t drink from), and enough silverware that we could have had our whole family with us and still had a fork or two left over. It wasn’t that we couldn’t have found another restaurant; it was that this was the only one that had anyone eating in it at the time. I started out with fish soup and then went to the main course of filet of fish. They were both really good. Louise had chicken breast stuffed with a spinach purée…it was to die for. Ok, so we eat well too… We do splurge once in awhile, but then for some reason, we get “buyers remorse” later. Go figure… Now that we have our tummies filled, we head out to get work it off. The Palácio Nacional de Sintra is written in some books as the palace of “Madonna’s Bra”, because of the unusual “chimneys” that come from the center of the building. Before this was the “Nacional” palace, it was one built by King John I (João). Then scattered throughout the hills above the town, you can see at least 10-12 more. All very individual in design, but with one thing in common…they are “grand”. The higher up the hill, the “grand-er” they get. Now we are hill walkers, but hiking these hills…we caught a bus. Let me tell you, they know that most of us want to see the other “palaces” and, they are high on the hills, and the hills are get to the top (which I now know would have taken us over an hour by foot), and then, 2 minutes to get back down. On our ride up, the driver kept his foot to the gas pedal at the floor and as we approached the hairpin corners, he would hit his horn and twist the steering wheel right and then left without a flinch…that is from him, for us, the people behind him, we flinched, held on, and at times closed our eyes. Those people that had decided to walk to the top, not only had a tough climb ahead of them, they also had to watch out for our bus. The ride down was even more exhilarating, and I would definitely walk down the next time !!! There was one couple that we came upon on the way down that ducked into a crevasse that just happened to be in a solid rock wall…I know it saved their lives. The bus mirrors were located on front of the bus, because if they had been on the side they would either be worn by the pedestrians, or have been torn off by the rocks, cars, or tree limbs we passed. Once was enough. At the top, we had two castles to see. The first one that we chose was built by the Moors in the 8th century. Built around huge rocks, it sits at the very top of the mountain, with a high wall that completely circled the top. The view from there was “forever”, and gave them the opportunity to see the “invaders” from a long distance off and thus give them time to prepare. The guard at the gate gave Louise and me a brief description of what this fortress/castle was like and then we wondered around, through, and over the total grounds. Climbing and walking along the old walls is always kind of exciting. You can let you imagination run a little (just so you watch where your next step is going…it can be quite a drop). Across to the next peak, was Palácio da Pena. This castle that was built in 1869 by King Consort (Dom Fernando II). Now this is by for the most “original” castle I have or will ever see. I really liked this one a lot. Unfortunately, we got there on a Monday…it is closed on a MONDAY. All was not lost because we were able to see the exterior, and what an exterior it was… Ferdinand was a cousin of Bavaria’s “Mad” King Ludwig (remember our trip to his castle Neuschwanstein in Bavaria…, and that castle was the one that Disney took as his castle designs for Disneyland…). Well, Ferdinand liked what he saw, but also added his own flair. I think Disney missed the better of the two castles to design from. Just my opinion… OK, tomorrow…heading south…The Algarve

1 Comment
bus tour slovenia link
10/15/2013 09:03:15 pm

u have posted very informative.i learned more things.i am also going write some post like this.

Reply



Leave a Reply.


    *Locations*

    All
    Amsterdam
    Austria
    Belgium
    Bosnya
    Canada
    Croatia
    Czech Republic
    Egypt
    England
    Estonia
    France
    Germany
    Germany Part 2
    Greece
    Hungary
    Ireland
    Italy
    Latvia
    Lithuania
    Luxembourg
    Madrid
    Mexico
    Mexico Bcs
    MX - Cabo San Lucas
    Netherlands
    Poland
    Portugal
    Scotland
    Serbia
    Slovakia
    Slovenia
    Spain
    Switzerland
    Turkey
    USA - Alabama
    USA - Alaska
    USA - Arizona
    USA - California
    USA - Colorado
    USA - Florida
    USA - Georgia
    USA - Idaho
    USA - Illinois
    USA - Indiana
    USA - Kentucky
    USA - Louisiana
    USA - Maine
    USA - Maryland
    USA - Massachusetts
    USA - Michigan
    USA - Minnesota
    USA - Mississippi
    USA - Montana
    USA - Nevada
    USA - New Jersey
    USA - New Mexico
    USA - New York
    USA - North Dakota
    USA - Ohio
    USA - Oregon
    USA - Pennsylvania
    USA - Seattle
    USA - South Dakota
    USA - Tennessee
    USA - Texas
    USA - Utah
    USA - Vermont
    USA - Washington
    USA - Wisconsin
    USA - Wyoming
    Utrecht Nl
    Wales


    *Archives*

    November 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    July 2012
    January 2012
    December 2011
    November 2011
    October 2011
    September 2011
    August 2011
    July 2011
    June 2011
    May 2011
    April 2011
    March 2011
    February 2011
    January 2011
    December 2010
    November 2010
    October 2010
    September 2010
    August 2010
    July 2010
    June 2010
    May 2010
    April 2010
    March 2010
    February 2010
    January 2010
    December 2009
    November 2009
    October 2009
    September 2009
    August 2009
    June 2009
    May 2009
    April 2009
    March 2009
    February 2009
    January 2009
    December 2008
    November 2008
    October 2008
    September 2008
    August 2008
    July 2008
    June 2008
    May 2008
    April 2008
    March 2008
    February 2008
    January 2008
    December 2007
    November 2007
    October 2007
    September 2007
    August 2007
    July 2007
    June 2007
    May 2007
    April 2007
    March 2007
    February 2007
    January 2007
    December 2006
    November 2006
    October 2006
    September 2006
    August 2006
    July 2006
    June 2006
    May 2006
    April 2006
    March 2006
    February 2006
    January 2006
    December 2005
    November 2005
    October 2005
    September 2005
    August 2005
    July 2005
    June 2005
    May 2005
    April 2005
    March 2005
    February 2005
    January 2005
    December 2004
    November 2004
    October 2004
    September 2004
    August 2004
    July 2004
    June 2004
    May 2004
    April 2004
    March 2004
    February 2004
    January 2004
    December 2003

© 2018 Amy Croson, LLC