From our traveling on the boat days, we’ve learned to try and keep our driving time to just a few hours each travel day so we can enjoy more time at each stop.
Heading south from Porto, we first stopped at Nazare, a seaside town that is a mecca for surfers due to the huge waves on its north shore in the winter. Since it was summer, we skipped surfing and instead kicked off our shoes and walked on pebbly sand to take pictures of beautiful cliffs that jut out to the Atlantic Ocean. Kenton started looking for a job as a “cabana boy.”
The trolley that runs to the top of the cliff was not working, so in the morning we drove up to check out the view from the plaza above. It did not disappoint!!
Our next stop was Obidos, a beautiful medieval village. We walked around, did a little tourist shopping, and had a delightful lunch in a local cafe. Then Kathy just had to try some Ginja, a cherry liquor served in a chocolate shot glass. It was amazing!
We got back on the road and headed to Lisbon. Driving in the city is exciting with the narrow, winding streets, but Kenton safely docked the car and we put our bags in the hotel and then took a walk around the very hilly Barrio Alto section of the city.
Dinner was on the terrace of a local restaurant. We enjoyed the views of the church next door and the city below (including an outdoor movie theater!). After dinner we walked further and found a very lively and friendly neighborhood restaurant at the intersection of three staircases. A friendly waiter invited us to stay for a glass of port wine and dessert. So we did!
In the morning we met a small group for a food tour around the Baixa section of the city. This area was mostly flat and we enjoyed the stories that our guide, Agathe, told as she guided us to some delicious locations.
A small square near our hotel had a band performing that evening, so it was the perfect place to have a glass of wine at an outdoor bar. Then we wandered further and stopped at a café for dinner. But the real find of the evening was when we walked by a jazz club, and the singer for the evening encouraged us to stay. The pianist and singer were fantastic and we loved the show!
Our next adventure was a group tour of nearby Sintra to visit Quinta da Regaleira and its nine-level “Initiation Well,” a reverse tower built to imitate Dante’s Inferno . It got darker as we descended the levels, but thankfully lights had been added to the tunnels below so we could find our way out.
The tour continued to the Pena Palace. Our guide, Ricardo, was delightful as he told stories and even sang a Portuguese song for us on the bus ride back to Lisbon!
We are happy to walk for miles every day, but the hills of Lisbon were exhausting, so we gave ourselves a break and took a Tuk-Tuk tour on our last day in Lisbon. Marco showed us great views, impressive monuments and the narrow streets of the Alfama area. At one point, he had to move the tuk-tuk from blocking the infamous #28 Trolley.
We walked back to our hotel, and spent our last night in Lisbon at Sacramento, a beautiful restaurant with great food and wonderfully helpful staff.
The constant energy, friendly people and lively music scene of the city are things we will never forget. Lisbon was a great adventure and we’re glad we got to visit!