Reset search
Debra KooyDebra Kooy
SatelliteEdit route
📍 Portugal Read more Abbotsford, Canada
  • TravelerPortugal
    Day 5

    Tour Stop 2: Batalha Monastery

    Yesterday in Portugal ⋅ ☀️ 24 °C

    We could see the Monastery from a distance as we approached. This was the area where historically the Portugese army of 10,000 stopped the Spanish Army of 30,000 from getting to Lisbon to conquer that Capitol. It was impressive because based on numbers the Portugese did not think they could win the battle. The day after the battle began, the Spanish left thinking they could not win!! So the Portugese were very surprised when they could not see any Spanish and thus were victorious and held their control. The Monastery was built to commemorate the victorious battle over the Castilians and took many years. As the story goes, the architect, Mateus Fernandes built the majority of the Monastery but was losing his eyesight, so the King made the decision to replace him with another architect who finished the remaining chapel dome. The elder architect told the King he could do it, but to no avail. He was very hurt and living in the vicinity he had to listen to the continued building. The new architect completed the dome and as everyone was gathered for a mass, they all heard the crashing sounds of the chapel and dome collapsing! Several people went to the King to tell him that would not have happened if Mateus Fernando had been allowed to continue. The king approached Mateus and asked him to rebuild it. He was still hurt, but agreed to compete it. When he finished the rebuild, the King brought in
    prisoners who had been sentenced to death to stand inside to be the test subjects!! If it collapsed they would die, but if it held, they would be given their freedom. Mateus himself said he would test his.own work and sat in the middle of the chapel under the dome for 3 days. He did not eat or drink and was very frail. The dome held and is still standing today. Mateus Fernandes died a few days after his test of the dome and is buried in the Monastery.
    The architecture is Manueline, Gothic and Renaissance. It is a Unesco World Heritage sight and is truly incredible.    Read more

  • TravelerPortugal
    111
    Day 5

    Tour Stop 3: Nazaré

    Yesterday in Portugal ⋅ ☀️ 20 °C

    We drove to Nazare, a beautiful city on the sea. Jose drove us to the viewpoint to overlook the city, see the lighthouse and to tell us about "the 100 foot wave" the site is known for. It is a surfers paradise because of the size of the waves they get. They break at the lighthouse and the big waves go to the right and the beach area stays calm. Jose shared that we may see some of the local women in their traditional garb which is wearing 7 skirts layered. They are just above knee length. Jose pointed out a lady so I asked.if I could take a picture so he suggested we go ask. She was adorable and game to show me her skirt layers ( white cotton base, crocheted layers and more colorful layers of cotton)and broke out I to a dance and song and then turned as she was dancing to get a few very fresh, amazing tasting cashew, almond and corn nuts from her stand and handed them to me to try. She promptly asked which size of box I wanted to purchase. A very smart woman!! Her products were so tasty so we all bought from her😁. We walked down to see the lighthouse and view of the city and beaches.
    A beautiful area.    Read more

  • TravelerPortugal
    Day 5

    Tour: Fatima, Batalha,Nazare& Obidos

    Yesterday in Portugal ⋅ ☀️ 26 °C

    We walked to meet our tour guide, Jose. We were the only 4 on this tour and we travelled in a newer electric van. Jose was a very nice man and his English was excellent. We drove just under 2 hours to Fatima so had time to chat with him and ask questions. This post will focus on Fatima, the location of the older Basilica de Nossa Senhora do Rossario de Fatima and the newer Basilica da Santisimma Trinidade. This is the site where thousands of people flock to each year to celebrate the dated of the apparition of the Lady of the Rosary on the 13th of each month from May to October. This is based on the the 3 children who were witness to her apparition and she told the children to be devout to God and to return each month on the 13th for 6 months. Now people will make the pilgrimage to visit the site. Many will light a candle for loved ones, others walk or crawl down a specific white strip on the concrete praying or setting/thinking of a specific intention. The old and new Basilicas were each impressive in their own way. They were preparing for the night procession o. The 12th and the Celebration of the Apparition of the Lady of the Rosary on the 13th. The brother and sister who saw the apparition were buried in the Basilica on one side and the 3rd child, who lived to an adult and became a nun is also buried in the Basilica on the other side.Read more

  • TravelerPortugal
    Day 4

    Lisbon: Baixa, Chiado Walking Tour

    May 9 in Portugal ⋅ ☀️ 30 °C

    We started our morning packing up and moving from our Airbnb to our Hotel. We had a great coffee and Custard tart while waiting for Priya. Once she arrived we walked to the start of our tour. Ricardo was our tour guide. We went to the most of the squares in the Chiado area, we saw the tram that goes from lower to upper Baixa. It is a very steep street. We visited a Moorish church, a church which supported the inquisition such as the execution of witches and Jewish or other people who would not convert to Christianity, as well as the church for which the Pastor supported all people of color. We saw the location of the execution of King Carlos and his first son, the location of the first newspaper and the park named after the inventor of newsprint. We saw the locations of Free Masons and the effects of the 1755 earthquake. We learned of the gold and silver streets with the Roman Galleries which were escape tunnels. The Jewish homes also had escape tunnels from under their homes and many buildings had these as well. Near the Santa Justa Lift (created by a classmate of the creator of the Eiffel Tower, thus why it has a similar style) was the abandoned Convent (now has a museum inside) there is a famous Portugese poet who wrote his poems from his balcony. Our tour guide sometimes plays him for special events because of his likeness to him!!Read more

  • TravelerPortugal
    1
    Day 4

    Lisbon: Tastes & Traditions Food Tour

    May 9 in Portugal ⋅ ☀️ 30 °C

    We finished our walking tour this morning and went back to our hotels to check in and meet Joanne for our afternoon food tour. Our tour guide Cecilia, was very knowledgeable and eager to share the History and cultural significance of Portugese food. Our stops supported local, small businesses, some of which have been around for many years.

    Stop 1 at Confeitaria Ilacional was for espresso and pastry buns

    Stop 2 at Solar Da Madalena was for marinated pork buns with piri piri oil and mustard

    Stop 3 at Gin Jinha Sem Rival de Eduardio was a Porrugese drink called Gin Jinha which is cherries in liquor
    Abilio - 50 years serving this cherry liquor in this location
    A nossa = cheers 

    Stop 4 at Manteigaria Silva was the salted, cured Bacalhau cod and we tried a Portugese pork meat similar to proscuitto. It comes from black pigs who only eat acorns the last several wèeks before slaughter.

    On the way to the next stop we saw the university students doing their celebratory walk through the streets dressed in their uniforms singing, cheering

    Stop 5 was the Trobadores Taverna Medieval Restaurant.  Medieval Storytellers would frequent this incredibly old restaurant. We had a unique dinner trying a "fake" pork sausage originated by the Jewish people so they could make it look like they were Portugese and eating regular pork sausages. The sausages were made with white meat and bread. We also tried Baukhla cod with potatoes and another pork dish.

    Stop 6 at caso Do Bacalhau Da Ribeira was for tins of Portugese sardines as a gift from our guide. 1853 canning was started in Portugal for sardines, octopus, cod, tuna.

    Stop 7 at Manteigaria was for Portugese custard tarts 

    Our guide ended with:
    Portugese are melancholy people who have lived through so much.
    Salty sea,  how much of your salt are tears from Portugal

    Other info shared
    Lisbon has Neo-Manuelina 19th century revivalist architecture from 16th century architectural style in Sintra and Lisbon

    Manuelina style in Sintra is from the 16th century

    Lisbon is where the river dies and the ocean is born    Read more

  • TravelerPortugal
    1
    Day 3

    Tiles, glass windows & patterns

    May 8 in Portugal ⋅ ⛅ 28 °C

    The tiles in both Lisbon and Sintra are beautiful. They are flat, but the Moorish tiles are raised with Muslim, Moroccan and Islamic influences. Many items (purses, wallets, postcards, hats, etc) are made with cork from cork trees. They remove the outer layer of cork near the bottom of the tree so they don't kill the tree and it regenerates the cork every 9 years.Read more

  • TravelerPortugal
    21
    Day 3

    Day Tour Stop 2: Pena Palace

    May 8 in Portugal ⋅ ⛅ 27 °C

    The ride and remaining walk up to this Palace was steep. The horses back in the day had their work cut out for them pulling carriages and supplies. The people who had to walk would have been in great shape. It is a beautiful Palace and the views were fantastic. We could see across to the Moorish Castle that we were looking up at from Sintra. The triton over the entrance to the Palace was sure interesting. Many of their animal portrayals on the outside of the building were quite funny. The lion looked like a monkey and the snakes were cartoonish, not daunting at all!! The colors on the Palace are not original and were done without permission of the government, a no no. There is some interesting history if you look up Pena Palace in Sintra.Read more

  • TravelerPortugal
    212
    Day 3

    Day tour to Sintra Stop 1: Regaleira

    May 8 in Portugal ⋅ ☁️ 28 °C

    We had a great sleep and were up at 6:30 to get breakfast and Uber to the meeting spot for our tour day. We found our guide easily and we had two guides b/c one was training. We were a small group of 8. One of the couples was from Quebec City. We had a nice lunch of tapas with them and learned that they both work in Cancer Research🥰
    Our tour centered in Sintra, the location of the Moorish Castle Sintra National Palace, Moorish Castle, Regaleira (inverted, initiation and inverted well) and Pena Palace.

    On the way to Sintra, we saw the Aquaduct which survived the big earthquake b/c it was newly built.  It was used until 60's. A story shared was about a
    serial killer who threw btwn 50-70  people over the aquaduct. The police thought these people committed suicide.
    But police saw him commit the crime one day. He threw a person over the side of the aquaduct.  He was the last to be executed. They kept his head to study his brain. His head is in the Univ museum. The aquaduct is now a museum.

     A castle is a fort to protect something
    A palace is considered a house,  like a mansion

    Sintra is the location where the Royal Family came to their summer Palace. This made it a popular place for people to travel to.

    Sintra is Unesco World Heritage Site

    9 gates in 1999 with Johnny Depp. The movie takes place inside Beister House in Sintra

    Dante's Divine Comedy poem describes how one goes through hell, pergatory and paradise.

    The inverted well reflects this and has 9 levels of hell. Each level representing a different sin.

    There was a Secret Society of free masons. To belong one needed 3 things.

    Luigi Manini, one of the well creators, wanted to be part of the society and needed 3 things to belong:
    Proof of importance, $ and ritual (well). Antony, his partner, who was very brilliant creatively, had the $ (millions from gold, silver, coffee) which was why Luigi paired with him on this venture.
    Their goal, together, was to build a perfect society

    9 is close to perfection which is 10, but you can never reach it. Everything they did relates to the #9

    9 levelsx15 steps = 135 (1+3+5=9)

    27 m deep (2+7=9)

    9 floors in well

    3 tunnels exits

    Steps on water at the end, to prove you could walk on water.
    The free masons saw this well as a rebirth going through 9 months of birth then finish on the water and emerge reborn.
    It starts with an entrance in the North on the dark side and emerges in the South or light side

    There are many nautical symbols in the architecture because of the proximity to the sea ( port holes for windows, knotted rope, shells, fish, etc)

    We walked the 45 minutes back to our Airbnb and on the way found a nice restaurant to eat and enjoy a drink.    Read more

  • TravelerPortugal
    2
    2121213
    Day 2

    Arrival in Lisbon

    May 7 in Portugal ⋅ ☀️ 28 °C

    We had a great flight from Montreal to Lisbon. Anthony's milestone passes afforded us the comfort of the Business Class Pods, though neither of us slept!!
    We got as far as the customs lineup and Anthony realized he left his bike helmet on the plane😱Back he ran and luckily was able to get back on the plane to retrieve it. We got through customs and on to the Uber/Bolt pick up area and had a comfortable, albeit, long ride in a luxury Chinese brand electric car. We got stuck in an area of one-way, narrow and very steep streets with a backlog of vehicles. That was easily an hour of just sitting and slowly easing a few inches. We found our Airbnb in the Moorish area of Lisbon just off the city center. It is quaint and cozy. We had a quick power nap then walked to explore our area and locate our Hotel for the 9th-11th. As we walked we located the Santa Justa Lift. It connects the lower streets of Baixa with the higher and the site of an abandoned Convent, an invaluable part of Lisbon's public transport network. In 1882 its construction was approved. It was built from an age when wrought iron was not just a construction material but also an elegant art form. The exterior structure is decorated with neo-gothic arches and geometric patterns. We did not want to wait in line to pay to go up so we walked up the streets to the platform at the top to take photos of the city landscape and convent building. We had some great music by 2 musicians while we looked around. We walked back down to the center below and found the Portuguese Custard Cream tarts, a local Pastry and we enjoyed some Gelato. We easily found our way back, stopping for a few breakfast items to eat as we take in a tour to Sintra, Pena Palace and Regaleira tomorrow.Read more

  • TravelerPortugal
    1
    Day 1

    YVR to YUL ( Montréal)

    May 6 in Canada ⋅ ☀️ 18 °C

    Uneventful flight to Montreal where we had a 1/2 hour delay. We had time for a drink and a meal in the lounge and to watch some planes take off into the sunset. Lisbon here we come!

Join us:

FindPenguins for iOSFindPenguins for Android

  • 2024© FindPenguins
  • Home
  • About us
  • Blog
  • Group Tracking
  • Press
  • Terms
  • Privacy Policy & Cookies
  • Support
  • Legal notice
  • English