Sintra (Day One)

From Porto, I caught an evening bus down to Lisbon just in time to sleep in what turned out to be a lovely hostel located right next door to the train station. I planned to catch the 7.40am train that next morning, but a case of the sleepies and an unexpected free breakfast delayed these plans, and it was more like 9.40 by the time this ass got into gear. Worth it, pancakes.

Sintra was a bit like how I can only imagine Disneyland to be. Tour groups, mindless hordes, shuttle buses. Still, as a wise man once said (me) - you're not stuck in traffic; you are traffic. Still. Hate them. Yuck.

Once you get out to whatever palace/park/castle you're going to though, things spread out and disperse. I, joyfully, returned to the trees. Sunlight!! Dirt and rocks and leaves!! Everything was beautiful, sun dappled, breeze rippled, green green green.Read more