Wednesday, 24 February - Lisboa

Breakfast, a walk around town, packing and on the road at noon.  We dropped off the car, had our lunch and caught the plane home.  We were a bit late getting into Toronto and then had an Air Canada agent who we figured was promoted from baggage handler and could not tell kilo's from pounds.  We ended up having to repack the bags, even though they were fine in Portugal.  The plane from Toronto to Montreal was a bit late and we ended up running what seemed like a couple kilometres in Montreal.  They actually had the people sit in their seats until the connecting passengers deplaned.  When we finally got to the gate, we found out that the plane and been delayed.  It was delayed again and again with a blizzard raging outside.  We finally got home at 0230h Thursday morning instead of midnight Wednesday - 25 hours of travel!

Tuesday, 23 February - Sintra

We got up bright and early and even though Gail was insistent that she could drive up the mountain, I won out and we got a bus pass.  We took the bus up a steep and winding road to the ruins of the 9th century Moorish Castle at an elevation of 421 metres where we climbed the ramparts for spectacular views of the surrounding hills and valleys where you could see to Lisboa and the Atlantic.  On the way up we were impressed with the number of villas and manors.  Several times we caught ourselves saying could you image driving up here in the winter, and then we would remember that this was winter!  Although we were on the first bus, and did not actually see any ourselves, I am led to believe that public works picks up dead mountain goats each morning(:-)  Leaving the castle we walked 250 metres uphill where we boarded a tram for a steep climb to Pina Palace.  The palace was occupied until 1910 and then again after 1945 and remains furnished as it was in 1910 when last occupied by the Queen.   It is surrounded by hectares of National Park with what I am sure  are many wonderful monuments and places to visit, all requiring climbing.  Thankfully by this time it was chilly, so Gail was not inclined to do so.  It was hard to imagine, but the view from the palace was even more spectacular as it sits 450 metres above sea level and some 29 metres above the Moorish castle which can been seen from the ramparts.

That evening we had our WW/WL (white wine/white linen) dinner at Lawrence's.  Excellent duck with an imaginative couvert selection (appetizers) and a stimulating conversation with Carlos our server and Francesco the Maitre de Table.

Monday, 22 February - Sintra

We arrived in Sintra (just north of Lisboa) at Lawrence's Hotel around noon.  Sintra is in the mountains and has been a summer retreat pretty much for ever.  Lawrence's Hotel dates back to 1760 and is famous for the many authors and celebrities that have stayed there, including Lord Byron.  We had a quick lunch and went to visit the Regaleira, an estate built on the mountainside with pathways, ponds, fountains, tennis courts, etc.  That evening we went out to dinner at the Alcobaca restaurant and met an interesting couple from Utah.  She's an artist and he is a retired school teacher.  After dinner we went back to Lawrence's, got our books, a bottle of wine and retired to one of the many lounges to read - just like the rich.