Sintra

Tuesday 9th June 2009 We were really looking forward to going to Sintra, having seen all its lush greenery and cobbled streets on a channel 5 program earlier this year. We were therefore a bit disappointed when we arrived amid the hordes of touists and coaches to a small square where the (quite frankly) boring looking National Palace stood. However, we gamely paid our entrance fee and started to shuffle our way through various rooms followng the snaking queue of French, German, Spanish, Portugese and American tourists taking endless photos of things that they would forget the name of. After about an hour of trying to make our way out of various tour groups we decided that we hadn’t come to Sintra for this and left for some lunch. ...

Off to Portugal tomorrow. Staying at a friend’s apartment on the Westin CampoReal Golf Resort & Spa, which should be quite nice. It’s about 30 minutes north of Lisbon. [maptype=G_SATELLITE_MAP;gpxview=all] Not into golf at all, but it should still make a nice relaxing break, whilst only being a short drive from Lisbon, Sintra and the coast - all of which we’d like to spend some time in. Pretty much packed now, so nearly all set to go. ...