So I am writing tonight from my dining and lodging perch in a castle in Obidos. It is perhaps a fitting end to a day touring cruing castles, grand summer palaces and fairy tale - if a bit bizarre - gardens.
After checking out of my Lisboa hotel and sorting out the cab driver to pickup my rental car I headed just 30 minutes away to Sintra. It is a small Medieval town built in the protection of the castle above. The castle ruins are nothing special but do sit atop a rocky mountaintop. Across from the castle is the summer palace that was used until the early 1900 before the revolution. The exterior is like a crazy dungeons and dragons game with gothic gargoyles and towers mixed with the Portuguese tiles that are found everywhere. The interior reflects the modern age with an office with a ancient switchboard.
Back in the town, after another pastry and coffee break, I decided to check out one last spot as the views from the castle showed that the coast was fogged in. It was a private residence built by a Brazilian with ties to the Knights Templar. It is mostly gardens with nightmare interpretations of fairy tale towers and spooky grottos. The oddest of them all is an inverted tower that goes down instead of up.
It was the best site of the day and really deserves pictures!
The off to the freeway and an hour long drive to my home away from castle - Obidos! It is the actual castle that has been renovated inside the walled city. According to the guidebooks only modern plumbing and electric have been added.
After a Obidos gingha - slight sweeter and with more cherry flavor - I headed off to dinner in the grand dining room. It seemed only appropriate to splash out a bit with some foie gras and then what I was told was roast lamb. It was all delicious but the manager and I finally agreed that the translation should be goat!!
With some wine and a glass of 20 year Port it all seemed like a hunting lodge scene out of Downton Abbey!!
Tomorrow is an off day. Definitely headed back the coast and then somewhere northward before setting roots a few days in Oporto!
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