Portugal, Paris, Sicily and Florence

[ellen10]

 

[ellen10]

View attachment 467889

 

[ellen10]

After a lovely stay in Porto and the Douro river, we travelled down the coast and stopped for lunch in the seaside town of Nazaré. Famous for the hugh surfing waves in winter. The water at this time of year is very flat, but as it was a Saturday lots of people enjoying the beach. The town is known for its delicious fish and seafood, I had a delicious Bbq prawn dish.

We then travelled onto the medieval village of Óbidos, a very pretty village with white washed buildings and a castle. We also sampled the ginja liqueur in the chocolate cups. Oops drank it before remembering to take a photo.

 

[Flyfrequently]

Great photos.
Those prawns look delicious!
We really enjoyed the Surf Museum at Nazare needless to say Surfer Flyfrequently was so jealous!
Did you get to see it @ellen10 ?

 

[ellen10]

Great photos.
Those prawns look delicious!
We really enjoyed the Surf Museum at Nazare needless to say Surfer Flyfrequently was so jealous!
Did you get to see it @ellen10 ?

No we ran out of time in Nazare, our lunch took way too long. Being a Saturday and the end of the school summer holidays, it was quite busy. So we just got to wander along the beachfront. Before we headed to Obidos.

 

[ellen10]

Lisbon.
We are staying at the Sheraton hotel. An easy walk downtown.
We sadly walked past the Gloria funicular tragedy, but in respect we did not take pictures, many did. We were going to try the elevator Justa but it is closed because it is run by the same company as the Gloria.

We walked the famous rua Augusta, with the huge arch leading to the place do commerce, which faces the Atlantic ocean. We walked through the Rossio square famous for the tiles that looked like waves.

In the afternoon we visited Belém, we could not go into the impressive Jeronimos monastery as there was a wedding in progress. We sampled the famous Belém pastel da natas ( where the delicacy originated). Then on to the Belém tower which was mainly was covered in scaffolding.
Then on to the Monument of Discoveries. Built to honour Henery the navigator

 

[ellen10]

 

[ellen10]

One of my bucket list of places to see.
The stunning Peña palace Sintra

 

[ellen10]

More Sintra

 

[I love to travel]

Amazing quality photos thanks

 

[ellen10]

next stop in Sintra the UNESCO site of Quinta da Regaleira. Beautiful gardens and the famous spiral well . Nine floors, 27 meters

 

[ellen10]

And there caves below

 

[ellen10]

Our last day in Lisbon.
A visit to Cabo de Roca, the most westerly point in Europe, it was blowing a gale and the Atlantic Ocean was raging. Next a stop in Cascais a resort town full of Brits, they come for the beach and sun.
Back in Lisbon town we caught one of the fabled trams , very busy in town as a Hugh cruise shop was in port. Photos of Ronaldo everywhere, lots in his underwear!

 

[ellen10]

And a church in Lisbon, plain on the outside and full of gold on the inside

 

[LinaLee]

Thanks for the walk down memory lane. I had visited most of the same places too.

 

[ellen10]

Ah beautiful Paris! My heart is full
We are staying in an apartment near the Bastille.
My first meal I had a few of my favourites. Foie gras for entre followed by moules for main (so many of them) I only remembered to take a photo when I had finished. Accompanied by a nice bottle of Sancerre, no room for dessert!

Next day we did a “secret foods walking tour” of the Marais. We started with croissants or pain chocolate or raisins. So buttery and fresh. And for the rest of the tour I was too busy eating yummy food that I forgot to take photos
We learnt so much history as we ate and walked for 3 hours in the gorgeous Marais. We ate croque monsieur, cheese, falafels, macarons, exquisite chocolate and of course good wine.

Our tummies were full!

 

[ellen10]

Some more pics. We also visited Place de Vosges, the oldest planned park in Paris.

 

[ellen10]

Oh my gosh! I am trashed after 6 days in Paris!
So far behind
Biggest walking day 22000 steps!
Hopefully catch up soon.

 

[BriarFlyer]

I've arrived just in time for Paris ... but have also enjoyed your gorgeous photos of Portugal. I remember those 20k+ step days well, although it never did seem like strenuous walking. It's just so easy to walk everywhere and before you know it .... exhausted satisfaction. I'm booked for March and cannot wait to experience it all again.

 

[ellen10]

it’s not the Parisien drivers you need to worry it’s the playing dodgems with the bike riders. Who have no regard for red lights or wandering tourists.
Our next stop was Notre Dame. We had visited here a couple of times pre fire. I tried to booked timed online entry but it was always sold out. So we thought we would chance the walk up queues. Although the line seemed long it went surprisingly quick. About 15 minutes, but alas at the security check just before entering we hit a road block. Mr Ellen10 had his backpack, which was ok but not his Swiss Army knife that he bought in Switzerland 15 years ago, so sentimental. Our choice: throw the knife in the bin or not enter. Or option C, I would go in first and Mr Ellen19 would line up again and I would look after the bag whilst he went in.

On my last visit I seemed to remember inside Notre Dame being quite dark and dingy. But the new restored cathedral is beautiful light, clean and airy. It was lovely to wander around and linger.