Lisbon was our base, and there is lots to see and do in and around the city, but we also decided a day trip to Peña Palace on Sintra mountain would be interesting.

I set out early, as I had to trek up to the top of our hill, then over and down another funicular path to the rendezvous point (outside Armani Exchange) to meet the small group tour minibus run by Lisbon Riders. I arrived a little early and there was no sign of anyone. Eventually people gathered. Some got confused and headed off to wait somewhere else just before our guides arrived and wondered where everyone was. Our group of 7 was assembled, we hopped in a 9 seater van and we headed out.

Lisbon, like all cities waking up in the morning is a bit of a tangle, and our guide skilfully navigated terrifying traffic, slip ways and freeways out of the city towards the distant mountains. It was a warm day again in the city, but I packed a woolly vest just in case, and am so glad I did. Our first destination was part way up the mountain range to the quaint little town of Sintra. As we headed for the hills we could see clouds forming, explained as Atlantic Ocean breezes condensing as they pushed up and over the range, we were warned about the sudden temperature changes ahead. Most of the tour group were in tshirts and shorts. The cold shock as we got out to sightsee was obvious.

Sintra township is dominated by a summer palace, favoured by royalty as a cooler place to retire to in the heat of summer. Grand buildings, kitchens topped with odd conical chimneys apparently modelled after Tagines (moorish cooking pots).

We were given some free time to explore, I sought out a little shop called La Piroqueeta (small angry woman, apparently) for some of the regional specialty pastries- “Pillows”, which were flaky pastry bundles filled with various fillings. I chose the traditional, which was almond, egg and sugar (a little like almond pastry cream), ate one and packed some to bring home for supper. Light and delicious as morning tea.

After a good look around, we got some history of the place, and had pointed out the moorish fortifications higher up, before we headed down the other side of the range towards the western coast of Portugal.

Fairly soon we were driving atop cliffs facing the Atlantic Ocean. Rugged coastline and brisk lazy winds lashed us at a lookout overlooking a small fishing village. Apparently this is a much sought after summer holiday destination – so popular that the old royal family built a private tramway so they could bathe and take in the sun, which further ostracised them from their subjects as they were not allowed to use the tram, well at least not until after the revolution.