Lisboa Day 2

We slept in a bit today and then headed off to the train station to go to Sintra. Sintra is 16 miles north west of  Lisbon and took about 30 minutes to get there. Sintra is known for their palaces and an old Moorish castle. The palaces were built here because it stayed cool in the summer months.

We saw Palácio Nacional de Sintra and then took a bus up to Palácio Nacional da Pena and Castelo dos Moros. The roads were very narrow and we were in a standard sized city bus. At one point in order for the driver to make the turn he had to drive past it and then reverse so he came at the road straight on. We also met a young student driver on her way down. I felt bad for her but it was kind of funny. I am sure her side mirror was practically touching the bus! Her instructor ended up having to take the wheel and help her out.

It was a pretty little city and the palaces and castle were quite impressive. When we got back to Lisboa we charged the camera for a bit and then headed back out to see the Castelo São Jorge. We decided to catch a trolly up. We were able to walk around the wall and then there was a museum in a seperate building. The museum had artifacts from 6th century BC! The castle was built on top of part of an old fortification and palace that dates back to 7th century BC and remains were found that indicate trade from this time period with Mesopatamia, Egypt and Rome.

After the castle we tried to go back to the same restaurant but they were closed. On a Saturday! We found a similar restaurant a few blocks up with rotissoire chicken but the chicken wasn´t as good.

After dinner we walked to a chino for some ice cream and snacks for the next day.

Heading out for our day in Sintra. 

The train station.

Palácio Nacional de Sintra:

A cabinet made of wood, ivory, turtle shell, wrought iron and velvet.

In the Chinese room. This display (inside the glass case)  is made completely of ivory. 

Ben would've been a bit tall for this palace.

The chapel.

The kitchen. 

You could cook some serious meat on that rotisserie! 

 

 Palácio Nacional da Pena:

The King's bedroom.

The king's bathroom. 

The queen's bedroom.

The glass from this chandelier came from Venice.

The kitchen.

Castelo dos Moros:

I am pretty sure this tourist site broke every safety code. The stairs were so steep and there were no rails to hold onto! Ben kept laughing at me holding my hands out and I just told him I was in the "ready fall" position to catch myself if need be.

On the trolly to the castle.

 Castelo São Jorge:

 

 
The foundation of the original castle from the 7th century BC inside the castle walls.

Artifacts from the 5th and 6th century BC. The one on the far right is from the 6th. 

Artifacts from the 4th and 5th century BC. 

Jugs from the middle 2nd century BC. 

There were a bunch of peacocks outside the castle.