Sorry for the delay in posts and pictures. I've had my first visitors in town! My dad and his girlfriend have been here the last two weeks, so I've been happily touring around playing the guide and the tourist. The weather unfortunately has been terrible around here, but thankfully stopped raining enough for us to enjoy the sights in Lisbon and beyond and even get in a day at the beach in the Algarve. Since I saved up the touristy stuff around here for when guests come, it was great to explore and see a lot of places and things I haven't before. It was especially fun to tour around Portugal with my Dad since it's where our people are from :) The first week we spent pretty close to home. Went into Lisbon and took the tram up to the Castelo de Sao Jorge...well, we tried to take the tram...after missing our stop and walking a bit, we finally found it. It's gorgeous up there - incredible views of the city! The next day we took a little day trip to Sintra. It's a town about 25 minutes away with beautiful views and castles. The ride is a little curvy, but once at the top - at the Palacio de Pena - the views are absolutely incredible. We only went in the one castle, so I'm looking forward to exploring it a little more. We also found a great lunch spot - the acorda (sort of like a stuffing) tasted just like my great grandma's stuffing - it
was so good! On the way home, we decided to take the scenic route and go to Cabo da Roca - the most western point in Europe. It was incredible views and a really cool spot. We were hoping for a beach day to relax, but the weather didn't cooperate. So, we just took a day to rest our legs and regroup. Next up we ventured across the Tagus on a ferry and had lunch at this quaint little spot along the river - it was really cool to be on the water looking back at Lisbon. Then we made our way up to Cristo Rei - Lisbon's much smaller version of Christ the Redeemer. Another incredible view spot! We managed to sneak in one day at the pool at the nice resort my dad was staying at and squeezed in a visit to Belem and of course piri piri in Lisbon before heading south to the Algarve! The weather was not cooperating on the way down...it was terrible. The first night we just stayed at the hotel in Lagos and ate at the restaurant there and then the next day, after a few morning showers, we got some sun!! Dad and Denise went shopping and Lisa and I hit the beach (of course!). We had wanted to take a grotto tour and realized while we were at the beach (Praia de Dona Ana) that we could take a boat from there. We hired the man with the shell horn and the loudest whistle (out of his mouth) that I've ever heard. The guy was hysterical!! And the funny thing was we ran into my dad and Denise on the water - we'd both decided to take the tour at the same time :) Not sure they had the same crazy driver we did, but he also pulled us up to the party boat full of boys and told him we needed 3 cervezas - obviously Lisa and I picked the boat to take us out! The grottos were so cool - they go speeding in these little narrow openings and then the water color on the inside is just gorgeous -
colors you've never seen before. And they have all of these names for what the rocks look like - I always had a hard time seeing it and he wouldn't move on until I found it...very entertaining. After that, we headed back to the beach for a little more sun and for some lunch above the beach to take in the views. Dinner that night was on a nice spot overlooking the water (everyone in the town couldn't be nicer!!) and then Lisa and I went to explore the town. We were accosted by an Australian in a cow poncho who led us into a fun bar. On the way walking home, we got caught in a major downpour!! At least it was a night and not during our sun hours :) The next day we got up for some pool time and then hit the road. We decided to take the scenic route along the coast and through Vila Nova Milfontes. I had found a restaurant there that looked great - we managed to find it, and it was incredible!! I had one of the best dishes I've had yet and the people were wonderful. I told them I would definitely be back! The beaches there were great too - it was absolutely gorgeous and we were all very happy we decided to hit that on the way back and not in the downpour on the way down! We made it back last night and just relaxed today - of course woke up to rain...again...ugh. Hate to complain, but I am ready for some beach days!! My dad and Denise leave on Wednesday - we've had such a great time! Lisa and I will be relaxing for a week and then are off to Italy a week from Wednesday - can't wait to go back and eat lots of pizza and gelato - and of course drinks lots of Italian wine :) We're getting pretty good at the Portuguese and French wines, so it's time to conquer the Italian. We're also becoming quite the locals around town - have our favorite restaurants and have met some very nice people. We managed to find an awesome sushi restaurant too - a nice break from the Portuguese cuisine when we feel like something different :) Hope everyone is doing well - I will send more before Italy and then hopefully can send some pics from there! xo
Sorry for the delay in posts and pictures. I've had my first visitors in town! My dad and his girlfriend have been here the last two weeks, so I've been happily touring around playing the guide and the tourist. The weather unfortunately has been terrible around here, but thankfully stopped raining enough for us to enjoy the sights in Lisbon and beyond and even get in a day at the beach in the Algarve. Since I saved up the touristy stuff around here for when guests come, it was great to explore and see a lot of places and things I haven't before. It was especially fun to tour around Portugal with my Dad since it's where our people are from :) The first week we spent pretty close to home. Went into Lisbon and took the tram up to the Castelo de Sao Jorge...well, we tried to take the tram...after missing our stop and walking a bit, we finally found it. It's gorgeous up there - incredible views of the city! The next day we took a little day trip to Sintra. It's a town about 25 minutes away with beautiful views and castles. The ride is a little curvy, but once at the top - at the Palacio de Pena - the views are absolutely incredible. We only went in the one castle, so I'm looking forward to exploring it a little more. We also found a great lunch spot - the acorda (sort of like a stuffing) tasted just like my great grandma's stuffing - it 
was so good! On the way home, we decided to take the scenic route and go to Cabo da Roca - the most western point in Europe. It was incredible views and a really cool spot. We were hoping for a beach day to relax, but the weather didn't cooperate. So, we just took a day to rest our legs and regroup. Next up we ventured across the Tagus on a ferry and had lunch at this quaint little spot along the river - it was really cool to be on the water looking back at Lisbon. Then we made our way up to Cristo Rei - Lisbon's much smaller version of Christ the Redeemer. Another incredible view spot! We managed to sneak in one day at the pool at the nice resort my dad was staying at and squeezed in a visit to Belem and of course piri piri in Lisbon before heading south to the Algarve! The weather was not cooperating on the way down...it was terrible. The first night we just stayed at the hotel in Lagos and ate at the restaurant there and then the next day, after a few morning showers, we got some sun!! Dad and Denise went shopping and Lisa and I hit the beach (of course!). We had wanted to take a grotto tour and realized while we were at the beach (Praia de Dona Ana) that we could take a boat from there. We hired the man with the shell horn and the loudest whistle (out of his mouth) that I've ever heard. The guy was hysterical!! And the funny thing was we ran into my dad and Denise on the water - we'd both decided to take the tour at the same time :) Not sure they had the same crazy driver we did, but he also pulled us up to the party boat full of boys and told him we needed 3 cervezas - obviously Lisa and I picked the boat to take us out! The grottos were so cool - they go speeding in these little narrow openings and then the water color on the inside is just gorgeous - 
colors you've never seen before. And they have all of these names for what the rocks look like - I always had a hard time seeing it and he wouldn't move on until I found it...very entertaining. After that, we headed back to the beach for a little more sun and for some lunch above the beach to take in the views. Dinner that night was on a nice spot overlooking the water (everyone in the town couldn't be nicer!!) and then Lisa and I went to explore the town. We were accosted by an Australian in a cow poncho who led us into a fun bar. On the way walking home, we got caught in a major downpour!! At least it was a night and not during our sun hours :) The next day we got up for some pool time and then hit the road. We decided to take the scenic route along the coast and through Vila Nova Milfontes. I had found a restaurant there that looked great - we managed to find it, and it was incredible!! I had one of the best dishes I've had yet and the people were wonderful. I told them I would definitely be back! The beaches there were great too - it was absolutely gorgeous and we were all very happy we decided to hit that on the way back and not in the downpour on the way down! We made it back last night and just relaxed today - of course woke up to rain...again...ugh. Hate to complain, but I am ready for some beach days!! My dad and Denise leave on Wednesday - we've had such a great time! Lisa and I will be relaxing for a week and then are off to Italy a week from Wednesday - can't wait to go back and eat lots of pizza and gelato - and of course drinks lots of Italian wine :) We're getting pretty good at the Portuguese and French wines, so it's time to conquer the Italian. We're also becoming quite the locals around town - have our favorite restaurants and have met some very nice people. We managed to find an awesome sushi restaurant too - a nice break from the Portuguese cuisine when we feel like something different :) Hope everyone is doing well - I will send more before Italy and then hopefully can send some pics from there! xo
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