Today was a trip to the countryside as we took a bus up in the hills to Sintra, about 45minutes inland. We had read good things about the historic town but it didn’t look that good to us. We then realised we were in the new part of Sintra. We took an old tram for a short ride then walked up to the actual historic centre which was well worth it.

The walk took us up some backroads. If you look at the painting on the wall of the house below, it is the view that is in the photo.

We had to stop in Sintra for Mawfa to have the obligatory Portuguese tart, Mamfa to have a chocolate croissant and marvel at the view.

It was then a short walk to Quinta da Regaleira which is a beautiful garden and structures built into the hillside at the start of the 1900’s. Lots of places to explore with great views – winding paths, towers, grottos, tunnels, bridges, wells, fountains and gardens. This included the amazing Initiation Well with its 27m of spiraling staircase to the bottom where you exit through a tunnel to a small waterfall.

It was then time for a 45min hike up to Pena Palace which was a beautiful, if steep, walk through gardens with views over to the Atlantic Ocean and the Moorish Castle.

Pena Palace was constructed primarily in the 1800s on the top of the hill in two parts that are quite obvious from the red and yellow colours. Almost every interior room had a completely different style, particularly the ceilings.

After a long and adventurous day, we Ubered back to Estoril before heading to a local craft and food festival for dinner and drinks with Ali and Darren. A great day out.

This day in sporting history (14 August)

1936 United States beats Canada, 19-8 in poor conditions outdoors to win the gold medal in the inaugural men’s basketball competition at the Olympic Games in Berlin

1948 Don Bradman out for 0 in final Test innings

1960 Australian driver Jack Brabham clinches his second consecutive F1 World Drivers Championship by winning the Portuguese Grand Prix at Boavista