Scintillating Sintra

26 September 2018

Today's focus was the Baixa and Chiado area in the CBD.  The idea was to do some sight-seeing, then shopping.

We took the 15E tram to Praca de Figueira.   I had to pretend to tag my tram ticket because my ticket didn't work.

30 minutes earlier, after leaving the Alcantara apartment, I was mis-guided by google maps to a railway station thinking that it was the Metro.  We found a ticket vending machine there and I proceeded to buy tickets for us.  We  wanted the 24-hour tram ticket.

These machines are archaic and won't sell multiple tickets, so you go thru the same process 5 times.  After buying the first one and thinking I might be a while, I let the girl behind me go ahead.

When she was done, a railway person popped out of the office and asked me what I needed (I think, because he only spoke Portuguese).  He was very helpful as was another commuter who translated for us.  It turned out that I had bought myself a 24-hour train ticket.  So we managed to get it right for the others, with 10 euros of pay-per-ride tram tickets.

With a dud ticket for the trams, I had to avoid any trams with a front entry, and am restricted to the longer trams with rear entry doors.  So it was the 15E into town.

We wandered across to Praca Rossio.

Where Michelle purchased some sardine pate in custom packaging and at gold plated prices.

Others were more restrained.  But not for long.  

At the Martin Moniz square refreshment stop, I had to consume 2 beers, so that the others could get keys to the toilet.

Then they found a shop that sold cork products.  Handbags, belts, coasters etc.  Even a wine bottle cork can be purchased for 0.85 cts.  I often buy 1.90 wines that comes with a free cork.

After a few false attempts to pay and leave, (tempted by products enroute to the cashier's), we finally got away.

We found the tram that will take us to Castelo de Santa Jorge from the  Martin Moniz stop.  I got away with my dud ticket again.

Waiting or been dropped off - dunno.

The tram went up very narrow streets, and people had to squeeze themselves against the wall as the tram passed.

You can reach out and touch walls and windows, or assault people from the tram.  

We hiked up to the Castelo thru narrow streets and passageways.

But no one was keen on paying 8.50 euros to walk around the inside of the castle.

Along the way to the tram stop, we came across this veranda with a great view over Lisbon.  Then we took the 28E tram back into town.  

This time I was not so lucky, and the driver insisted I paid the 2.90 euros for the ride. 

At least he gave change for the 10 euros in euros.  A couple of times here and in Barcelona, I have been given change for euros in Malaysian ringgit.  

How on earth do these very helpful vendors know I am Malaysian and will need ringgit on the way home?  So far I have received 50 and 20 ringgit notes in change.

The 28E brought us back to Martin Moniz, coming down narrow streets, and passing thru a very short Chinatown (4 Chinese shops,  I think).  It was like  a mild roller coaster ride.

Then it was time for lunch at a cafe I spotted earlier at Placa Rossio.

We ordered a seafood platter for 4 to share.  And a red wine sangria and a white wine.  

Michelle struck up a conversation with an American couple next to our table.

The seafood was pretty good, as were the spuds, but the veggies looked overcooked.  There was more than enough for 5 and then some. But all  the beverages were consumed.

WT and Michelle wanted to shop some more, and more detailed information was obtained on how to get themselves home.  And TC wanted to walk some more.  

Mum and I took the tram home, to do some dinner groceries and prepare dinner.


27 September 2018

We are booked on a tour of Sintra and Cascais with a company called We Hate Tourism.  

I chose it because it served wine and sangria for lunch, no idea about the itinerary except that it goes to Sintra, Cascais and a place called More (Sintra, Cascais and more).  It was to be a 7 hour tour, and the company's name reflected its philosophy of not going to where there are hordes of tourists.  

The tour started at 8.30 and we were to meet at the Armani Exchange shop on Averdina Liberdinas.  We were on the 15E tram at 7.30, some tagged and some couldn't.

On the way there we saw this again.....

and another hill busting funicular.  

And soon we were lined up in front of Armani Exchange.  

Our tour guide and driver was Mimi.  It looks like she knows tai-chi.  

First stop was the hill side town of Sintra, which we could see from the motorway.  WT and I sat up front and had a good chat to Mimi.   Questions were asked and sights were pointed out and explained.

The others couldn't hear a thing from the back, so they introduced and talked amongst themselves.

We stopped at Sintra, WT and I introduced ourselves to the other 2 people on the tour.  Jack and Terry were from Montreal.  

Terry looks like Diana Ross.










Mimi showed us around the small Sintra village.  She then recommended a pastry shop for coffee and pastry.

It was a pretty little town with narrow smooth tile lanes named after Byron and Francis Cook.

Then it was off to visit Sir Francis Cook's garden and mansion.

I bought the tickets, and asked for a senior one for mum.  The ticket lady asked me what year.  1936 I replied and asked if that was old enough.   She laughed and said yes, 65 qualifies.








Model of Francis Cook's mansion.

 Some rooms were closed due to waxing.

The grounds contained the mansion, a rose garden (not in bloom) and a Mexican garden with cacti.

It took us about 1 hour and Mimi was waiting at the entrance.

Lunch was at a small family-run restaurant. 

We were served assorted meats, cheese, bread and sausages.   With green wine, sangria and coffee.  It was a great lunch.  

Mimi  had lunch with us and explained what the food was, also making sure our carafes were re-filled.

Terry told us about the time she was mistaken for Diana Ross. The fan wouldn't believe or leave her till they got an autograph.  Terry autographed.

We all thought this trip was well worth doing as we saw a lot in the short time.  Not having to deal with transport alone is a major plus, TC had heard of the hassles of DIY arrangements to Sintra.

On the way to Cascais, we stopped at Azenhas Do Mar

to look at the village built on the cliff face.  The public swimming pool gets refreshed by the high tide.

Michelle is just scratching, WT does not smell.

Mimi said that the surfing waves in Portugal can be 30-40 metres high.

I replied in our country, that's called a tsunami.

One last look and on to Cascais.  Cascais is a resort for the rich and famous.  Ian Fleming wrote James Bond here during the war WW2.

 It was a short stop at this pretty town.

 It was pushing 4, our tour was ending.

That's Jack and Terry at the top of the stairs.
  
I made a request to Mimi to drop us off at LX Factory.  LX Factory is an enclosed area of industrial workshops converted to pubs, cafes and shops.

Thanks, Mimi, for a great tour.  It was fun to meet and talk to Jack and Terry from Montreal. 

I listened to a band at a pub while the others wandered around.  Then we went next door to look at the Underground Village.  It was not underground.

It looked like a hangout for skateboarders made from old buses and shipping containers.

This area is close to our apartment.  A stop at Lidl supermarket on the way home ended our 2nd to last day in Lisbon.