Crinkly's Portugal trip day 3: Day trip to Sintra (2/11/19)

View from our bathroom window. You cant tell but thats the redeemer statue in the far off distance.

Crinkly on the train as we head to Sintra

Crinkly feels good to stretch his legs after the quick train ride to the coast and are finally at our destination.

Crinkly admiring one of the many beautiful buildings in the city as we walk around.

Had breakfast in the hostel again real fast then headed to the main train station to take a train out to Sintra near the coast. We didnt know our metro cards could be used for these trains as well so we waited in line and missed the train we were wanting to take due to the long line at the kiosks (not a big deal I think it set us back like 30-40 mins). Topped off our cards and then got on the next train out to Sintra. As we left town there was this amazingly huge aqueduct that I failed to get a picture of but was extremely impressive looking and wish I had.

I believe we are on the right path

A little map of where we are exploring.

One of the many times where even though most people are in jackets, I was sweating my butt off in a t shirt. Felt nice to chill in the shade a little bit cooling off.

Crinkly wants to go grab a drink at the cafe so I guess that is what we will do.

Crinkly has breached the first wall

Crinkly enjoying the view along the outer wall of the castle

Crinkly looking out at the smaller castle in the distnance.

Crinkly enjoying the break and the view with a new friend

This was a cool castle/house on a hill across the way from the hill we were climbing. Assuming it is a part of the Palace grounds but not sure. 

Steph enjoying the view out from our little cafe outlook before we continue our journey up to the castle

Finally get into the town and get a map and then get our bearings from the train station as well as learning when we need to be back based on the departing train time tables to make sure we make it back tonight. Start walking through town and make our way up the steep hill to check out the moorish castle. As we get close, probably to the first outer wall, there is a little coffee shop where we grab a little snack and a beer to enjoy the day and relax before going into the castle and exploring some moor :). Costs 8 euro to enter the castle but once you do, there are tons of views from the castle walls of the coast, the internal land, and the city below (with all its large mansions and tracts of land). The other cool thing about the castle is that they have all kinds of different flags at different heights so that you can get great flag pictures, which I do enjoy very much. When looking down/around the area as previously mentioned, there are tons of beautiful buildings/homes scattered everywhere.

Crinkly sees a mountain to climb so he says, lets go!

Views of flags. Hope yall dont get tired of these :)

One of the homes down in Sintra.

Whitewashed Portuguese flag with Crinkly enjoying a view out the window. 

Crinkly pausing on the hike up to enjoy the view and to appreciate all the flags flapping on this beautiful breezy day.

Looking down on the castle and the city from the highest point. Crinkly is liking the view.

One of the flags by the binoculars flapping in the wind with some other flags in the background.

Steph is looking out to the sea whereas I am looking at the stacked flags going up the hill.

A look down from one end of the castle back upon itself. People who staffed this guy back in the days must have had killer calves.

Flag flying high on a beautiful day from inside one of the parapets along the wall.

This part of the castle had more little nooks and crannies to explore compared to the rest which was mostly just steep walls.

Crinkly enjoying a seat in one of the castle's parapets along the wall.

Crinkly wanted a group photo from atop the castle

Another impressive castle that is across the way from the moorish castle. This is the National palace of Pena, another popular sight that we didnt have time to go see.

A view down from the castle

Crinkly checking out the cistern at the castle.

Crinkly wanted one last view of the house in the distance as we continued our descent.

After the castle exploration, we walk back down a different way into the city and come to the terrace bar which has a great view of the city for some beers and a quick bite to eat. As the sun begins to get low, we make our way down through the streets and back to the train station to catch a ride back to town. When we get in, as we walk back to the hostel, we get some ginja shots (these sweet/sour cherry ish shots that have little stalls set up around town that people just walk in, pay a euro or 2 and get these shots and hang out for a bit. After those, we eat at Jeannines which is not too far from the hostel and was a recommendation from the people at the hostel. Was delicious food, nice cozy atmosphere with good prices and tasty wine for a reasonable price (good thing about a lot of these restaurants, they have carafes of house wine with is decent and a good price point). After dinner, we buy a bottle of local wine from a liquor store around the corner from our hostel for like 3E and then drink in the room as we pack and get ready for the adventure to begin.

Crinkly enjoying some refreshments after the hike up and down the hill.

Not sure what this is but walked by it as we walked back to the train station and thought it was beautiful.

They had escalators built into the public space to help people with the hills. Was pretty cool to see.