Traveling
Always has a specific purpose around it. It is difficult to decide at times why
we travel. There are so many equivalent sides to travel. Some travel to let go,
some travel with a purpose, some for leisure, some for business, some for
relaxation, and then there are those like me who travel to indulge and get lost.
To learn with a purpose and see what the world has to offer in the road
unknown. When that travel comes with friends around who are your staunchest
comrades, it is a win-win situation or a coincidence of sorts for an amateur
travel enthusiast. Each time I venture to a new place, it leaves me spellbound
by the magnanimity of its offerings. The excellent learnings and the ever
illuminating thought-provoking vistas that I relate to at each site as if I
left a piece of my heart at every place I stepped on. Portugal will be an
offbeat track decided out of sheer love for beaches and westward Europe. I give
due credits to Mahesh Prasad, Shreya Patwardhan, and Praveen Sridhar for
accompanying me on this trip and making it successful. This word “successful”
has great importance here because this is a real pregnancy travel story. I
bravely ventured out to Portugal on foot, bus, and train accompanied by these
affectionate mascots who left no stone unturned to take care of me and make
sure that the sixth month of my pregnancy was a carefree and lively affair with
travel. So this is the second blog in the pregnancy travel edition.
It
took us exactly four days to go around some crucial places in this beautiful
country with white sand beaches, spic and span till far as the eye could see,
lush green mountainside treks, sky-lit castles, the maiden moonlit streets,
Gothic architecture, stupendously long stretches of beaches near the
south-western coast, immensely helpful people and profoundly ambient cafes that
left me flabbergasted at the food offerings in this amazingly magnificent
nation. Let us begin with the most important cities and options to explore in
Portugal.
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Sintra,
Portugal
Pastel
palaces. Moorish castles with sweeping views tucked into lush hillsides.
Winding cobblestone streets, and lavish estates with secret tunnels and
waterfalls. These are just some of the treasures found in the enchanting town
of Sintra, Portugal. With so many monuments away from the heart of Sintra, the
town’s historic center may go unnoticed. However, the historic center of Sintra
is classified as a UNESCO World Heritage Site and is a stunning place to
explore. The unique architecture of the buildings and the narrow lanes are
charming enough but the display of trees and flowers will impress you. There
are great spots from where you can get incredible views of the town and its
surroundings and it’s only a matter of choosing your favorites. The historic center
has plenty of restaurants where you can taste the best Portuguese dishes and
lovely specialty shops where you can buy unique souvenirs.
When
it comes to Sintra’s palaces Pena typically gets the most attention, but it’s
also worth stopping by the blindingly-white National Palace of Sintra. Nestled
in the historic center, it's a terracotta orange roof and conical features make
quite a statement, particularly when seen from the Moorish Castle. Portugal’s
royal family actually lived in the National Palace during the 12th century, and
today it houses an array of art collections.
The
National Palace of Pena has a direct vantage point of another famous landmark: Moorish Castle. Built on the highest spot in Sintra, the military fort was
established way back in the 10th century as a way to protect the Iberian
peninsula.
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Downtown
Sintra is full of charming cafés and restaurants, many of which offer outdoor
terrace seating. Many of these spots are fairly small, so feel free to get close
to your someone special. Among the best sweet treats to try are the local travesseiros (“pillow”
pastries) and queijadas, pastries made with cheese.
To be continued.
By
Rucha Khot
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