Madeira is an entirely new experience. It's a sub-tropical island that is lush and green and filled with more flowers and fruits than I've ever seen. Dozens of different types of banana, passion fruit and mango grow here, plus huge eucalyptus trees, blankets of wildflowers and more.We got a great look at the island during … Continue reading Madeira! →

From our balcony you can see the Moorish Castle, where we walked today. Yes all the way up there. I walked to the very top of the royal watch tower, which is the highest point you can see on the right.Oh, my, what can be said about today? Satisfied? Yes ma'am. Proud? Certainly. Sad that … Continue reading Can't Get No Higher →

Honey, I'm home! So, I sit in the lap of luxury today, writing and drinking a delicious cup of coffee, and remembering yet another special day.We enjoyed a good and healthy breakfast prepared by James and Aasta at Colina Flora yesterday, then headed out on the walk to Sintra. Down, down the steep climb we … Continue reading Honey, I'm Home! →

We began the day with breakfast, well, I began the day with soreness, but that's beside the point. We ate with our new British friends Margaret and Robin, a 70ish couple who never utter a word about any of this walk being crazy hard. I mentioned the sand mountain we climbed yesterday (they climbed it … Continue reading The Monastery Is Magical →

This is going to be a long post, so skip to the photos if that's all you want to see. We totally understand.Cascais to AzoiaThe car picked us up from the Pergola House in Cascais and took us to Guincho. We walked up the road a bit and then across a sandy beach, which wasn't … Continue reading Catching Up →

We've spent the last two nights at Sao Saturnino, or something like that. It's a former convent now converted into a hotel. It's amazing, but we've been without internet until just this morning, and we are about to leave here in about 20 minutes, so this will be quick post.On Friday, we left the Pergola … Continue reading Day 3: Leaving the Convent →