FROM LISBON TO TORRES VEDRAS, OBIDOS AND COIMBRA
All of the above places were mentioned in the Sharpe novels. Torres Vedras has some castle ruins that we checked out on foot. It is an extremely hilly place, so we did a lot of climbing that day. Rufena had told us to go to Sintra instead of Torres Vedras. She said in Torres Vedras we'd have to watch our purses. She was wrong. The people couldn't have been nicer or more charming.
This is looking down on some of Torres Vedras from our parking spot on top of a hill.
This is from up in the castle, after MORE climbing.
Climbing up yet another hill.
An old church at the very top. There was a charming bride and groom having their pictures taken.
Linda on a hillside.
A view from the turret.
Castle ruins.
Inside the armoury, where old weapons were preserved and on display.
Another view from the castle.
OBIDOS
This was another very hilly place. After we drove here from Torres Vedras we realized there was no way we could walk it. Luckily we found a horse and cart that could take us around the cobblestoned streets of the town that is built entirely within the castle walls.
The horse and cart that saved our legs.
Obidos is very beautiful. Here's one of the picturesque buildings.
Here's Linda looking down one of the many narrow streets. If you wanted to get off the cart for a minute to look at something more closely, or go shopping, the driver would kindly let you off to do so.
Beautiful, eh?
Someone doing some business.
Lots of different-styled buildings.
Part of the castle.
View from within the walls.
Outside someone's house.
Linda and Michael being jostled in the cart as we move along at a fast clip.
A detail on a church front. Sorry for the blurriness--horse's fault. The blue and white tiles are an Islamic influence that is common throughout Portugal and Spain. You'll see lots of them as my travel picspam continues.
Now this is Coimbra. I'll do a separate post on it later. It's quite an impressive town and of course I took loads of pictures.
This is looking down on some of Torres Vedras from our parking spot on top of a hill.
This is from up in the castle, after MORE climbing.
Climbing up yet another hill.
An old church at the very top. There was a charming bride and groom having their pictures taken.
Linda on a hillside.
A view from the turret.
Castle ruins.
Inside the armoury, where old weapons were preserved and on display.
Another view from the castle.
OBIDOS
This was another very hilly place. After we drove here from Torres Vedras we realized there was no way we could walk it. Luckily we found a horse and cart that could take us around the cobblestoned streets of the town that is built entirely within the castle walls.
The horse and cart that saved our legs.
Obidos is very beautiful. Here's one of the picturesque buildings.
Here's Linda looking down one of the many narrow streets. If you wanted to get off the cart for a minute to look at something more closely, or go shopping, the driver would kindly let you off to do so.
Beautiful, eh?
Someone doing some business.
Lots of different-styled buildings.
Part of the castle.
View from within the walls.
Outside someone's house.
Linda and Michael being jostled in the cart as we move along at a fast clip.
A detail on a church front. Sorry for the blurriness--horse's fault. The blue and white tiles are an Islamic influence that is common throughout Portugal and Spain. You'll see lots of them as my travel picspam continues.
Now this is Coimbra. I'll do a separate post on it later. It's quite an impressive town and of course I took loads of pictures.