History In Sintra

On July 4th we went to Sintra. Sintra is 15 miles Northwest of Lisbon. We got up early to head out and on our first train ride we realized we were on the wrong train...oops. So our voyage didn't start out on the right foot but it was worth it in the end. Arriving in Sintra you walk from the train station to the bus stop and take the #434 up the hill. The roads are really only made for one vehicle at a time and when a bus full of tourists is in your way you have to back up. It made for a comical ride up the hill. Our first stop was the Pena Palace (Palacio de Pena). This castle was built in the 19th century by Prince Ferdinand (a cousin of Bavaria's "Mad" King Ludwig who built Neuschwanstein castle that Disney modeled Cinderella's castle after...small world). Then we hiked to the top of a nearby hill called High Cross. It is the highest hill in the area and monks from an old monestary put a cross on top of the hill to meditate. It reminds us of "Bible Point" at the National Park near the YMCA in Estes Park. After hiking to High Cross we walked downhill (finally!!!) to the Moorish Castle (Castelo dos Mouros). The castle was built by the Moors but taken by the Christian forces in 1147. Today it is just ruins but awesome views abound from many points along the wall.