Portugal

On our way back to the USA we took a bit of a detour to Portugal on the way from Egypt. We spent just over a week exploring Lisbon and the middle of the country by road from the coast to the Spanish border in our little rental car. Our focus was definately historical and we enjoyed the charms of the many hilltop, walled villages that have been re-inventing themselves only slightly since before Roman times. I think some photos will describe out trip better than too many words. The Western-most point of continental Europe (Cabo da Roco)......and its lighthouse:

Moorish Castle at Sintra:

The pretty walled village of Obidos:

The Village of Tomar with water wheel...
...and the Monestary of the Knights Templar:

The Border Fortress town of Marvao......with its walls and castle...and cistern beneath the castle: The rural hotel converted from an old pilgrim's inn at Our Lady of Camo Church...with a swimming hole they called a "bio pool"......lots of biological swimming friends: The town of Evora, packed with ancient sites...aquaduct...Roman ruins...standing stones... cathederal...and chapel of bones (all the better to contemplate the shortness of life on this earth): And finally Lisbon......the Se cathederal:Altogether a very relaxing time...