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You know I'm a huge proponent of traveling with Kids so, when the Healthcare Marketer's Exchange asked me to write an article about our recent family trip to Portugal, I was ecstatic! 
Not only did it allow me to relive our trip all over again but...oh just read it and let me know what you think! 
Portugal Paradise with Jacob the Explorer

Sintra was Magical

I'm a bit behind but what follows is one of my favorite stops during our Portuguese adventure, Sintra!

With only one night and full day dedicated to this magical little town, we woke up well rested and, if you can believe it, hungry!

So we descended the grand staircase to breakfast and let me just say that if you've ever wanted to feel like a queen or...king well, this breakfast was a feast fit for royalty!

Not only was the room adorned with crystal chandeliers, hand painted frescoes and fantastic orchids but the delicious and beautiful selection of food that lay in front of us looked too good to eat...  

Everything from omelettes, prosciutto and croissants to fresh fruit and salad...

and my favorite, yogurt, honey and figs!

Unfortunately it was pouring but when did the rain stop the Shermans?  Never! So, we embarked on exploring Sintra and its mystical hills dotted with fairy tale palaces and extravagant villas.
The Romans made it a place of cult moon worshiping and named it "Cynthia" after the goddess of the moon.  They were followed by the Moors who also fell in love with the lush vegetation and built a hilltop castle, a palace, and several fountains around the town. 

Later it became the summer residence of the Portuguese royal family and attracted a number of wealthy aristocrats who built huge mansions and villas. 

Famous British poet and traveler Lord Byron stopped by in the 18th century, writing that the town is "perhaps in every respect the most delightful in Europe," and calling it a "glorious Eden" in his epic poem Childe Harold's Pilgrimage.  His fellow countryman Robert Southey followed him and saw it as "the most blessed spot on the whole inhabitable globe." 
Alya arrived in the Spring of 2013 to confirm what they had said and added that it was one of the most magical and mystical places she has ever seen.

Since we only had one day, we were advised to start with Quinta da Regaleira, one of the most remarkable of all Sintra’s palaces and lucky for us, located right down the road from The Seteais Palace.  

It holds a fascinating history and one that Jacob was very excited to learn more about which made it that much more fun!  This romantic property formerly belonging to the Viscondessa da Regaleira, was acquired and enlarged by António Augusto Carvalho Monteiro as his favorite country estate.  His vast fortune earned him the nickname of Monteiro dos Milhões, (Moneybags Monteiro) and he commissioned this unique project from the Italian set-designer and architect Luigi Manini whose genius, along with the mastery of sculptors, stonemasons and craftsmen created this magical place.  

What's cool is that it is said that the palace was created based on the commands of magical and mythological dreams of Monteiro which the Italian architect brought to life in the form of this masterpiece.  

The place has romantic influences and revival of Gothic, Manueline and Renaissance style to be a glorification of the Portuguese mystical and esoterical history from the Templar Knights, Masonry, Alquimy, Rosicrucians and Christianity...all that and I couldn't stop photographing it!

Visitors can get a guided tour or, stroll round independently and while we actually wanted the tour, we would have had to wait an hour and with the pouring rain, chose the latter.  My recommendation?  Take the tour to familiarize yourself with the layout and learn about the underlying philosophy of the design and then return to explore alone the areas that appeal to you the most. 

The "Palace of the Millions" is surrounded by a garden filled with mythological and esoteric symbols -statues of gods, mysterious wells, ponds, and grottoes. 

The highlight is an almost supernatural tunnel staircase that symbolizes death leading into a "Garden of Eden," symbolizing "rebirth" or the entrance to Heaven. 

If you can't tell by now, I completely and utterly fell in love with this place and almost wished we had a bit more time in Sintra but little did I know just how much I would later fall for Porto!

With still so much to see in Sintra, we descended the windy mountainous moss covered road to the center of town...

and did a bit of shopping...I bought the most unusual hand knit sweater/shawl at this little boutique whose name escapes me but, I will never forget as they treated me to a free tasting of the chocolate cherry Ginjinha and, carry a nice un-touristy selection of gifts, Port and Wine!

and of course Eating!  
Sintra is famous for their pastries and the place to have them is at Piriquita, a famous pastry shop that’s been around for over a hundred years.  

Queijadas and Travesseiros are available all throughout Portugal but Piriquita is famous for them so naturally, we had to try one or...two.  

The name of these pastries comes from its shape, similar to a travesseiro (pillow in English) and the long, sugar coded 'pillows' are flaky on the outside and creamy on the inside.  Freshly made throughout the day, they are served warm and perfect for a mid-afternoon snack as you regroup and take a break from all the walking and for us, the rain.  The recipe is a secret, patented and probably worth a fortune but I've managed to find it just for you my faithful readers.

The boys thought that they were just OK but for me, they were a tasty companion to a steamy hot cup of café con leche and I really just wanted to sit for a while!
The name Piriquita which means Parakeet comes from the nickname King Carlos gave Constança Gomes due to her small stature...see, I'm a wealth of information!
The main coffee-shop is right in the middle of the Historical Center but if you're there on a Wednesday when it's closed, head over to 'Piriquita 2' a little bit further up the street to make sure that you can get your fill of the baked goodness!
So now we were all dry, full and happy and made our way around town only to come upon Sintra's Toy Museum where Jacob picked up a little 3-headed dragon...how happy does this kid look!?

Granted that there is never enough time but there was still so much left to explore and the rain had finally subsided to allow us to enjoy the beautiful town with its winding cobblestone alleys where we uncovered little gems along the way...

Unfortunately, time was not on our side as we had things to do and places to see so we slowly started to make our way back...

 to say our goodbyes to the beautiful Seteais Palace vowing to return some day...

Next STOP...Nazaré!

Day 2 Lisbon

After a good nights sleep, a much needed Lanvin shower (can you believe it!!??)...

and delicious breakfast at Pastelaria Suica overlooking Rossio Square...

we set out to discover Lisbon this time on Tram #28, a vintage tram that has been in operation since 1873 and presently comprises five urban lines...

Take this if you want an overview of the city but be wary that the line to get on may be long and once on, you may need to stand as this is a very popular way to get around...

The vintage tram is fun if, you get a view that is, and takes passengers on a scenic trip from the city center at sea level up through the narrow maze of streets towards St. George Castle which was our first stop of the day.

Saint George's Castle or, Castle of São Jorge, can be seen from almost everywhere in the city and is located in Alfama, Lisbon's most emblematic quarter and one of the most rewarding for walkers and photographers thanks to its medieval alleys and fantastic views...   

The oldest parts of the castle date from the 6th century, when it was fortified by the Romans, Visigoths, and eventually the Moors.  It served as a Moorish royal residence until Portugal's first king Afonso Henriques captured it in 1147 with the help of northern European crusaders on their way to the Holy Land.  It was then dedicated to St. George, the patron saint of England, commemorating the Anglo-Portuguese pact dating from 1371, and became the royal palace until another one was built in today's Comercio Square.

It is now an oasis of peace, but just past the main gate is a statue of King Afonso Henriques and a series of cannons, reminders of the castle's original purpose...

What remains of the Alcaçovas Palace where medieval kings lived, is a stone building now housing a restaurant and round the back, a small archaeological museum in three underground chambers (including the one where Vasco da Gama was once received by King Manuel). 

Most of the castle was destroyed over the years, especially in the Great Earthquake, but still includes a long extension of walls and 18 towers all of which we climed...

That's Phil across the tower...

and that's me and Jacob!

We climbed the towers and walk along the ramparts for the most breathtaking views of the city...

Relaxed in the gardens where peacocks, geese and ducks strut around...

Took in the breathtaking views from every possible angle...

and grabbed some lunch before taking our leave...Yes, these are sardines and they were delicious!

on to the next stop...

During our walk down, we came across Conserveira de Lisboa, a canned food shop that looked more like a candy store with its bright colors and bustling vibe...

Conserveira de Lisboa was first known as Mercearia do Minho and was established in 1930, here we be bought canned sardines, octopus and squid...

Next on the list was Belém, the last Lisbon neighborhood before the beach side suburbs and located where the river meets the Atlantic.  Belém is home to the city’s most famous monuments and museums such as Jerónimos Monastery, one of the most prominent monuments of the Manueline-style architecture in Lisbon -classified in 1983 as a UNESCO World Heritage Site- along with the nearby Tower of Belém ...

Across from Jeronimos Monastery, we took an underpass to the Discoveries Monument, built on the north bank of the Tagus River in 1960 to commemorate the 500th anniversary of the death of Prince Henry the Navigator...

It represents a three-sailed ship ready to depart, with sculptures of important historical figures such as King Manuel I carrying an armillary sphere, poet Camões holding verses from The Lusiads, Vasco da Gama, Magellan, Cabral, and several other notable Portuguese explorers, crusaders, monks, cartographers, and cosmographers, following Prince Henry the Navigator at the prow holding a small vessel. The only female is queen Felipa of Lancaster, mother of Henry the navigator, the brain of the discoveries...

Inside is an exhibition space with temporary exhibits, an interesting film about the city of Lisbon, and an elevator that takes visitors to the top for some bird's-eye views of Belem and its monuments...

The pavement in front of the monument is decorated with a mosaic that was offered by the South African government in 1960, representing a compass with the map of the world charting the routes taken by the Portuguese explorers. 

Walking back, we took time to admire the Belem cultural and arts center originally controversial for its striking modern architecture next to the historical Jeronimos Monastery.  The Belem Cultural Center or, CCB, was built to host Portugal's presidency of the European Union in 1992 and  has since become the host of numerous international exhibitions, cultural events and congresses, and is also an arts complex with the city's largest auditorium...

Wow, that was a lot but it didn't stop us!  Naturally, in order to keep going, we needed a snack and headed to the famous Pasteis de Belem for their famous Pasteis de Belém or, Pasteis de nata, Portugal's creamy custard cups wrapped in a crackly pastry.  Although they are served in every cafe throughout Portugal, trust me when I say that this is the only place to get them warm, crunchy, creamy and delicious! 

Just what we needed to keep our energy up and ready to go we made our way home to change and set out for the night... 

We tried to catch Fado at A Tasca do Chico, the Fado house in the middle of the Bairro Alto district that Anthony Bourdain recommended on "No Reservations" but they didn't have it on this particular night so, we posed for pictures...

and went to this place the name of which I don't recall but will add if it comes to me....

All in all another amazing day in Lisbon but it was not over until we walked down this hill to get back to the comforts of our hotel...

Needless to say my skinny jeans fit me better than ever!