Breakfast buffet service at the Palacio Hotel has been exceptional but today they could not keep up with replenishing the scrambled eggs and bacon. The fruit is plentiful and top rate. The peaches and oranges from the Algarve are superb. We headed off to Sintra after breakfast but this time along the coastal road that steadily climbed. The tourist literature described the road as hazardous. Narrow with many hairpin turns but a spectacular view of the Atlantic coast below. We must have climbed some 2,000 feet up through lush forest. Once you arrive at Sintra up you go further on a narrow winding road to Castelo dos Mouras and the Palacio Nacional. As we climbed to Palacio Nacional there was a huge traffic jam. A bus full of Spanish tourists had parked at an angle blocking the traffic. A huge group of men was attempting to lift up the bus and move it over so the traffic could pass. The were successful and we moved on.
The Palacio Nacional was the summer residence of the Portuguese monarchy and it commands a spectacular view of the coast. It is a blend of Moorish and baroque architecture. Comparable to Fontainebleau in France. As common in Portugal a heavy use of tiles. A beautiful cloister by the entrance. The ceilings are awesome. Through the mountains we drove home. Andrew and I had a swim at the Palacio and hunted dinner to eat in room. We had a fish and squid bash watched a few music videos and then off to bed.
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