Tag: Castles

When they opened the backpack – I was in Portugal!

Why would they take me, Adventure Cow, to Portugal?

Because Portugal is full of adventures! It wouldn’t have been right to leave this AC at home – Linda and Andy wanted to see and hike the Algarve. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Algarve
Ah, the Seven Hanging Valley’s of the Algarve.
Linda and Andy particularly wanted to see this section of the Algarve, so we started there.
All AC’s, and AP’s (Adventure People), might want to see this too.
https://www.walkalgarve.com/algarve-walking-sightseeing-birding-routes/seven-hanging-valleys-trail-lagoa-western-algarve
Yes, it is beautiful! But, look at all those steps.
Pay no attention to the sharp rocks below – the views are amazing
It was windy! I got caught in a tree.
Isn’t it beautiful?
Whoooo! Look how high up I am! This is fun.
As we reach the west Atlantic coast, there are not as many trees, and the ocean is very rough.
Rough, I tell you.
The rocks are huge! Can you see me on Selema Beach?
I’m ready for my close up now. But, the rocks are still really big!
The rocks are sharp, but it is worth the walk to see the sunset at the Sagres Lighthouse https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lighthouse_of_Ponta_de_Sagres
As we walk our way north to Pedralva, the topography becomes very flat, with very few trees. https://www.aldeiadapedralva.com/en/
After a day hiking around Carrapateria, the hiking part of the Portugal trip was over.
Ryanair took all of us up to Porto to begin our train journey to see other parts of Portugal.
Who can resist a bookstore? The owners of this one in Porto, Livreria Lello, say it may be the most beautiful bookshop in the world. Maybe… https://www.amazingplaces.com/portugal/livraria-lello/
We know for sure that it has a wonderful staircase and a lot of people who want to see it.
Porto is also home to one of the most beautiful train stations, Sao Bento. The pictures on the walls are tile! https://www.europeanbestdestinations.com/travel-guide/porto/sao-bento-train-station/
You can take the train from Sao Bento to Pinhao in the Duoro Valley – that’s what we did anyway.
The hills are steep – nonetheless, the Portuguese have been growing grapes and making wine here for hundreds of years. https://www.visitportugal.com/en/content/douro-valley
It is not easy, but you can climb up the ancient steps to reach the vineyards.
From the Douro Valley the train took us south to Coimbra. It is an old university town on the Mondego River. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coimbra
Coimbra was occupied by the Romans for hundreds of years. The remnants of a Roman palace are the foundation of the Coimbra National museum.
https://www.centerofportugal.com/entity/machado-de-castro-national-museum
Back on the train again. This time we stopped in Sintra. https://www.sintra-portugal.com/index.html
Andy and Linda took me to the top of the Moorish castle there.
On a clear day you can see all the way to Lisbon – it was not a clear day. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Castle_of_the_Moors
The next day in Sintra we went to Parque de Monseratte. It has a wonderful waterfall that you can walk right into. https://www.parquesdesintra.pt/en/parks-monuments/park-and-palace-of-monserrate/
After the Monseratte they took me too the well at Regaleira Quinta da Anazade. We had to wait in line to see it. https://www.regaleira.pt/pt/
Careful! Do not drop me down the Regaleira well. I just wanted a good look at it.
After visiting the palaces and castles of Sintra, we were off to Lisbon.
Here we are climbing the steps of the Alfama, the oldest part of the city.
https://lisbonlisboaportugal.com/Alfama-Lisbon/Alfama-district-lisbon.html
After a day spent on a great walking tour of Lisbon, it was time to leave Portugal and it’s trains behind. Time to get back on the plane and return to the US.

Austin is ok. They took me to the Paramount Theater to see Whose Live Anyway and that was fun, but it did not have a good picture opportunity. I think we are going to another show next week, maybe then I can come out again.

Happy Adventuring, AP’s!

AC is on the run this summer

He found a train in Porthmadog, Wales

And then the engineer let AC drive it – Welch Highland Heritage Railways https://www.whr.co.uk/
Even being put in the stocks at Cardiff Castle did not end his journey. https://www.cardiffcastle.com/
Here, he waits his turn to climb to the top of Cardiff Castle.
Yum, yum; grass to snack on while we wait.

AC found lots of other castles as he journeyed around Wales:

https://cadw.gov.wales/visit/places-to-visit/dolbadarn-castle
https://cadw.gov.wales/visit/places-to-visit/criccieth-castle
The Abergavenny Castle said you could not climb on it – AC, just hid in the fencing. https://www.breconbeacons.org/poi/castles-abergavenny-castle
At Crickhowell Castle he played on the wall and found flowers growing next to it. https://www.breconbeacons.org/poi/castles-crickhowell-castle
In fact, he found a whole rose garden next to the Crickhowell Castle.

He didn’t just find castles and flowers on his adventure, he also found lots of water and waterfalls.

AC is at the base of the Pwll y Wrach Nature Preserve’s waterfall. He helped Andy take about 100 pictures of this area – it is beautiful and solitary. There are no other people in this picture because there were no other people. https://www.visitmidwales.co.uk/things-to-do/pwll-y-wrach-nature-reserve-p1723441
Along the rocky path of Beddelgert Gorge
AC takes a good look at the river before climbing higher up the mountain.
Time to take a well-earned break as AC has just finished walking over a mile on the Black Rock Sands Beach. Note it is the rock, which is not visible in this picture, that is black, not the sand. But, the sand is so firm on this beach that you can drive your car to your favorite spot. https://www.visitsnowdonia.info/black-rock-sands
While resting, again, AC takes in the view of the Pontsarn Viaduct as we make our way from Crickhowell to Brecon along the canal path.
https://www.visitmerthyr.co.uk/things-to-do/places-of-interest/pontsarn-viaduct/
He found another viaduct in Llanberis.
This bridge is almost hobbit-like; beautifully crafted of bent wood, granite slabs, and old train rails. If you take the walk around Lake Padarn in Llanberis, you too can play on this bridge. https://www.visitsnowdonia.info/lake-walk-padarn-country-park-llanberis

You know AC loves a good hike. He had lots of them in Wales while we completed two Inn-2-inn walks; one in Brecon Beacons and one in Snowdonia.

AC points to the trail up Mt. Blorenge.
https://www.abergavenny.org.uk/things-to-do/walking-and-hiking/the-blorenge
He makes his way through many obstacles
It appears he even needed hiking sticks to make his way down the Table Top Mountain. https://www.walkingbritain.co.uk/walk-3717-description
A surprisingly rocky top for a Table Top Mountain.
Another day he made it all the way to the top of Pen y Fan, the second tallest mountain in Wales. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pen_y_Fan
We made it to the top too.
You don’t see something like this on most walks. This Royal Mail box was Yarn Bombed with the cutest nautical scene. AC had to join in.
AC did not want to hike to the top of the highest peak in Wales, Mt. Snowden, so he took a cog train (which only went 3/4 of the way up – he did not see the top of the mountain) where he met some very friendly folks.

AC is still on the run. He has a few more hikes to complete and a few places in London he would like to see.

More next time. Cheers!