We got a word of advice and took the uber-touristy Tram28 right from its starting point to be able to get a seat.

What a fun ride all the way over to the castle area.

Just before the castle we stopped for a fun lunch in a corner restaurant. Even met the kid that marinated our olives!

https://lisbonlisboaportugal.com/amp/lisbon-tram-28-amp.html

Saint George’s castle was a great viewpoint to look at the city. The best surprise was the Camera Obscura that just opened as we came by. We got in and had the best fun looking at the city from a different angle.

The place is steeped in history, with the first settlement here at 8 BCE and the first defensive structure (castle) around the 11 hundreds.

But the reason this place is so popular, is that it is one if the best ‘miradouros’ (viewpoints) in the city. By the time we left in the mid-afternoon there were already families staking out their spots for a sunset 4 hours later.

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saint_George’s_Castle

We wandered the streets a bit just appreciating the sights and sounds all around us.

Came across the very colorful and aptly named ‘Pink Street’ and since a table just happened to open up, stopped for a little ‘refresher’

We headed over to the Time Out Market Lisboa for dinner. This is very slick high-end food hall and we had ‘pesticos’ – little plates – from various vendors

We alo met two most charming travellers from Nottingham, and just chatted with them for a while (Hi Ben and Catryn!)

Then headed home… fat, happy and tired.

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Time_Out_Market_Lisboa

We booked a tour to see the countryside and towns north of the city.

It was in an old Renault and the operator brought his girlfriend and the dog, Muse.

The puppy was adorable.

We stopped at this charming little village Aldeia da Mata Pequena for a picnic.

The story of this village was that the whole place was in ruins, and this couple was able to purchase the whole village. They painstakingly started restoring each house back as close to what it originally was. Really pretty.

The whole village is now a vacation get-away. And it is definitely away. Somewhere in the middle of nowhere.

The picnic was all local from the area. They put a lot of thought into the experience.

https://www.aldeiadamatapequena.com/?lang=en

We went for a quick look to the Palace of Mafra.

There is no photo that can describe the sheer size of this place. We took a peek inside one of the entrances. It is huge.

When we looked into the basilica (still part of the palace!) abruptly realized it is Sunday and there is a service being conducted.

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Palace_of_Mafra

Then we stopped at the most unusual roadside attraction.

José Franco was a ceramic artist famous in the area and Portugal.

Later on in life he wanted to start preserving what he thought was a disappearing lifestyle. He was mostly focused on the people we would now consider artisans, like blacksmiths, carpenters and others working with their hands.

He built this village museum and it is endearing to see.

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jose_Franco_(artist)

Last stop was a beautiful little seaside town. It is the surfing capital of Europe since it is the only European World Surfing Preserve.

In the old town you can still see the fishing boats on the beach next to people getting some sun. And with all the blue and white houses on the hillside it is all so picturesque.

We also tasted the local dessert snack made of dough, orange and egg yolk, named after a sea-urchin. Legend has it that the town was named after the abundance of sea-urchins in the waters by the Phoenicians

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ericeira

We said goodbye to our guides and Muse, their Jack Russel puppy.

After something refreshing to drink, we got on the train and headed back.

There was another ‘puppy’ the size of a pony on the train!

What fun!