Sintra and Lisbon are Both Hilly!

June 28, 2014
Lisbon, Portugal



Ok, now I've cycled some hills in my lifetime, but nothing like we cycled the last few days! OMG!!! Steep, windy, narrow, trafficky...yup, 'bout sums it up!!!!! Poor April...I was killing her! But the cars and trucks and busses were so considerate of us grinding our little hearts out on the side of the road.

We got into Sintra and decided it just had too much to see that we needed to stay a night. Besides, it was getting quite populated and wild camping was going to be difficult. Sintra is really a suburb of Lisbon being only 20 miles away...and there's even a commuter train to there...but I get ahead io myself.

First we needed to find a hostel with room for our trikes. Not always an easy task. One popped up on Google Maps so over we went. Old building. Gigantic, old foyer. Third floor walk up to hostel:(. Back in 45 minutes, said the sign. Check online...booked a twin room for 30€ ($20 ea). Yes!

A quick tour of some of the historic district with houses hoping straight up the hillside, castles on the hilltop, palaces all around...and cars and busses and tourists everywhere...told us we needed to ditch these bikes. There's was no way we'd cycle up any street here and we'd clog traffic trying. Back to the hostel. Bikes could stay in foyer! I stashed my camping gear in a little used closet I found under the stairs. Not carrying all the stuff up 3 flights! Adorable hostel. Free breakfast included. Scored! Now to figure out what to see in a short afternoon. A tour guide mentioned the amazing gardens of Quinta de Regaleira and the hostel host said the Pena Palace way up on the hill was not to be missed. And there was a Hop On Hop Off bus you could get for 5€. I like that! Our legs were burnt from cycling into this hilly town. Nothing left to walk hills with..no!

The Pena Palace must have been what Disney modeled its palaces after:










And the view was amazing too!

But I forgot to mention the excitement on the bus going up there. The streets are very, very, very narrow with many blind curves. The driver breed around each one because he had to put the bus across the whole road to make the turns. What did we meet but a loaded Harley Davidson with a couple on it. They stopped just barely before hitting the bus, but the weight of the bike slowly tipped them over! They they are, the men off the bus, pushing it upright again! And then we all went merrily on our way, but the bike had a few bruises and the riders may have too. Whew!




On the way down to town center, we went to the gardens with caves and pools and waterfalls. Again, landscaped up this steep hillside with tennis courts, aquariums, and grottos galore! This is a staircase built into a cave.





The next day we had to get into Lisbon and my original plan was to bike in, but April came up with a better plan: train!!




And what a great idea it was...it let us off just over a kilometer from our hostel. Who knew that kilometer would take us an hour to do! Steep like I've never known! 15% grade or worse! I'd say. Then add cobblestones, and trolley tracks, and streets that are one car wide, and go in every possible direction...always UP! So lost! But rescued by some guys when our trike tires dropped into trolley tracks and we were blocking traffic!



And Johnie's Place, although it looked sketchy from the outside is adorable too and plenty of room for trikes!

Next we have to get ready for flying to London, so I need a box for my gear:



Livin' the life!

BagLady