Cascais—Last Full Day

Today we dinked around town, walking down to the park again after breakfast at Cafe Da Eli, and after meandering through the park and neighborhoods we sat on a bench opposite McDonalds watching folks make their way to the main shopping street. We're just wasting some time today, because we've seen most of Cascais. Did a bit of wading along Praia da Rainha though.

Lots of people on the beach sunbathing and swimming. European public schools started their two week break October 22nd, and many Northern Europeans are here with their kids relaxing in the sun, paddle boarding, swimming, making sand castles and clearly pleased Cascais isn't as packed with tourists as the summer months.

We mixed it up this morning adding ham and cheese to 

our croissant.

The young woman who served us yesterday remembered my
order from yesterday. She delivered this wryly saying, "More
coffee than milk." and I responded with "You bet obrigado."

It's October 24th and can you see
the butterfly?

Neighborhood streets on our way
to the park.

Found art inside the park. It's the Earth made from beach plastic.

Sculpture of mom lifting child.

Peacocks roam the park.

Guimaraes Castle's backsides is a gothic knock off built in 1902
by Jorge O'Neil, the same tobacco baron who built the House of
St. Mary across the street on the seaside of the bridge. Today the
Castro Guimaraes Museum displays varied 17th century items
and a 16th century illustrated manuscript of Henry the
Navigator's exploits.

The beach at the rear of Castro Guimares Museum is lovely 

and nearly private. When the tide is high the beach disappears.

These people were visiting under the bridge after a swim. 

Chickens, ducks, peacocks freely wander the park. 

Enjoyed the narrow streets near

the park and Cascais Citadel, look-

ing for inviting places.

Places like these two.

Or this one or...

...this one overlooking the harbor...

...stepping out the door to the city center, beach, and harbor.

Bank of public phones at the mall. So nostalgic!

Back at Nudle Ramen House for linner. I had the chicken

and vegetable ramen dish...

...and Marie had the tofu and veggie ramen dish.

This market was taking place in the parking lot of the Cascais

Fish Market, but instead of Monday's flea market, this was all 

about inexpensive clothes, shoes, bedding, & household items. 

Tomorrow we travel, catching a local bus from our apartment to the Cascais train station and a 40 minute train trip where we'll connect with the Lisbon Metro at Cas de Sodre where we'll end up at Oriente Train station where we'll catch a Rede Expresso bus to Albufeira. All-in-all, we're talking five hours of traveling fun.