Saudade

Saudade - a Portuguese word that has no exact English translation. As expressed in the book Distant Music (Lee Langley), "Saudade is a Portuguese condition that resists translation, composed of an unspecified yearning; a sense of displacement and solitariness, a longing for the familiar, with a knowledge of the immensity of distance and the fragility of human bonds. It is an ecstacy of nostalgia, an echo of waves beating on a distant shore ...".

So many memories, where to begin ...

Belém

Padrão dos Descobrimentos

Infante Dom Henrique, Prince Henry the Navigator, always Hip's hero, holding a caravela contemplating the shores of the River Tejo with the marinheiros explorers on both sides behind him. Hip's most favorite monument of all.

Mosteiro dos Jerónimos

Most beloved monastery. It blew our minds. Everyone's eyes wide open and jaws dropped when we walked into the 2-story cloisters. All that interesting intricate detailed allegorical carvings, the sunlight hitting the columns and the arches, more than a feast to our eyes. Each arch, column, statue, has so much meaning. The armillary sphere, the sea monsters, the seal of the Order of the Cross. All about the descobrimentos. Love it!

Sintra

Quinta da Regaleira

O Poço Iniciático, the inverted Tower of the Templars. The Manuelino architecture and the Templars myth. The grottos, the towers, the garden, and the mystical haunting palace with images of every Portuguese royalty and the history of their reigns. ever since the Hip's discovered this place online, finally being there. awestruck!

Palácio de Queluz
Quaint, intimate, quiet and adorable, always Hip's favorite.

Coimbra- The symbolic statues (Eloquência, Filosofia, Poesia, História, D. Dinis on the outside and D. João III on the inside facing the Escola, his great center of learning and his back to the city) of the Universidade, the Biblioteca Joanina, the Great Hall of the Palace, blew the Hip away. The city labyrinths a delight to walk. and oh the fados.

Porto - Ponte Dom Luís I, always this double-deck arch steel bridge over the Rio Douro in back memory. The gilt of the Igreja de São Francisco rivals the ones in St Petersburg, the azulejos of the Capela Santa Catarina and inside the São Bento train station, esquisite (on the south wall, a very young Prince Henry the Navigator), the stunning Escada of the Livraria Lello. This bookstore was marvellous (except for the super crowd just because it's HP famous). It has every book in every language under the sun.

Lisboa - rossio, restauradores, avenida da liberdade, the narrow winding ups and down streets of alfama, at the Largo do Carmo, in front of the Museu da Guarda Nacional Republicana, suddenly we started singing grândola vila morena, terra da fraternidade ... saudades.

Now all the photos:

Madeira

Another one off the bucket list.

Highlights:

Pico do Arieiro - dramatic peaks, howling winds, majestic, breathtaking, spectacular views of the Madeira central mountains. Literally blew the Hip away!

Levadas - water channels from the mountains to the farm irrigations. Easy walks, tranquil views, serene. Loved it!

Funchal Monte Palace Tropical garden - colorful terracota tiles depciting each Portuguese kingdom, displaying the entire Portuguese history, along the garden walkways. Gorgeous lake with azulejos and nice waterfall, gorgeous cycads, orchids, oriental gardens with lush green vegetation contrasting the red and black of the bridges and railings, azulejos, alicatados and marble, bronze and granite statues adorning the garden walkways. Beautiful views of Funchal and the Atlantic ocean. the most beautiful garden the Hippo's ever seen. Blew her away.

Pão de Santana - baked fresh, with sweet potato. So yummy with just butter

Wicker basket toboggan - 3km sitting on a basket going down the steep hill from Camino do Monte to Livramento, about a 10 mins run at about 48km per hour, steered by the Carreiros do Monte - thrilling, exhilarating, sliding round the corners of the very stepp narrow winding road.

Boat to Ilhas Desertas - a 2 hours water journey on the Bonita da Madeira, a majestic tall ship stretching an impressive 23 meters. On a very bad stormy day, rocking and splashing but the Hippo didnt get seasick. Interesting tour of the Deserted Grande island, with bare orange and red hills, and learned about the rangers station and water gathering.
The ocean was calmed on the return trip so smooth sailing, hot sun and we sat/lay on the bow open deck with the sun and the wind on our faces, with spectacular views of the deserted islands and the easternmost point of the Madeira Island, and finally great views of Funchal. Oh, and we spotted Pilot whales and tons of dolphins swimming in the ocean. Wonderfull journey and educational experience!

The Hippo enjoyed the island. It's beautiful. But it didnt tug her heart as did the Açores.

Now see the photos: