After our Pousada breakfast in Palmela, we drove 25 km to the end of the road at Cabo Espichel. The landscape was stunning, with tall cliffs pounded by the Atlantic Ocean. We walked around Santuario de Nossa Senhora, a church built for pilgrims in the early 1700's, and the Capela de Hermida de Memoria, built in the 1400's. We walked above the cliffs to the lighthouse, built in 1790. It was a beautiful day and the coastline was breathtaking!
We began the drive back toward Palmela with a stop at the castle in Sesimbra, where we visited the village chapel with its interior walls covered in azulejos. We drove down the hill to the city of Sesimbra for a walkabout and lunch on the waterfront. The day was perfect! We drove along the coast back to Setubal and on to Palmela, stopping at beaches along the way.
Portugal's coastline is stunning!
Portugal's coastline is stunning!
When we returned to the Pousada, we were greeted by Fernanda, at the reception desk. She has lived her life in Palmela. She gave us advice about our day's adventure, so she wanted to hear about it. She invited us for a glass of wine in a local cafe. We ordered local wines, cheeses, and sweets, and spent a couple of hours talking with Fernanda. What a wonderful experience for us!
When we came out, the stars were out and the castle was lighted. Another great day!
