The Pena Palace: The Most Magical Place On Earth Or At Least In Portugal

The Pena Palace In Sintra, Portugal

     Have you ever seen something so bizarre, so unique that you have to pinch yourself to believe that it is real.  For me, the Pena Palace in Sintra would definitely fall into this category.  It is a castle that defies belief and summons up visions of childhood dreams on a grandiose scale.

     The Pena Palace is an amalgamation of styles, colors, and shapes like no other place on earth and was the brainchild of the flamboyant Prince Ferdinand.  He was born in 1816 and grew up in the National Palace.  This traditional home to the Portuguese royalty was confining to the young prince and left him wanting something more, something to call his own.  Granted the National Palace is a very grand palace with hundreds of rooms, beautiful frescoes, and incredibly carved wood everywhere, but it seemed to lack the panache that the future king of Portugal wanted for himself.  But how would he go about it?  How do you create a legacy for yourself? 

     The answer came to him when he went to Bavaria to visit his cousin Ludwig.  For those who do not know, "Mad King" Ludwig designed one of the most incredible castles in all of Europe, Neuschwanstein.  This place is so iconic, so beautiful that Walt Disney used it as the inspiration for his "Sleeping Beauty's Castle" at Disneyland.  Anyway Ferdinand was so impressed with his cousin's masterpiece, that he decided to make one for himself. 

     So like any self respected monarch, he called on the best architects in the land and began to create his legacy.  He incorporated Moorish and Visigoth motifs in his new palace as a way of honoring Portugal's past as well as contemporary trends like Neo-Baroque and Neo-Gothic.  The final result is a brightly colored fantastical palace that is fit for any European royalty.  The place is full of Islamic arches and classic castle turrets.  It is truly a massive palace full of obscure and contradictory styles that seem to be taken out of a fantasy world and placed in the roughed foothills of Portugal.  It truly is a sight to behold and the best part is that Ferdinand selected the top of very a large mountain for the Pena Palace to be built upon.  This would way it would give it the most stunning of views possible and he could look down on his childhood home and smile, knowing full well that the whole valley would have to look up at his life long ambitions.

     I personally love seeing the results of one man's vision and how it can become a reality.  The Pena Palace is truly the fulfillment of this life long dream and an amazing place to see for yourself.

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"Our Lips Meet Easily, High Across The Narrow Streets" : A Stroll Through The Alfama

The Alfama of Lisbon, Portugal

     Have you ever walked down a narrow cobblestone road and felt that you have just step back in time.  This is the case for me, every time I venture down the medieval streets of the Alfama.  I do not know if it is the little old ladies that are clad from head to toe in black heading down these quiet little lanes on their way to the market, or could it be the laundry gently blowing in the wind as it hangs between the rod iron balconies.  Either way this classic neighborhood has a rustic charm and ambiance that is seldom scene in this modern age. 

     To adequately experience this tremendous neighborhood, you need to stroll through it's characteristic lanes for yourself.  I would begin at the highest point in Lisbon, Castelo de Sao Jorge (The St. George Castle).  This formidable castle overlooks the sprawling city below and provides the onlookers with the most breath taking of views.  Here you can see a plethora of red tiled roofs and white stucco walls all against the deep azure of the Tejo River.  From the castle you descend into the old sailors quarter, also known as the Alfama.  This throwback to a begotten era, is a collection of gritty maze like streets that date back to the 700's.  They were originally designed to twist and turn to disorient and discourage invading armies that planed on attacking the castle.  Unlike the rest of Lisbon, this jumble of roads and buildings survived the great earthquake of 1755 and thus has retained it's original grandeur, from it's crumbling statuary to the hand painted tiles that were imported from Brazil to keep these buildings insulated from the relentless heat of the Mediterranean sun.  These tiles are a beautiful reflection of the cities very long and turbulent history.  Some of them are decorated with elaborate geometric designs, which are heavily influenced from the days when the Islamic Moore's ruled this part of the world.  Other designs impart a deep seated devotion to God which is exhibited in religious scenes and famous portraits of well known and beloved saints that are prayed upon to protect the various families still living within the Alfama.  While others depict scenes of everyday life in simplistic, in yet elogant ways.  The best thing about these gorgeous tiled walls is that these artistic treasures are everywhere and create yet another layer to this unique montage.

     Now pause and take a deep breath.  That overwhelming aroma that is coursing through these shaded lanes is a wonderful combination of clams being slow cooked in olive oil and garlic as well as the saltiness of the near by sea.  As you continue your decent to the river, you will inadvertently stumble across those quintessential moments that will allow you to see what everyday life is like in the Alfama.  Be it a couple of older gentlemen playing a game of cards in the Largo Santa Luzia or a group of young kids reenacting last nights futbol match in a small ally way.  As you wined through these tight little lanes, you will undoubtedly hear the haunting sounds of Fado reverberating through the streets.  This heart wrenching music is the national obsession for the Portuguese and it is the soul of these roughed streets.  In fact, if you come down here at night, you will be quick to discover that the bars are full of extremely talented locals lamenting about love and of love lost. 

     As you finally arrive at the river, look back and remember the rustically charming neighborhood that you have just visited, because in this era of constant change and modernization, the Alfama is definitely a romantic vision of what yesterday was like in this part of the old world.

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There Is No Such Thing As A Free Ride, But I Would Beg To Differ

United Airlines Accidentally Gives Away Airline Tickets

If you haven't herd  yet, last week United Airlines made a colossal mistake.  For several hours, they were selling tickets for as low as $0.  Yeah, you herd right, free airline tickets!  Could you imagine, getting to travel anywhere for free.  Now if you were one of the lucky few to capitalize on this mistake of epic proportions, then you know that there is still a few airport taxes associated with these incredibly cheap seats, but still a flight from Los Angeles to Memphis for seven dollars is still a deal to remember.  So how did these auspicious circumstances come about?  Well, it was a simple case of operator error.  One of United's technological "experts" just happen to key in an incorrect number and alakazam, free airline tickets.  As of the latest info that I could gather, United has been quite reluctant to divulge the exact number of free tickets that they accidentally gave away, but the rumor is, is that it could be in the thousands.  Talk about making a costly mistake!  So if you are one of the chosen few who happen to snatch up one of these illustrious "golden tickets", I would like to say to you, congratulations on your amazing windfall and of course bon voyage!

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Helping The Children Of The World, One Shot At A Time

Young Children From The Village Of Savora, Kenya

     Have you herd about Walgreen's newest promotion?  If you have not, then check this out, if you purchase a vaccination from their Healthcare Clinic between now and October 14th they will provide a life saving vaccine to a child in a developing nation.  How cool is that?  If you are like me and need to get that upcoming flu shot or plan on getting a Yellow Fever Booster for that next trip to the tropics, then you could help a child in need.  For those who don't know, only one in five children world wide have proper immunization from common childhood ailments like mumps, measles, rubella, and polio.  These disease are extremely deadly and are very common with kids.  Also, did you know that in Africa, over one million individuals die from malaria each year.  This is again a disease that could be easily treated with medication.  However, the access to these medications are limited and in desperate need in certain parts of the world.  So for a business like Walgreen's to go the extra mile in this era of corporate greed, is astonishing, and I would like to commend them on this magnificent promotion.  I  would also like to suggest that if you are planning to get a shot this fall, then at least consider getting it at your local Walgreen's and help a child in need.

To learn more about this great promotion or about Walgreen's partnership with the United Nations Foundation Shot @ Life Campaign then check out this link:

http://www.walgreens.com/topic/shotatlife.jsp?ban=tert_shotatlife

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Great Itineraries: Lisbon

Arch of Triumph, Lisbon, Portugal

Lisbon is a city that most people are completely unfamiliar with.  Is it because of the small number of tourists roaming the cobble stone boulevards or is it the lack of world famous sites?  I don't know, but if you have not had the opportunity to see this incredible city then you should most certainly do so.  The first thing that tourists will immediately notice, is that this place is chalked full of remarkable architecture.  You can see an amalgamation of styles from the past thousand years on each and every street block.   You can see everything from Medieval winding streets in the Alfama, to exquisite Manueline in Belem to Neo-renaissance in Baxia.  Lisbon will have something for everyone and it will amaze visitors with it's stunning array of architecture.  Throw in a mixture of extremely kind locals and a diverse populace from it's former colonies and you will have a cultural experience that is unseen in Europe.  So if you are looking for a truly unique opportunity that is slightly off of the beaten path then come to Lisbon and be prepared to be amazed.

Day 1

• 9:00 A.M.         Head to Sao Jorge Castle by a vintage 1920's trolley car
• 9:30 A.M.         Take in some incredible views of this beautiful city from the ramparts of this former royal palace
• 11:00 A.M.        Stroll through the Alfama and admire the roughed beauty of the old sailors quarter
• 1:00 P.M.           Lunch
• 2:00 P.M            Take in the majesty of the historic old town of the Baxia and it's unique cobblestone streets
• 3:00 P.M.           Checkout the impressive Romanesque cathedral of Se
• 4:00 P.M.           Take in the breath taking views of the city from the Barrio Alto
• 5:00 P.M.           Sao Roque Church
• 6:00 P.M.           Have an evening cocktail at The Port Wine Institute 
• 7:00 P.M.           Diner

Day 2

• 9:00 A.M.          Take a trolley to Belem
• 9:30 A.M.          Gasp in amazement at the sheer beauty of the Monastery of Jeronimos
• 11:30 A.M.        Head to either the Maritime Museum or The National Coach Museum
• 1:00 P.M.           Grab a memorable snack at Casa Pasteis de Belem
• 2:00 P.M.           Relive Portugal's glory days at The Monument To The Discoveries
• 4:00 P.M.           Climb the picturesque Belem Tower
• 7:00 P.M.           Sit down to an authentic diner and a soulful Fado show

Day 3

• 9:00 P.M.           Take the train to Sintra
• 10:00 P.M.         Visit the former summer residence of Portuguese royalty at the National Palace
• 12:00 P.M.         Have lunch in this cute but touristy town
• 1:00 P.M.           Be mesmerized by the most remarkable castle in all of Europe at the Pena Palace
• 3:00 P.M.           Climb through the ruins of an 11th century Moorish Castle
• 5:00 P.M            Head back to Lisbon
• 7:00 P.M.           Have one last meal in this amazing city

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Is Travel Insurance Truly Worth It?

The Stunning Caribbean, Montego Bay, Jamaica

     Have you ever been in the middle of booking a dream vacation to a breathtaking island or to that chic mountain ski resort, and seen that offer for travel insurance?  Most people instantly click no thanks and move on, but should you actually consider it?  It is only a small amount of money, between 30 and 80 dollars per person, but if you are like me, you want to get the most for every dollar you spend.  So how do you decide if this extra expense is worth it?  There are several key factors that you have to consider before you can truly know if this is the right decision for you.

     The first of all, where are you going and what time of year is it?  If you are heading to the Caribbean, Mexico, or the gulf coast to soak up that incredible sun and to swim in those turquoise waters, then you need to remember that hurricane season runs from August through October.  So if you are planning on taking advantage of the cheap deals here, be prepared to be flexible.  Hurricanes are relatively easy to track and it is easy to know when to cancel your trip.  This way you can move your trip to a safer and drier locale.  So if you are planning on traveling to this part of the world in the late summer and fall, I would highly recommend getting the insurance.  This way you are not out those precious vacation dollars and you can rebook some where else, or be forced to pay those ridiculous cancellation fees.  This same strategy can be used when you travel to places with bad winters.  If you are traveling in and out of Denver, Montreal, New York City, or any other city with a reputation for deep snow, I would strongly recommend that you get the insurance in the winter time, November through February. This way you can avoid being snowed in or have your flight canceled due to sever weather. 

     Besides bad weather you should seriously consider spending the extra money if there is a decent chance that something may interfere with your travel plans.  You know, real world issues like the potential birth of your first grand child, those cute little babies can come early, or if you have a history of health issues that might keep you from traveling.  Who would like to lose out on their vacation money because they could end up in the hospital.  So if there are any reasonable complications on horizon, then I would definitely spend the extra cash.  However, if these sort of complications are nowhere in sight, then I would emphatically say no and use that money on better things, like another mai tai or a decadent desert.

     So for me, I personally feel that travel insurance can be a small investment for a large piece of mind, but it can be just one more unnecessary cost to that dream vacation.  Thus, only you can judge what is the right thing for you.

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September's Letter From The Editor

Hanging Out At The Belem Tower

     What do you get when you take a former colonial giant with an elaborate seafaring past, toss in an eclectic mix of cultural influences from Asia, Africa, and South America, and then throw in the beauty of the Mediterranean for good measure?  You have one of my favorite cities in all of the world, Lisbon, Portugal.  This ancient city is an amalgamation of jaw dropping architecture, sublime food, and some of the most friendliest people on Earth.  This month, we are going to explore this magnificent city, and all of it's incredible treasures.  We will meander through Lisbon's unique and vibrant neighborhoods as well as be amazed by the spectacular architecture of Belem.  We'll also savor one of the most incredible pastry on the planet and stroll through lavish palaces that the Portuguese royalty use to call home.  So join us as we venture through this magnificent city.

Chris Morrison
Writer and Editor of
The Thrifty Adventurer

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