Cascais cycle hire
I have no idea how this system works, but I noticed cycles were available for hire for free.
Posts Tagged ‘Cascais’
Cycles for hire in Cascais
April 15, 2014Our Soul Is A Spray Can
April 2, 2014
Our Soul Is A Spray Can
Graffiti on streets of Cascais.
Residencial Solar Dom Carlos
March 23, 2014
Residencial Solar Dom Carlos
Residencial Solar Dom Carlos is a 16th century former Royal Household, where the King of Portugal loved to spend his summer.
Located in Rua Latino Coelho, in the old city, lovely narrow cobbled streets, quiet.
A little run down and in need of investment. Catch 22, economic crisis, austerity, no money, fewer tourists.
walled garden
A lovely walled garden, though like the house, in need of care and attention. A quiet place to sit and relax, to eat a roll I had saved from breakfast and nuts and dried fruit from the local market.
Wonderful staff, always pleasant and went out of their way to be helpful.
Rooms large and spacious, with quality wooden furniture, no shortage of storage space, with a chest of drawers, two bedside cabinets, and a wardrobe, for a room with a double bed. Plus a fridge, which I turned off at night. The large double bed was comfortable. Extra blankets if cold. A kettle and tea for tea making.
a room with a view
The room at the top of the house was accessed by very steep stairs, and quite a climb, and not as good as the rooms lower down, but more than compensated for by the view, or to be more accurate views, as windows facing in all four directions.
Spacious bathroom too, though hot water took a few minutes to arrive, though when it did, it was piping hot.
breakfast room
breakfast room
Breakfast was served in a lovely panelled room with murals on the walls and a wonderful ceiling.
Breakfast was very poor and needs improvement. Poor choice, little variety, toast served as eating cereal, thus cold by the time eaten. No fruit juice. Nothing hot, though could order an egg at an extra cost. Choice of tea, black and green tea, herb teas. Hot water from the coffee machine was not hot enough to make a decent cup of tea.
I saved one of the rolls to eat later in the garden.
Free wifi was good, accessible from the lobby and breakfast room.
I had a problem, I did not charge my Google Nexus 7 thinking I could charge on arrival. I could not, the flat pins of my charger would not slip into the round holes of the wall socket. In Tenerife, the wall sockets accept flat and round pins. Reception offered me an adapter, but it did not work. I went in search of a net cafe, but could not find any. I did though find three computers in a supermarket (1 euro half an hour, 1.5 euro an hour). I used for half an hour, and charged Nexus 7 for half an hour via usb cable. The following day, I found a computer shop where I got an adapter (3.50 euros). A couple of days later, from the same shop, a charger (12.30 euros).
No food is served apart from breakfast, but 28 nearby is an excellent restaurant. I dined there most nights. Lunchtime, 28 offers a set meal for 8 euros.
Igreja de Nossa Senhora da Assunção is worth a visit. From the outside, a simple whitewashed church, with a very impressive statue of Pope John Paul II. If open, worth popping in.
Nothing in the town is any distance away.
On Wednesday and Saturday a street market.
Jardim Visconde da Luz is a pleasant little park, with orange trees, bookstalls, antique stalls and a carousel.
A very pleasant walk along the promenade. Part way along, can pick up the train, if too tired to walk back.
In one of the streets I found a wonderful secondhand bookshop.
Residencial Solar Dom Carlos is a BookCrossing zone.
Lisbon Airport to Cascais: airport bus to station, train to Cascais, taxi to Residencial Solar Dom Carlos.
Rua Latino Coelho
March 23, 2014
Rua Latino Coelho
Rua Latino Coelho is a narrow cobbled street in the old part of Cascais.
Residencial Solar Dom Carlos
Half way along Rua Latino Coelho, Residencial Solar Dom Carlos, a 16th century former Royal Household, now a hotel.
Rua Latino Coelho
Igreja de Nossa Senhora da Assunção
March 21, 2014
Our Lady of the Assumption
Pope John Paul II
Igreja de Nossa Senhora da Assunção
Igreja de Nossa Senhora da Assunção is a simple whitewashed church on the outside, fronted by lawns and palm trees, inside a delight to the eye.
I had briefly popped into this church one evening, but last night, late night, I was walking back from an excellent meal at 28 and was surprised to find open. Out of curiosity, I walked in, to find a service had just finished.
I discretely took a few photos, no flash, then when I saw the priest was free, asked him why the church was open.
He explained a little about the history of the church, and we had an interesting theological discussion until almost midnight.
As well as the gilt work, amazing blue ceramic tiles on the walls. This I have noticed on many of the buildings in Cascais. I learnt quite common in Portuguese churches.
I asked was the blue stone that surrounded the altar and formed the altar, marble? I was told yes. Blue marble I have never seen before. I was told it was quite rare, it was sourced from Brazil.
The church dates from the 16th century. The 1755 Lisbon Earthquake, also known as the Great Lisbon Earthquake, destroyed much of the surrounding area, leaving the church standing, but not untouched.
I assume the former Royal Palace, Residencial Solar Dom Carlos, I was staying in dated from this period.
My attention was drawn to an arch at the back of the church which could be seen to have partially collapsed in the middle, and columns either side which were slightly out of alignment to vertical.
A special thanks to the Parish Priest for sparing a passing pilgrim the time at so late an hour.
Synchronicity: It was the day after Festa de São José I was in Igreja de Nossa Senhora da Assunção talking to the Parish Priest. I mentioned a prayer by Abbot Burkhard in Istanbul. One week and one day later, Paulo Coelho in a tweet, referenced this prayer on his blog.
Dinner at 28
March 21, 2014
28
I had intended to dine at a Portuguese restaurant the other side of town, but I had been out all morning, walked along the promenade in the afternoon, it was cold, I was tired, it was therefore 28 just around the corner.
I had had soup at 28 at lunchtime, therefore it was a disappointment to have the same soup in the evening. Not that there was anything wrong with the soup, far from it, broccoli with pasta, very tasty.
For main course, stuffed chicken breast with rice and roast vegetables. It was not what I fancied, but I was pleasantly surprised, it was delicious.
By now I was full I thought though I could squeeze in cheesecake. No cheesecake! I settled for apple pie. Only it was not apple pie. It was an apple tart, with puréed apple mixed with cinnamon.
To finish off, cappuccino. It was different to a couple of nights ago, a lump of cream, plus it was not scalding hot. It did not have the unpleasant bitter taste of previous night.
If you only eat in one restaurant in Cascais, then 28 is a must, you will not be disappointed.
Wandering through the streets, I noticed the local Catholic church was open, even though now late at night. Out of curiosity I popped in, and had a very interesting conversation with the Parish Priest to nearly midnight.
Cascais promenade
March 20, 2014
promenade
I was going to Sintra on the bus, but was given misleading information.
Catch the bus behind the station. All I could see was a busy main road, no bus stops. I went to the front of the station, where there were buses and asked. No, it was the back of the station, but beneath the ugly shoppng centre.
I went there via a very unpleasant underpass, only to find I had missed the bus.
There were no signs to the bus station, no sign to indicate a bus station.
I decided to walk along the promenade, which runs alongside the railway line, and catch the train back.
At the first station along the line, I saw I had time to catch the train, and maybe catch the bus to Sintra. But no ticket office, and no idea how to use the ticket machine.
I hopped on the train, only to find I could not get out at Cascais as I had no ticket.
I hopped on the next train, alighted at the first stop, and continued my walk.
A had hoped to find another station, but no such luck. I had to walk back to the first station on the line. I managed to work the machine and obtained a ticket.
A pleasant walk.
En route, various exercise machines which walkers are encouraged to use.
The promenade is popular with walkers, joggers and cyclists.
Festa de São José
March 20, 2014
Christina y Paulo
A man without friends, a woman without friends, does not exist. — Paulo Coelho
An annual tradition friends gather together to celebrate St Joseph Day.
What purpose is life without friends?
A St Joseph Day Party, Paulo Coelho and friends at Hotel Fortaleza do Guincho.
Hotel Fortaleza do Guincho is a recently restored 17th century fortress-like complex along the coast from Cascais, which is along the coast from Lisbon.
The Portuguese were adventurers and navigators, what is life without adventure, without taking risks?
The evening started with cocktails, followed by Paulo and Christina welcoming everyone.
Rudolf sent his best wishes, he was sorry he could not be there, but Scorpions were performing in Moscow.
Prayers in many languages, Spanish, French, German, Chinese, Urdu, English, starting with Portuguese.
Followed by dinner, many different dishes, far more than anyone could manage to eat. The dishes served were traditional and regional Portuguese dishes.
At dinner everyone was given a present by Paulo, a St Joseph medallion in a black presentation box.
Followed by music and dancing.
Portuguese singer Mariza accompanied by two guitarists, followed by a group, followed by another group.
Music went on to a little after 2am. Those remaining then sat around chatting until some time gone three.
book signing
Book signing.
The day before, a premier of the film Não Pare Na Pista . I was invited, but did not learn of the invite until the following day.
A special thank you to Paulo and Christina for a wonderful evening, and for yet another introduction to a place worth visiting, this time Cascais.
Sunrise
March 19, 2014
sunrise
Sunrise at 0709 this morning overlooking Cascais.
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