February Break - Portugal

St. John's has a week long break in February.  Most people head to the Alps and ski until their hearts are content...we non-skiers...WE head to sunshine!  After thinking about all of the wonderful places that we could go, we finally settled on Portugal.

We found a house that was located in Caldas da Rainha, Portugal on VRBO.  The house looked great, reviewed well...so what else was there to do, but BOOK IT!  The great thing about the location of the house was that it was pretty close to a lot of great points of interest.  We also got to wake up to sunrises and fall asleep to sunsets overlooking the Atlantic.  It was our little piece of Heaven on the Silver Coast.

CASA MARTIN...for the week anyway...

OUR VIEW

We arrived on Saturday, after about a two and a half our plane ride.  The plane touched down in Lisbon, and the house was only about an hour drive away...well...it should have been.  After an extra hour and a half driving around...boom...we arrived (a little worse for wear and with 3 out of the 6 of us car sick--who knew Portugal was so curvy!)  Thanks to our great landlord the kitchen was stocked and it saved us another ride in the car.

We decided to take Saturday and Sunday to check out the house and just relax.  We checked out the playground at the house, goo-goo eyed the pool (it was too cold to swim), and scoped out the puzzles and board games on-hand.  

COLE TAKES PIPER FOR A RIDE ON THE TEETER-TOTTER

ALWAYS THE LOUNGER...SOPHIE FOUND THE HAMMOCK

LIVY-LOU SWINGING AWAY

A "NOT SO INTENSE" GAME OF CHESS (IT'S MORE ABOUT THE SNACKS)
WITH A VERY INTENSE "PUZZLE PUT-TOGETHER" IN THE BACKGROUND...

After settling in, we decided it was time to hop into our rental and venture back out on the open road.  Destination...Lisbon.  After working out all of our kinks on the first drive from Lisbon, this trip it REALLY only took us an hour....GO JASON!  

We arrived in Lisbon and our first stop was Oceanario de Lisboa, the Aquarium.  Sophie was really most excited to go to the aquarium because PreK's current Unit of Inquiry is Splish, Splash.  

The current main attraction at the aquarium is the Tartaruga.  What is a tartaruga, you say?  Anyone...anyone?  Why a TURTLE, of course.  They had all different species of turtles.  Big turtles, little turtles...it was amazing!  Our little splish-splasher was highly impressed!  

We looked at tanks and tanks of all different kinds of ocean life.  We saw fish swimming in schools, fish that glowed in the dark, and...of course, Nemo and Dory.  Does EVERY aquarium have them?!  We also got to see penguins and sea lions.

The mascot of the aquarium's name was Vasco.  We just HAD to get our picture taken with him!!

After we finished scoping out the Tartaruga's at the aquarium we decided to head over to see Belem Tower or Torre de Belem in Portuguese.  

This tower is also referred to as the Tower of Saint Vincent.  The tower was commissioned by King John II to be part of a defense system at the mouth of the Tagus River and a ceremonial gateway to Lisbon.  

The tower was built in the early 16th century.  It was crafted from limestone and is four stories tall.  

Right across the street from Belem Tower is Mosteriro dos Jeronimos.  We headed there next.  King Manuel I had the idea of erecting a large monastery close to the site where Henry the Navigator had built a church dedicated to Santa Maria de Belem in the 15th century.  With a view to perpetuating the memory of Henry and acknowledging his own great devotion to Our Lady and St. Jerome, Manuel I chose to establish the Monastery of Santa Maria de Belem on a site just outside Lisbon on the banks of the River Tagus.  The monastery was given to the Order of St. Jerome, which is why it was given the name of Jeronimos (or Hieronymite) Monastery.  

The Monastery is a cultural reference point that has attracted artists, chroniclers and travelers in the course of its five centuries of existence.  It also happens to be the final resting place of Portuguese explorer, Vasco da Gama.

The construction of the monastery and church began in January 1501 and was completed 100 years later.

Another landmark that is across the street from the monastery is Discoveries Monument.  The monument was built on the north bank of the Tagus River in 1960 to commemorate the 500th anniversary of the death of Prince Henry the Navigator.  

It represents a three-sailed ship ready to depart, with sculptures of important historical figures such as King Manuel I carrying an armory sphere, poet Camoes holding verses from The Lusiads, Vasco da Gama, Magellan, Cabral, and several other notable Portuguese explorers, crusaders, monks, cartographers, and cosmographers, following Prince Henry the Navigator at the front holding a small vessel.  The only female is Queen Felipa of Lancaster, mother of Henry the Navigator, the brain of the discoveries.

Toward the end of our visit in Lisbon it started to rain so we decided it was time to head back to the car and begin the journey back to the house in Caldas da Rainha.  We relaxed for the evening and rested up for our journey the next day to Fatima.

Our Lady of Fatima is a title for the Virgin Mary due to her reputed apparitions to three shepherd children at Fatima on the thirteenth day of six consecutive months in 1917, beginning on May 13th.  The three children were Lucia Santos and her cousins Jacinta and Franciso Marto.

As the story, that was officially deemed "worthy of belief" by the Catholic Church, goes...On May 13, 1917, the cousins were herding sheep at a location known as the Cova da Iria near their home village of Fatima.  Lucia described seeing a woman "brighter than the sun, shedding rays of light clearer and stronger than a crystal ball filled with the most sparkling water and pierced by the burning rays of the sun."  Further appearances were reported to have taken place on the thirteenth day of the month in June and July.  In these, the woman exhorted the children to do penance and Acts of Reparation as well as making personal sacrifices to save sinners.  The children subsequently wore tight cords around their waists to cause themselves pain, performed self-flagellation using stinging needles, abstained from drinking water on hot days, and performed other acts of penance.  According to Lucia's account, in the course of her appearances, the woman confided to the children three secrets, now known as the Three Secrets of Fatima.

A PIECE OF THE BERLIN WALL

LIGHTING CANDLES FOR THOSE WE LOVE

We couldn't be so close to such a beautiful place and not visit the Obidos Lagoon.  It's said to be one of the most beautiful spots in the western Portuguese Coast.  We had a great lunch and explored the beaches located right near the Atlantic Ocean.  

LOOK WHAT I FOUND!!

WE WERE TREATED TO SOME WINDSURFING

It just so happened that Valentines Day fell over our break.  I just HAD take some pictures to send our own special valentine back to our loved ones at home.  This is what we came up with...

After we took our "smoochy" shot we loaded up into our rental once again for the 2 hour drive to Porto.  

Porto was very beautiful.  It also was VERY HILLY!  I have to give Jason a pat on the back...I was very impressed with his "holding it on a hill" skills whilst driving our manual rental.  I don't know how to drive a manual, and this affirmed that I NEVER want to learn.  That is something that won't be appearing any time soon on my bucket list!!

My favorite picture from the day came when we happened upon a certain fountain.  Sophie was tired of walking and sat down on the bench.  After a couple of minutes of resting her feel she looked up at the fountain and I just happened to capture the shot...

...at least some of us have the where-with-all to cover up our naughty bits!!  Sophie COULDN'T believe it!!  She wanted to pull some leaves off the trees and redecorate.  That's our Sophie...so silly!!

Up and down the hills we walked...and walked...and walked!  We came upon the Porto Cathedral.  The Cathedral is one of the most important tourist sights in Porto and a historical and architectural landmark of the city at the same time.  It is generally deemed one of the most impeccable examples of the Romanesque style.  

There have been several structural and decorative additions and alterations over the centuries.  The most significant alterations were carried out between the 17th and 18th century, but it should be mentioned that the ceramic tiles or azulejos, which depict scenes inspired by the Song of Solomon, were added even later.  The 16th century saw the construction of the Chapel of Saint Vincent, which can be entered right from the cloister.  The north facade was added in the first half of the 18th century (1736), a work by Nicolau Nasoni.  The Italian architect is also the author of the cathedral's loggia.  

An interesting historical reference related to the Porto Cathedral is this is the place where Prince Henry the Navigator was baptized.  The Se do Porto (Porto Cathedral) is the largest place of worship in Porto and one of the oldest historical monuments.  

The 18th Century Angel Fountain in the Largo da Se was also created by Italian artist and architect, Nicolau Nasoni.  He worked mainly in Portugal.  His greatest achievement, the Clerigos Church and Tower.  An interesting site, it has a wrought iron railing and a marble relief over the water pipe.  The other interesting feature in a small sculpture of the angel St. Michael carved out of local Anca stone.

Jason's one request on our trek into Porto was that we would tour at least one of the Port Wine distilleries.  His choice, Sandeman.  We only had about a 5 minute drive to Sandeman from the Cathedral.  Of course, it ended up taking us about 45 minutes.  We had brought our GPS from home and had been using that on our journey so far.  Unfortunately, there was a road closed due to construction, and it only took us turning around about 20 times before we figured out THAT was the road we needed to go down.  Due to the construction...we could not.  We found the nearest spot and hoofed it down a hill to the distillery.  

The last tour was in Portuguese so we opted out and took a little walk around ourselves.  It wasn't very big, but it was very interesting.  They had a small room that detailed the history of the distillery, and how the logo was formed, updated and "re-invented".  We got to see the barrel room and of course, no trip would be complete if we didn't hit up the gift shop!  

Purchases in hand...time to hoof it back UP that darn hill.  Oh...how much easier it was going down!!  I  was just getting over an upper-respiratory infection...my lungs were on fire!!  I thought I was dying.  P.S...don't look for me to be at the Biggest Loser ranch anytime soon...dear God!!

We said "Adeus" to Porto and tried to catch our breath on the return trip to the house.

Next day...Sun was shining and all of us were breathing normally again!  What to do..what to do...ummmm, what, Jason?!  There are outlets only 1 hour away...boo-ya!  We are in!

We got back into our rental ride and high-tailed it to the Freeport outlets in Alcochete.  One word could summarize the trip...SUCCESS!!

OUR LITTLE LEFTIE FOUND HER STORE...CUTE CLOTHES!!

RIDING IN STYLE

I-Scream, U-Scream...

WE ALL SCREAM FOR ICE CREAM!

MOVE OVER DADDY...BABY GIRL'S GOT A NEW RIDE...

MY ALL-TIME FAVORITE PHOTO SO FAR...WE'RE FOLLOWING THE YELLOW BRICK ROAD!

Back at the house...

There was a lot to offer at the house.  It came equipped with bicycles and helmets.  It even had a miniature golf course.  The day turned out to be beautiful, so after we returned we decided to take advantage of all of our "extras".  It was all fun and games until Cole decided he was going to ride his bike down the steep driveway.  I had just told him not to, so I had to document the event by taking pictures...that's what ya get!!

These are the ones who listened...

He, on the other hand, DID NOT...

After Cole got up, brushed himself off, put his shoe back on...we decided to practice our skills and brush up on miniature golf.  After all, we DO have a tournament coming up this July against the Mong Family of Williamsville, New York...THE REHOBOTH OPEN.  Watch out you Mong's!  I think we have some ringers this year!!  The two-year-old REALLY knows how to swing her club!  (Although...she might be aiming for your shins and could care less about getting the ball in the hole!)

We had a VERY early flight out of Lisbon the next morning.  Jason had to get a photo of Liv's puzzle that she just HAD to put together.  She started it and about 10 minutes in...she was out of there!  Jason ended up completing in.  I was stunned he could take that much time away from checking emails on that darn iPhone!  

As the sun was setting I snapped this photo.  I was getting sentimental about what a great time we had and how luck we are.  It was so nice to spend a week with our family, and never in my wildest dreams did this girl think she would be in Portugal...we FOR SURE are blessed!