The Romantic Pena Palace in Sintra, Portugal

On April 2, 2024April 2, 2024 By Isobar ExpeditionsIn Portugal7 Comments

We took a single day trip outside of Lisbon during our recent trip that included visiting the UNESCO World Heritage site, Pena Palace. We definitely recommend adding a trip to Sintra on your itinerary when visiting Lisbon as it is well worth the time that it takes. We pre-purchased the tickets, which we would recommend, and visitors are only allowed to enter at the start of the hour that you are assigned for your ticket. Even though the number of visitors per hour are limited, it is extremely busy and you will find yourself in a line as you walk through the palace.

The palace was originally a monastery that was converted to a palace in the 19th century and the monks moved to the monastery that is located in the Belém neighborhood of Lisbon. One of the unique things about the palace are the multiple colors of the palace with the original chapel being red and then the new additions to the palace being bright yellow. The palace is a Romanticist castle and sits atop one of the high hills of the Sintra mountain with the town of Sintra sitting below. The castle can be seen from the distance, making for quite a stunning site as you approach from the parking area below.

Our guide took us in towards the end of the group entering during our allotted time in order to give more time to talk to us about the history of the castle and describe some of the interesting features. Considering the lines moving through the rooms, it actually worked out well to be near the rear of the line. Of the many things that we saw during the tour was a detailed stained-glass window in the chapel that has the king holding a miniature image of the cathedral and if you zoom in on the window of the chapel it actually has the stained-glass window in it. That type of detail is truly amazing and a testament to the workmanship of the artists that created the stained-glass window.

Stained-Glass (Chapel in the Glass Circled in Red)

It takes a little over an hour to walk through the palace and enjoy the views from the balconies. Despite the long line and having to slowly follow the crowd through the palace rooms, it was definitely worth spending the time at Pena Palace. We would recommend visiting the palace in the morning and then heading into the town of Sintra for some lunch afterwards. A trip to Sintra is often combined with a visit to Cascais as well, which is a wonderful resort town on the coast of the ocean.

Our First Stunning Baltimore Sunset

On June 2, 2022June 2, 2022 By Isobar ExpeditionsIn Maryland1 Comment

We always enjoy seeing sunsets and since we have some wonderful views from our new place, we enjoyed watching the sun go down from our rooftop deck. Sunsets near water are almost always very vibrant due to the humidity in the air and this one was no different. We will certainly have the opportunity to see many more, but we will definitely remember our first sunset in Baltimore. The sun set near the downtown area of Baltimore, which silhouetted the skyscrapers with an orange hue that was quite stunning. Obviously, we enjoy seeing sunsets during our travels, but seeing them at home can be equally calming and relaxing.

The Beauty of African Sunsets

On January 13, 2022January 13, 2022 By Isobar ExpeditionsIn Kenya, Tanzania1 Comment

Sunsets can be beautiful no matter where you are, but there is something magical about watching the sunset over the plains of Africa. Since we spent eleven full days on safari, we got to see many different sunsets during our time there. For several of the sunsets, we were able to enjoy a nice glass of wine as we relaxed after a long day of animal watching. We also saw many wonderful sunrises, but we were usually driving around in the Land Cruiser at the time either heading out to see the wildlife or heading from one national park to another.

There were certainly too many wonderful sunsets to choose a favorite, especially since they each bring back wonderful memories. Whether it was watching the sunset over the hippo pond, sitting by the fire in the Serengeti, or watching the baby giraffes just outside of the Amboseli National Park, every photograph transports us back to those moments. Because we were in camps that were far away from any city or civilization in general, the moments were quiet, tranquil, and completely relaxing. Watching the sun set also meant that it was time to be sure that we were with a guide or heading to our tent as it wasn’t safe being out on your own after dark.

Each of these memories were magical. We often took many photographs of the same sunset as it changed from minute to minute as the sun went down below the horizon. Whether it was the sun shining through the clouds or the colors of the sky as the sun disappeared, every moment was uniquely different.