Portugal Part 1

David's mom has a distant cousin who has lived in Lisbon, Portugal for nearly 20 years. Since Spain is so close, they wanted to go visit for a few days. Graciously, they let us tag along. :) It's funny how I've never really thought much about Portugal as a country and certainly not one high on my "I really want to visit there," places, but given the chance, of course we were delighted to go and we loved it. We rented a van (because ours is a bit old and a bit rickety) and made the 8 hour drive from Madrid to Lisbon. It was great to see the Spanish countryside with its green rolling hills, olive groves and orchards. Then, Portugal was just gorgeous. (You can click on the pictures to see them larger).

This was at a little restaurant where we stopped for lunch. Wood is very scarce in Spain, but tile is everywhere.

Overlooking Cascais, the coastal village where we stayed.

One of the main streets. Much more tropical and lush than where we live.

All the sidewalks were made of these cobblestones done in artistic patterns. Very old and very beautiful.

One of the little pastry shops. On the top shelf, notice the easter bunnies and birds made out of bread. :)

"Bird of Paradise" plant. My very favorite plant in the whole world, I think.

Just an ordinary house on an ordinary street. Seriously. Doesn't it look like something in a calendar? They were all this beautiful.

More gorgeous street views. It kind of felt like south Florida, except older and more European, of cousre.