18th October 2024

Hi,

Our last major family gathering was seven years ago when we assembled in Italy for big brother Donald's Big Six-O. Since then we've had a pandemic which restricted travel and although in the pipeline for some time, another event just didn't happen.

Finally this year a global reunion was planned with family coming from New Zealand and Japan to meet up with the relatives based in Scotland and England. Portugal was chosen as the destination for a week when we could all get together and the British based family could meet up with Remy, my grandnephew, (sure they're all grand) for the first time at age three years old.

This blog is mainly to provide a brief introduction to the photos. The purpose of the trip was to catch up with family rather than visit sites as per my usual trips, but I've tried to include brief notes for any traveller who might make it to the area of our destination.

We were based in Carcavelos, which is about 40 minutes on the train west of Lisbon. It is in the Cascais district and the main town of that name was about another 30 minutes further west. A taxi from Lisbon airport to Carcavelos was just over half an hour. We didn't hire any cars as the train line ran past our air b n b and there were two stations just about 10 minutes from our lodgings.

Carcavelos itself does not feel particularly touristy, especially compared with the town of Cascais. It has a nice long beach with Fortaleza de Sao Juliao Da Barra at the end of the beach. This is a 16th century fortress which currently operates as a military establishment so no access was possible at the time of our visit, but it is an imposing site at the other end of the beach. A main draw for the beach is the surf schools which proliferate along it and as you'll see from the photos, a number of us had a go with varying degrees of success!! There were a small number of restaurants grouped near our lodgings and we didn't travel far beyond that area for food. Atlantico restaurant was an old fashioned seafood restaurant with a high standard of offering. When I say old fashioned I think the average waiter age would be over 65! Recommended though. If you like walking there are good pathways along the coast going out from Carcavelos.

We visited the town of Cascais and explored it at varying depths. There is a museum district which is worth checking out and in terms of the town centre it resembles a mini-Malaga with bustling streets full of every type of restaurant. The harbour and Citadel are worth a stroll around and a walk out west from the centre was worthwhile.

We took a half day trip in towards Lisbon, stopping at Belem, which I visited in May 2019. I'm going to be lazy and just quote from my previous blog, but this will also save you looking it up separately!

'Belem has a number of sights which are well worth taking in. A major event which took place at the site was the departure of important historical figures on their quest to discover remote parts of the world over 500 years ago, designated the Portuguese Age of Discovery. On the Belem waterfront is a massive angular Monument to the Discoveries built in 1960 which dominates the area and highlights prominent individuals who played their part, such as Henry the Navigator and Vasco da Gama. From the top of the monument there are great views over Mosterio dos Jeronimos, which has a beautiful cloister and the connected Church of Santa Maria which has unusual octagonal pillars.

Just a short walk along the waterfront in Belem is the Torre de Belem which was built between 1514 and 1520. This was the actual starting point for the navigators who set out to discover the trade routes. It has Moorish style watchtowers and rope carved in stone adorns the exterior. Within walking distance on the way home we stopped at and joined the queue at the original home of the famous Pastel de Nata tart.'

If you are lodging in Carcavelos or Cascais Town, the main tourist attraction is Sintra, which is about half an hour away in a taxi. I didn't visit as I already taken it in but some of the group went for the day. There are a number of palaces there and for more information check out my blog and photos from May 2019.

I went scuba diving, using Cascais Dive in Sao Jao, just two stops on the train west of Carcavelos. The company is very professional so recommended. The diving was unremarkable but it was nice to be back under the water and I did a refresher course after a two year gap.

The surfing was fine until I got into the water! However it was a good group activity with much laughter. Thanks to brother Donald for photo duties.

Overall we were seven nights away in Portugal from 7th to 14th September and I would recommend Carcavelos and Cascais as places in which to be based, with access to Lisbon and Sintra plus lots of leisure options at the coast. The food was excellent as is usually the case in Portugal and as I have said before, is cheaper than many other major European holiday destinations.

As you'll see from the photos, the main activity was socialising with family. Nephew Chris was 40 last month and it was sister Rachel's birthday during our time away, so a chef was arranged to come in and cook for us one evening to help us celebrate the two birthdays.

It was great catching up with Donald, Anna, Andrew and Chris from New Zealand and Ed based in Japan, plus Scotland and England based Brian, Rachel, Dave, Sophie and Caroline. A special mention goes to three year old Remy, who was meeting many of us for the first time. A visit to Scotland from the Kiwis will follow in another blog. To be in one place with the all of our close family from New Zealand, Japan and the UK is a memory that will linger for many years.

As always, enjoy the photos and feel free to leave a message.

All the best

Murdo