Our Nation's Capital

We are back in DC after over three weeks in Europe. We are at a B&B which is more expensive and lower quality than what we experienced overseas, but, perhaps, that is just a reflection on just how expensive this city is.  Our son & family live here; they enjoy its many attractions and are doing well.  But it is far from a favorite of mine.

I see the tremendous wealth here; a result of the concentration of power and tax receipts gathered across our country and brought together in one place.  Tremendous economic disparity and racial polarization are also present.  This is a gathering point for all who think that big government can solve our problems, but a glance at the city itself shows that politicians have failed at even creating harmony in this one place.

Walking between our B&B and our son's cramped condo, I passed through an area where day and night many loiter; a major location for drug dealing.  Ordering a smoothie at McDonalds, when I ask whether the smoothie contains any milk, the clerk did not understand until the word "leche" was substituted for "milk".   Walking the neighborhood near our B&B, I noted several signs in yards stating "Black Lives Matter".  I wonder what the reaction would be if the signs said "White Lives ...."  When our host at the B&B discovered that the TV was turned to FOX news he became concerned.  He explained to me that in this "liberal" city, some people become angry and confrontational if people are allowed to watch FOX.

We will, of course, be returning to this city to see our son, his wife, and their new baby.  It is convenient to do this on our way to Europe.  We still have some Euros, so we need to spend them.  Perhaps, the next trip will be centered around Prague, Krakow, Budapest, and Vienna.  Europe is so civilized.

Lisbon, Portugal, and Sintra

In our travels, we never stay long enough in one place to really know it well; if we did, the trips would be 2-3 times longer.  Lisbon has been only a three-night visit. Yesterday we went to Sintra, a 40-minute train ride NW of Lisbon. Many beautiful homes, a king's palace, a Moorish fortress, and forests & gardens are located there. The main attraction, the fully-furnished palace, is located at the very top of a small steep mountain, 500 meters above its surroundings, and, thus, enjoys cooler temperatures. We hiked up and down the gardens, but still left much undiscovered.  Three other palaces are located in the area.  Impressive is the wealth of kings.  How many man-YEARs were invested in building this huge structure from stone blocks at the top of a peak with limited access? Did he know that one day it would become a great tourist attraction?

Doesn't this look like Disneyland?  It is the "Parque e Palacio da Pena" which was the summer home of kings with a panoramic view, beautiful accommodations, and extensive gardens, hiking and horseback trails.  The forested grounds include a farm, hunting preserve, and the ruins of a Moorish castle.

View from Pena Palace toward the coast.  You can see a line of clouds/fog along the coast.

This Moorish fortress is thought to have been built in the 8th or 9th century A.D. and overlooks the town of Sintra.

Many wealthy people have homes in the area.  Doesn't this look like a haunted house movie setting?

We hiked the gardens of Villa Sasseti, just above Sintra, which were still in full bloom.  Nearby, rock climbers were practicing on some sheer cliffs which would lead to the Moorish fortress.

Beautiful, but what is it?  Found in the garden of Villa Sassseti.

We have started using a new program: MAPS.ME which is very helpful for finding your way around a new city when on foot.  When you arrive in a new location, download the map for that area using WiFi.  From that point onward, you don't need an internet connection.  Maps.Me will display all the streets and attractions in your area and show your location with a small triangle.  If you provide a destination, it will show a dotted line to guide you along the way.  If you drift to the right of the course, your triangle will also drift right.  We used it to help find our way back to the Sintra train station, which is small and not well marked or obvious. 

Today we intended to explore more of Lisbon itself. Unfortunately, temperatures are quite warm (90 degrees), and we wimped out; just too hot for hiking the concrete city.  We signed up for the "hop on, hop off" bus which took us to Belem and back, but even that proved hot & tiring.  You could bake in the sun on the topside seats or slowly cook in the lower interior seating.  After lunch at the harbor front, we took the Metro to our B&B for a siesta (which is the local norm for many businesses here).

Colorful fruit in an outdoor market, Lisbon.  The mild climate here allows fruits and vegetables to be grown year around.

Lisbon as seen from a parapet of the Castle of Sao Jorge.  This castle also is on a steep hill providing a good defensive position at the time it was built.

Lisbon, looking toward its magnificent harbor.  Enough room for merchant ships and many yachts and sailboats in protected waters.

Our B&B was located on the fifth floor of this building.  That is Dawn in the right foreground; with her cellphone, she has to get closer to take pictures.  Our host had traveled and lived in many places.  At one time he was an opera singer.  The B&B was comfortable; the host was very helpful; and the location was near the airport, the metro, and the train station which helped our travels.

We had our only experience of "getting ripped off" here in Lisbon. Our taxi from the airport (easy 2.5 km. drive) charged us 18 Euros, which is at least ten Euros more than it should have been. But 10 Euros is about 12 dollars; rather insignificant in the scheme of things. Overall, we have been impressed with the honesty of people we have dealt with.  Many have helped us with advice/ directions just out of kindness.