Portugal - update 5

Portugal - update 5

Today went to visit the Pena Palace in the town of Sintra. In todays day and age it is almost impossible to make a photo inside an historic tourist attraction without capturing multiple people in the photograph too. It is all quite irritating. Pena Palace itself was quite interesting. I could have spent hours walking through the various rooms dedicated to Kings and Queens of past but the snaking crowd puts pressure on you to move along. That and lack of being allowed to take photos inside shortened my stay. By the size of the ancient beds on display the old Kings and Queens of Portugal must have been dwarfs. I at 5'11 would not be able to fit in any of them.

Then it was to the town of Sintra. A very commercialized tourist destination where I satisfied my need to taste the local Sardines. That need is now over. Portugal is supposedly famous for its Peri Peri Chicken, I am yet to see a single food establishment offering the dish. I am highly disappointed.

Portugal - update 4

Portugal - update 4

Took a stroll around the side streets of Peniche. I enjoy quaint little towns. The cobble stone streets deliver wishes of time travel and yearning for peaceful times. Peniche was never built for modern days and thus you will see a lot of washing hanging from windows and walls. You could create a gallery solely of interesting door photos. Some so old they would fall off their hinges if creaked open. Some so new the contrast against old is painful. And some made interesting by their owners selection of door knob.

It's not butterfly season and a big one came flying straight past me. Love you mom.

Portugal - update 3

Portugal - update 3

Kelly Slater won the 2010 Rip Curl Pro Portugal/Peniche. In doing so adds his first win in Portugal to the book of accomplishments. Jordy Smith took second in the final. The contest is over now and I have till Oct 19 to do nothing in Peniche.

For my personal run down of the event you can read the blog on theBOMBsurf website.

Portugal - update 2

Portugal - update 2

I've been in Peniche/Portugal for over a week now and while I do have internet connectivity in land of the Sardine I have been slack. It happens when working. Since arriving in Peniche the womens part of the event has come and gone. Carissa Moore defeated Steph Gilmore at Lagide and now we are into Round 4 of the mens. We have run at Supertubos and Belgas. In all likely hood we will finish tomorrow back at Supertubos.

Sardines are not my first choice of fish and thus haven't sampled the staple local diet. I have however eaten octopus and whole squid but I did go for the "cleaned" option versus the "natural" option. The difference? Going natural would involve cooking the squid with its entrails still intact.

A 50 year storm was meant to strike last week. While the exaggerated 20ft waves failed to appear the gale force winds and horizontal rain made their presence very much known. Working in rain is never fun and now we have sunshine and I got burnt yesterday. Remember to pack suncream.