Óbidos

This week our travels took us to 

Óbidos means citadel or walled city and receives this name because it is located within the walls that protected the city and a castle during the Middle-Ages. 

It is also one of the 7 wonders of Portugal. 

Óbidos is about an hour north of Lisbon on the “Rapida Verde” - express bus.


Óbidos is probably one of Europe's most romantic medieval villages. It is also known as the Wedding Present Town because the town was a gift from King Dinis in 1282 to Queen Isabel on their wedding day. And then every Portuguese queen after Isabel, up until the 1800s, was given Óbidus as a wedding present.

Complete with narrow cobbled streets, traditional white houses, churches, old gateways, a wall, and a medieval castle - we enjoyed our little excursion into 'the past'.

Obidos is also known for Ginjinha or Ginja, which is an alcoholic drink that tastes like cherry.  You will find lots of people selling shots of it on the main street, Rua Direita.  We found a place that sold a non-alcoholic version for the crianças (children) and decided to give it a try.  Served in an edible chocolate cup, it tasted just like a melted cherry chocolate.

Then we topped that off with some roasted chestnuts.

(Not as good as the song implies.)

Our Christmas Devotional was also this week. And the best thing about it - besides the people and the food - 
IT WAS ALL IN ENGLISH!

The European Area Presidency and their wives spoke. Their talks centered on JOY - regardless of the circumstances. What brings us joy, what our biggest concerns are, and how joy can bring God's power into our lives. 

The Lord came to change us, not to change the world. (That will naturally follow.)

When President Nelson reviewed the new mission presidents handbook of instructions, he recommended that they "add more joy" instead of just rules.

Joy comes from who we become, what we overcome. 

We can only take three things with us when we die - relationships, knowledge and character.

There you have it. Almost like being there, I'm sure.

Out & About

Yes, we are on a temple mission. It keeps us very busy fives days a week. And we 💙 it!

But then there are those Mondays when we feel the 'urge' to explore. 

Thanks to this little card...

...we are able to get around the city.

 So far we have only used our card on the train and the metro - but both modes of transportation have been very efficient. The taxis aren't so bad either. 😄

Sometimes we see things totally unrelated to Portugal, like...

But, generally, it's more like this...

Chestnuts roasting on a...

And then it was time for food.
 We found this little 'hole-in-the-wall' place literally just below the Castelo de São Jorge with an unforgettable name - 
Petisqueira Conqvistador Lisboa. 
Try saying that three times!

Delicious!

On the way back down the hill...
*PopBar*
Gelato on a stick that is then dipped into the topping of your choice.

And there you have it.
 Another Monday in the life of senior missionaries.

Back to Sintra

The purpose of today's trip to Sintra was to visit the Palácio e Quinta da  Regaleira.

Originally Quinta da Regaleira was the home of a Brazilian trader (Antonio Carvalho Monteiro dos Milhões), who had this place built to show off his wealth. 

 

Besides the dramatic-looking quinta (house), the estate has an impressive and mysterious garden that is nothing short of fantastic - you can walk around here for hours, looking for hidden paths, caves and tunnels.

 Don, Filipa, and Larry trying to decide where to go next.

 

  

 Carvalho Monteiro was fascinated by mysticism and filled his 4-acre grounds with symbolic religious icons. The most famous of these is the Initiation Well. You enter at the top and make your way down almost 60 feet of spiral staircases. You pass nine platforms, tightly linked to Dante’s nine gates of hell in the book, Divine Comedy. 

There is a large system of tunnels at the bottom. If you continue taking the left branch at each fork you will come to an area where you can walk on water (with the aid of some carefully placed stones) helping you to achieve enlightenment. Who knew it was so easy? I suppose this should be added to the list as another reason to go to Sintra, right?

And I might add that today was sunny and bright - with just a nip of winter in the air.
Another reason for those smiles on our faces!!