You aren't seeing double, but I can't figure out how to delete this picture.
Portugal has so many many rocks!! I think that is why they have cobblestone sidewalks. It view so beautiful for us as the Algarve (area where we live) is getting dry.
One foot is Portugal and one in Spain!! All looked the same, but we were in Espanha!!
Gardens at the castle in Marvão, a city on the hill near the boarder of Spain. It was a quaint little city and the hills were green and beautiful.
More pictures of the garden, I don't know if you can see the sculptured baskets.
The lookout cove, but the poppies and purple flowers caught my eye.
The home and follows is the adventure of the Ultimate Secret Garden!!
Behind us is the main house which looked like a palace. It was first bought by Baroness da Regaleira in 1840. The house was actually built in 1697 and changed hands several times before sold to Baroness. It was transformed into an elegant summer retreat. In 1893 it was sold in a public auction to Carvalha Monteiro and he bought land around the house to create this back yard for his children. This was started in 1898 under the direction of a set-designer and architect Luigi Manini. My brochure said that Monteiro was of Portuguese descent and celebrated capitalist born in Rio de Janeiro. He graduated in Law and was a distinguished bibliophile, collector and philanthropist. A man of an enquiring scientific mind and vast culture. He hired Manini to create this garden for his children. It took 14 years to build.
The little chapel that was build with stain glass pictures of Christ. Under this chapel is a passage way to the main house.
This is the front area of the large play area where there must have been activities, theater, and behind that wall are caves and tunnels to explore.
This is a large area for games and gatherings. I love the old tree and notice the look out tower.
Another view of a lake with the stepping stones.
This is the lookout tower on the playground that you saw earlier. Wouldn't kids just love climbing this and playing whatever their minds could imagine?
I loved this bench, notice the back rest carved treelike in the stone.
Plants found along the path. I don't know the name of this plant but it looked like wood.
Stairs leading to somewhere, I can't remember where this went, some cave probably. The garden was full of Cypress, cedar, pine, magnolia, chestnut, lime, and other trees.
Another entry to an underground tunnel going to the opposite side of the garden. This garden is about 13 acres, taking 14 years to create and build.
The brochure called this the Ibis Fountain, but it looks like a children's playhouse to me, including a drinking fountain, behind the flowers.
Another path to explore I love the green, I am not sure my camera captures the real beauty.
Taking a little rest on a stone bench. With us is President and Sister Terry. They told us that they have been to this Garden 3 times with their grand children. The young missionaries love this as they can export and run around, climb, and be together.
This was a little rock cove with a table and bench. I can imagine the little grand daughters having such fun playing house here.
This little lake was covered with algae and to get from the tunnel to ground level you had to use these stepping stones. Although the water wasn't very deep it was a bit frightening thinking about falling into the algae. Of course Gene wasn't nervous, he went back and posed for this picture.
This a view of the little lake and we were in an underground tunnel looking out. It was so beautiful, but we did need flashlights in the tunnels so as to not hit our heads on the rocks, or step into puddles of water.
All along the way were stone benches carved out of the rock. 
There are lots of little paths and choices you could make to get to different parts of the yard. With a huge fence around this back yard I suppose the owner didn't need to worry about his children.
Notice the flowers and plants, so colorful and peaceful.
The grounds were full of little coves and structures to hide and play and stimulate you imagination.
We are having too much fun dreaming of what a perfect place for a Family Reunion!!
Now that you have toured Quinta da Regaleira (our name of it Ultimate Secret Garden) this path through the structure you see here leads you to the Home of Carvalho Monteiro.
Walk way to the top--little info about Moorish Castle -- was a military fort believed to date back to the 9th century and the period of the Arab occupation. It served as an excellent observation post for monitoring the coast-line.
10th to 7th Centuries B.C. the first huna traces confirmed by archaeology. In the 8th century the Arab conquest, 9th and 10th centuries were the earlies stage of the construction of the castle by the Moors.
In 1093 Afonso VI, King of Leon, conquered Sintra and the casle from the Moors.
In the 15th century the site of the castle was only inhabited by some jews who were segregated from the rest of the community by the king's orders. Then in 1839 Fernando II leased the Moorish Castle and undertook its complete restoration. As we walked the paths of this castle it was serene and peaceful. It was green with lots of trees, moss, and flowers. It was an amazing structure and one would wonder what happened there.
I loved this view of the wall as the sun was shining on it in a particularly beautiful way.
View of the Pena Palace from the top of the Castle. We weren't able to see this palace as it wasn't open on Wednesday. 
View walking along the path to the top (lookout) of the castle,
President Terry definitely needed a break!! We are sad that they will be leaving in July when the new mission president from Brazil comes and will take his place. President Terry and Sister Terry have been so good to us, inviting us to visit and showing us around this beautiful city.
Boy, this mission life is tiring!! This castle is interesting as all along the hike up to the top were little places to sit and rest (maybe watch for the enemy).
