The Ultimate Secret Garden continues

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.

Ultimate Secret Garden

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.

The Ultimate Secret Garden continues

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!!

This is the Terrace of the gods (classical gods, some being Fortune,Orpheus, Venus Flora, etc.) They showed age with the moss growing on them, but elegant.

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.

Moorish Castle in Sintra

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 1147 the casle, which had in the meantime been recaptured by the Moors, surrendered voluntarily and definitively to Afonso Henriques, the first King of Portugal.
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.

Sintra's Moorish Castle

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).

Cabbage anyone?

It is transfer time again.  Our tradition in this zone is to have a barbeque before missionaries leave and new ones come in.  Elder Nelson (Gene) grills the hamburgers and everyone pitches in with food or money.  They love to get together and we love them!!

We were at the Market last week getting a few fresh fruits and vegetables.  As we were leaving this man sitting on his green crate was selling these cabbages.  Take a look at these 10 pounders!!  They looked really freshly picked, but we would need only one to feed a ton of people.  We asked him if we could take a picture.  When we showed him the picture he smiled.  When we offered him a passalong card to receive a free DVD about Jesus Christ he didn't smile!!  Maybe next time he will accept....

Carnival

So this is what Loule looks like at carnival.  The city goes all out in decorating the main street. This particular carnival lasted 3 days, had activities for the kids during the afternoon, and drinking and music at night.  At least that is what we heard..  The kids dress up in costumes for a parade, there are races of all kinds, and the adults party at night.  It took a week to put up these decorations and the city street was so colorful.