Portugal touring - Claudia style

First taste of Portugal with 'Crazy Claudia', who we were introduced to by Ben (Jukey) in QLD. She took days off work to show us around, and we had real trouble keeping up with her and her mates. They know how to party down there...
As you can see the weather in 'winter' Portugal is pretty good. Meanwhile, back in the UK, it's ice and snow...

First stop is the Fatima Sanctuary. This is the actual olive tree where the miracles etc happened. They get more people here on a good Sunday than the Boxing day test at the 'G!

The history of Fátima is associated with three children: Lúcia and her cousins, Francisco and Jacinta Marto who, on 13 May 1917, while guarding their sheep in Cova da Iria and witnessed an apparition of a lady dressed in white (today occupied by the Chapel of Apparitions or Portuguese: Capela das Aparições). The lady, later referred to Our Lady of the Rosary indicated that she was sent by God with a message of prayer, repentance and consecrations, and visited the children in the next few months (all on the 13th of each month). The last apparition occurred in October, and was witnessed by 70,000 pilgrims, who saw the Miracle of the Sun. In addition, Our Lady of Fátima sent a message that consisted of three secrets: first, a vision of Hell where the souls of the sinful would travel without prayer; the second, prophesied the beginning of the Second World War; and ultimately, the mysterious third secret, which was written down by Lúcia dos Santos in 1944, and held by the Vatican, since 1957

 

Claudia & Khrish @ Fatima

 

Give me your flowers...

 

 

 

 Your breath smells... So does yours mate...

 

 



Claudias favourite shot!

Some of the roads through the mountains were spectacular, and I was happy just driving around in a nice car instead of a 4t bus. The girls were happy and it was a perfect day. Claudia had a drive, but she only did about 140 on the motorway. I say only, because she got caught on her motorbike there doing 180 when she was late for a race. She's that kind of girl...

 

 

 

Mosteiro Santa Maria da Vitória ("St. Mary of the Victory"), more commonly known as the Batalha Monastery, is a Dominican convent in Batalha, in the District of Leiria, Portugal. It was erected in commemoration of the 1385 Battle of Aljubarrota, and would serve as the burial church of the 15th-Century Aviz dynasty of Portuguese royals. It is one of the best and original examples of Late Gothic architecture in Portugal, intermingled with the Manueline style.

 

Ourem Castle, Joao & Claudia

 

First (and not the last) taste of Ginjinha.

 

Ginjinha or simply Ginja, is a liqueur made by infusing ginja berries, (sour cherry) (Prunus cerasus austera, the Morello cherry) in alcohol (aguardente is used) and adding sugar together with other ingredients. Ginjinha is served in a shot form with a piece of the fruit in the bottom of the cup. It is a favourite liqueur of many Portuguese and a typical drink in Lisbon, Alcobaça and Óbidos. Other regions produce ginja with protected designation of origin, for example the Ginja Serra da Estrela

Joao by the way is 95% vision impaired, but he has 2 PhD's and is one of the smartest, funniest guys we ever met!

 

 

The Alcobaça Monastery (Portuguese: Mosteiro de Santa Maria de Alcobaça) is a Mediaeval Roman Catholic Monastery located in the town of Alcobaça, in central Portugal. It was founded by the first Portuguese King, Afonso Henriques, in 1153, and maintained a close association with the Kings of Portugal throughout its history.
The church and monastery were the first Gothic buildings in Portugal, and, together with the Monastery of Santa Cruz in Coimbra, it was one of the most important of the mediaeval monasteries in Portugal. Due to its artistic and historical importance, it was listed by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site in 1989.

 

 

 

Nice doors for the house?

 

Creepy, creepy little girl...

 

 

 

 

 

The tombs have been placed in such a way that when the lovers awaken, they will be staring into each others eyes again... Awwwww
In the transept of the church are located the tombs of King Pedro I and his mistress, Ines de Castro, assassinated, in 1355, under the orders of Peter's father, King Afonso IV. After becoming King, Pedro ordered the remains of his beloved to be transferred to her tomb in Alcobaça and, according to a popular legend, made her be crowned as Queen of Portugal and ordered court members to pay her homage by kissing her decomposing hand.
This pair of Royal tombs in Alcobaça, of unknown authorship, are among the best works of gothic sculpture in Portugal. The tombs are supported by lions, in the case of the King, and half-men half-beasts, in the case of Ines, and both carry the recumbent figures of the deceased assisted by a group of angels. The sides of Pedro's tomb are magnificently decorated with reliefs showing scenes from Saint Bartholomew's life, as well as scenes from Pedro and Ines' life. Her tomb is decorated with scenes from the life of Christ, including the Crucifixion and with the Last Judgement.

 

 

 Obidos

 

 

The walled village of Obidos... Home to some great Ginjinha!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Ginjinha in edible chocolate cups... Seriously, does it get any better than this?

 

Buddha garden is the next stop. What a weird and wonderful place this is! Hundreds of massive Buddha statues that have been transported halfway around the world have been erected in this massive garden. Some millionaire took a liking to Buddha and has really gone on with it. I estimate 200 acres, all full of 1000s of buddhas! Very unique. $2 entry, and you get a free bottle of wine, he's just that sort of guy. 

 

 

 

 Armies of clay horses and soldiers. Wierd...

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Lovers window, Leiria Castle.

 

GRRRR!

 

Cop that in ya head!

 

The town square of Lieria

 

Last drinks before we head off!

 

 

The gang in the city of Leiria

Can you believe we did all of this in 2 days? With Claudia, seemingly anything is possible (don't try and tell her any different...) If she can't make it happen, no one can! Well done our little Portuguese sister xxx