Portugal: from port to capital

Speaking about port as a whole, very often they forget about one interesting detail - traffic jam. Having driven off literally some 100-200 km inland, one would see seemingly endless groves of cork trees.

High humidity wraps tree trunks with thick green fur-moss, and a continuous carpet of ferns spreads below.

Ideal highways, picturesque views, pastoral paintings of resting pets, huge flocks of cranes circling in the sky, do not let you get bored on the road. In general, it is worth noting a large number of birds, animals, plants, which you can admire along the route to the north. The rural picture is artistically diluted with wind generators.

Huge clouds sailing from south to north caught windmills. The north the road left, the colder and darker the landscape became.

In a small place of Pinyan, conveniently located for the first acquaintance with the famous vineyards of the Douro Valley, the owner of a small hotel shared the secrets of growing vines and convenient points for taking pictures. It turns out that extreme weather in the form of arid, hot summers and cold winters, as well as rocky soil, give grapes a special taste.

Nodding my head and sympathizing with the poor plant, I made a plan to visit the outskirts of the town. Most local landowners are jealous of their private property rights. The most picturesque and convenient spots are fenced with beautifully chained iron gates, and the small private wineries were closed - alas, not the season. But from the road you can find good views of the surroundings.

A pair of sun rays gently walked along the steep slope, allowing you to appreciate the picture of the grape terraces.

The incessant cold rain confused all plans. I had to drive past Porto. Making a circle in the direction of Lisbon, I decided to visit another key point on the map of Portugal, the famous cape of Cabo de Roca and the fabulous Sintra.

At 18 kilometers from the city of Sintra is Cape Cabo de Roca - the westernmost point of Europe. A stele marking the point, a cozy cafe and, of course, the lighthouse itself, which cuts off the twilight with bright light.

The lighthouse on Cape of Doom is located on a cliff towering 144 meters above the level of the Atlantic Ocean. This is the oldest lighthouse in Portugal, its construction began in 1758 and was completed in 1772.

The last point of travel in my itinerary, but not in importance, is Lisbon. As I already wrote, the earthquake of 1755 turned Lisbon into a blank page for future architects, leaving almost the ruins of the city, and the descendants worked wonderfully, building new quarters, according to a scheme clear to them ... Therefore, I decided to visit the most recognizable and win-win tourist options Attractions - a bridge on April 25 and the cable-stayed bridge Vasco da Gama.

The bridge on April 25 connecting Lisbon on the north (right) and south (left) banks of the Tagus River.

The longest bridge in Europe, the Vasco da Gama bridge, looks great in any weather. An attempt to photograph it in all its glory and length was concealed by the foggy edge of persistent rain. The last evening of the trip allowed us to fulfill this desire, giving several dozen minutes for the evening shooting of an architectural masterpiece.