Walking up mountainous hills (as opposed to those less mountainous ones) and getting lost amongst the haphazard streets of Sintra's colourful houses, avoiding the stray cats and dogs who call it their own.
Reaching the castles and palaces atop the highest of mounds and admiring the view which seemed to stretch on and on past the depth of my eyesight.
Following the tree lined pavements dodging (and sometimes not) wayward vehicles fighting for their road space with the horses, tuk tuk's and strange car/bike hybrids that made smart cars look like a roomy alternative.
Finding a mesmerising park that was every child (and most adults') playground, underground caves, tunnels and century old grotto's entertaining our mainstreamed brains. Outstretched across hectares of dense bush, we found ourselves feeling our way through pitch black underground passages only to emerge in a completely foreign space with a beautiful water feature backdrop.
A 27m well pulled us down into the depths of the earth only to heighten the experience labelled as 'the intense journey from Earth to Heaven'.
Heaving our feet back to the train station and riding 40 minutes back into Lisboa with the beginnings of a setting sun flashing before us, our heads unashamedly lolling with the weary marks of a day well spent, and many pavements well trekked.
Dinner in a bad restaurant with an awful delay, moody waiters and a stunning portrayal of why Portugal is an economic PIGS. With our chairs faced outwards in European fashion, we people watched and traced the views of a romantically lit, mild evening with our hungry eyes.
What else to do, but follow up a mostly untouched meal with a trip to the Pastelaria for a Madeira pastry and a subsequent mouth explosion.
Walking through the bustling centre, the many stands roasting chestnuts lifting the smoke and aroma into the night air and leaving a sweet, hazy Lisbon alight in our memories as we attempt a sleepy escape from the long day.
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