Magical.

Intriguing.

Whimsical.

Pena Palace sits high atop a hill, proudly displaying its vivid colors and eclectic décor in true Romanticism style. As I walked up to the gates of this UNESCO World Heritage Site, I was astounded by the unconventional beauty of the palace itself, surrounded by the rich forest landscape in the Sintra mountains. It was only a 40-minute train ride from Lisbon, yet I was amazed at the juxtaposition of the landscapes between this exotic palace and the city proper.

My first course of action was to explore the outdoor balconies, arches, and surrounding walls. The views were incredible – I could spot the moorish castle off in the distance, its gray architecture a counterpoint to Pena’s colorful exterior. As the throngs of people increased around the building itself, I waved farewell to the whimsy of the palace and began the exciting trek around the surrounding park.

I had expected some greenery and perhaps some plants, but I was blown away by the vastness of the palace’s exterior. Hidden pathways, towering cedars, exotic ferns – all within a labyrinthic system of trails over 500 acres! Although I had downloaded a digital map, I enjoyed simply wandering around, stumbling across old monk grottos, stone crosses, and secret statues.

A series of five lakes collects the water runoff from the grounds and surround duck houses constructed to look like miniature castles.

Temples and chapels dot the uneven terrain, giving a Tomb Raider-esque feeling to the flora-enshrouded edifices.

On and on it went – a seemingly unending maze of nature with sprinkles of human creativity strewn about.

Hours later and five plus miles behind me, I finally ended up at an intriguing looking building on the westside of the park: The Countess’ Chalet. I could live in this place! It was covered in decorative cork on the inside, and surrounded by over 200 plant species on the outside.

At this point in the day, my legs were tired, and I for a glass of local beer and the opportunity to put my feet up. I flagged down a tuk-tuk driver to take me back to town.

Foi un bom dia.