Sunday 1 October

 Although we’re wary of crowds we feel we really should see Sintra rather than relax on the beach getting too hot and uncomfortable. We’re advised by the campsite staff that we can order an Uber rather than get 3 buses, or a bus and a train and then a bus. I am sceptical but amazingly you press a button and a taxi arrives in 3 minutes and it’s only 13 euros! We’re taken right to the top of the hill by the entrance to the Palazio de Peña and we’re there soon after 10am! We haven’t got tickets of course but it is possible to book entry for 11.30 so we go for it trying to ignore the warnings of snaking queues! We walk up through the shady park and mingle with the crowd and find a shady bench to wait. It doesn’t feel so bad and eventually we do indeed join a snaking queue through the palace and into the terraces. We feel a bit claustrophobic but it does make us stop and look longer although the best views are definitely when we’re outside. It certainly is an amazing colourful mix of Disneyesque Germanic proportions! Many photos later we walk down the hill for 30 minutes or so pleased to be avoiding the buses and tuk-tuks and find a quiet restaurant for lunch. Very good. Then the National Palace of Sintra in the square which is beautiful and virtually deserted of queues. Bliss! We wander for a bit and then get another Uber home. It feels like magic! A bit of time to relax and plan for our next few days as we head inland to the Serra de Estrela mountain area. We realise we have booked the wrong days in our hotel (no campsites) so we will be doing some bed hopping! We will miss Ludwig!