Maybe you remember that just a little over a week ago I was in Portugal for Spring Break. The thing is given how busy I've been this past week, it's hard for me to remember that 10 days ago I was exploring an entirely different country. These days it seems like I've always lived in Sofia. 
[caption id="attachment_4721" align="aligncenter" width="614" caption="Gardens!"]<a rel="attachment wp-att-4721" href="http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/?attachment_id=4721"><img class="size-large wp-image-4721 " title="Gardens!" src="http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/IMG_7450-1024x682.jpg" alt="" width="614" height="409" /></a>[/caption]

But it turns out that I have some really beautiful photos which prove that I was in Portugal and took a day trip to this incredible little town called <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sintra">Sintra</a>. A town my guidebook called "the summer retreat of Portugal's kings." It's not a town that will let you down or disappoint you. 

[caption id="attachment_4719" align="aligncenter" width="614" caption="View from upper street in Sintra"]<a rel="attachment wp-att-4719" href="http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/?attachment_id=4719"><img class="size-large wp-image-4719 " title="View from upper street in Sintra" src="http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/IMG_7389-1024x682.jpg" alt="" width="614" height="409" /></a>[/caption]
While a guidebook can give you plenty of names, dates and funny little stories they can never however do justice to the beauty of a place. In spring, the nature surrounding Sintra was a multitude greens. I couldn't get enough of it.  

Lord Byron apparently also dug Sintra. I can see why. 

[caption id="attachment_4720" align="aligncenter" width="614" caption="Main Street of Sintra"]<a rel="attachment wp-att-4720" href="http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/?attachment_id=4720"><img class="size-large wp-image-4720 " title="Main Street of Sintra" src="http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/IMG_7408-1024x682.jpg" alt="" width="614" height="409" /></a>[/caption]

There are two great castles/palaces--the National Palace and Pena Palace--in and around the city. While climbing the hill to the second palace--Pena--for the first time in my entire life I wondered: what makes a building a castle? and what makes a building a palace? 
[caption id="attachment_4722" align="aligncenter" width="614" caption="Fairy-tale Castle "]<a rel="attachment wp-att-4722" href="http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/?attachment_id=4722"><img class="size-large wp-image-4722 " title="Fairy-tale Castle " src="http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/IMG_7503-1024x682.jpg" alt="" width="614" height="409" /></a>[/caption]
I think it's okay to wonder these things as an American. It's not like we do palaces or castles in America. 

But do you want to know who does palaces well? The Portuguese. 
 
The Pena Palace is amazing and I bet that Prince Ferdinand who built the palace was also amazing. I told my Portuguese friends that I wanted him to be my dad so that I could live in that palace. They told me that I probably didn't want him as my dad. I trust them on this one because, well, they know more Portuguese history than I do. 

They also know where to buy the best pastries in Sintra. That's why it's important to have friends who are locals. 







[caption id="attachment_4723" align="aligncenter" width="614" caption="More Castle "]<a rel="attachment wp-att-4723" href="http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/?attachment_id=4723"><img class="size-large wp-image-4723 " title="More Castle " src="http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/IMG_7554-1024x682.jpg" alt="" width="614" height="409" /></a>[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_4724" align="aligncenter" width="614" caption="View from the Castle to the Atlantic Ocean"]<a rel="attachment wp-att-4724" href="http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/?attachment_id=4724"><img class="size-large wp-image-4724 " title="View from the Castle to the Atlantic Ocean" src="http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/IMG_7517-1024x682.jpg" alt="" width="614" height="409" /></a>[/caption]