**File Name:** madrid-palacio-real-2004.jpg
**ALT Tag:** The impressive architecture and grounds of the Palacio Real in Madrid, Spain.
**Caption:**

Exploring the history and armor at the Palacio Real in Madrid.

Madrid, Spain

We spent three days in Madrid. We went to Palacio Real, the palace in Spain. It had a lot of cool armor, swords and Spanish guns, etc. The next day we went to the Museo Del Prado, the most famous museum in Spain. That night we went to Plaza De Toros, the bullfight.

We woke up and went to the Centro Reina Sofia, the modern art museum in Madrid. They had a lot of Picassos, Dali, and Miro. We saw the bombed out train station and the candles lit as a memorial.

Had a lot of Tapas, which are appetizers and the way many in Spain do a dinner. There are many little bars that serve this and cerveza.

**File Name:** lisbon-sao-jorge-castle-2004.jpg
**ALT Tag:** A scenic view of the red rooftops of Lisbon and the Tejo river from Sao Jorge Castle.
**Caption:**

Overlooking the steep hills of Lisbon and the Tejo river.

Lisbon, Portugal

After Madrid, we hit Lisbon (leezh-BOH-ah). It’s the capital of Portugal. We took the overnight sleeper car and got into Lisbon at 8:30 a.m. The city is very hilly. We took a tour bus around the city because we were only spending one day and wanted to see everything. They have a very famous monastery called Monasterio dos Jeronimos. It’s a really interesting building carved out of limestone. I’ll post pictures later.

At sunset, we climbed up the hill to the Sao Jorge Castle. The castle overlooks the city and the Tejo river. They have a bridge over the river that looks a lot like the Golden Gate Bridge because it was made by the same company. Lisbon was a very cool city.

We stayed in a hostel room with 7 beds. Good thing we partied until 3 a.m. with a big group of Brazilians. They were fun to talk to. They seemed very interested in hanging out with us. They danced, partied, and sang in the streets.

Local Guide Tip: Overnight sleeper trains in Europe are a backpacker rite of passage. Securing your valuables is a must, but sharing a compartment is also a fantastic way to swap stories with other travelers before waking up in a new country.

**File Name:** sintra-moorish-ruins-2004.jpg
**ALT Tag:** The ancient stone walls of the Moorish ruins on the hilltop in Sintra, Portugal.
**Caption:**

Hiking up to the mountaintop castles in the cool hill town of Sintra.

Cascais & Sintra, Portugal

4/7: We headed to Cascais for two nights, a small town east of Lisbon. We stayed in a nice guest house. Much better than the youth hostel in Lisbon. It cost 30e. Cascais had the best food yet and a very nice beach. We hit a Brazilian restaurant called Fogo De Chao. They bring out different kinds of meat on skewers until you are full. There are a lot of Brazilian people here because they were once a part of the Portuguese empire and so now still speak Portuguese.

4/8: We did a day trip to Sintra. This was a very cool hill town that was like an hour bus ride. They have two mountain top castles. One was the palace of Portugal and the other a Moorish ruin. The Muslims once ruled the land until the Portuguese and the European crusaders took over the land.

**File Name:** lagos-portugal-beaches-2004.jpg
**ALT Tag:** The stunning rocky coastline and clear blue water of the beaches in Lagos, Portugal.
**Caption:**

The beautiful rock formations along the beaches of Lagos.

Lagos, Portugal & Sevilla, Spain

4/9: After Cascais, we went to the very southeastern tip of Portugal to a town called Lagos. It has many very beautiful beaches and rock formations on the beach. We spent three days in Lagos bumming around, hitting the beaches, and hiking the rocks. We met a real cool Spanish couple that bought us lunch and gave us a ride home from Sagres, the tip of Portugal.

4/12: We left Lagos this morning at 6:30 a.m. and are in Sevilla.