Sinta and Regaleira

I will not bother you with much text, all I can say is that Sintra is an incredible place to visit and to be in. Quinta da Regaleira is an obligatory stop! Photos are not so good but I will return and take some really good ones for sure!

Pastéis de Belém (Belém's Custard Tarts)

How silly is it that I didn't mention this place until now, and that I had never explore it like this before? I barely come here but it is the most touristic café there is, this place is actually cool and it has no end inside, I was surprised I can tell you.

I am not a fanatic for the Belém custard tart (pastéis de Belém) and the price is getting higher in a sneaky way (1.05€ for each, I remember being 80cents). I drank my usual coffee with milk (galão) and took annoying pictures while my friend was chewing this pre-historic recipe.

Meanwhile in a deep research I found somewhere that the secret was potato starch and a little pig fat on the dough. Hmmm...

This place is so crowded sometimes it gives me the idea of "the mass society":
- entering the place written in the tourist guide;
- stay on the queue and wait;
- look at random people until it reaches your turn;
- ask for the order in a newly acquired portuguese language basics;
- Wait for the package patiently;
- Scream at your children;
- Pay and say "owbereegahdow" (obrigado - thank you);
- Think her/his pronunciation is awesome;
- Sitting his/her fat ass in one of 600 tables;
- Feel medieval, fat and slightly portuguese due to eating a "pastel de Belém".
Note: this applies to portuguese people, except the thank you part, that sometimes doesn't exist.

I was looking everywhere to search for details and I noticed a hole in the ceiling with some clothes hanging. I don't know if it is part of decoration or some sacred beast that is living there and keeps the famous recipe under a guarding eye.

There are ancient relics, plates and vases, mosaics similar to my countryside house, old school registering machines, paintings, a weird fish and some foreign accents. We passed by all this and we left the sacred temple.

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Open everyday from 8h to 23h.

Aquário Vasco da Gama (Vasco da Gama Aquarium)

Little post with the purpose of making you go away from the center and finance this place. It is not a café, restaurant, bar, and you should have that figured out already unless you are thinking this is some kind of seafood palace.

This is a museum dedicated to the water fauna, with living species swimming peacefully through their fake habitats. For those who have interest in these animals it is a really nice place to go, a long time ago I came here with my school to draw them but they were not the most cooperating beings.

But I guess the most amazing thing to do is sit by the lake and feed the giant starving carps with food from the container nearby (some 50cent plastic spheres). They are more than comfortable with your presence already, pet them, feel their slimy skin, do whatever you want.

The museum prices are 4€ for adults and 2€ for youngsters (6 to 17). The garden is free of course. It is a nice afternoon plan, it is always a laugh to see the silly carps, take some food for yourself if you want.

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The museum works from monday to sunday, 10h until 18h.