Thursday, April 6 – moving day, first time via mass transit (you know this is gonna entail some commentary). Had to be up and out early, but our hosts at the B&B accommodated us, providing another lovely breakfast an hour early and arranging for a taxi to get us to the bus station.

No time for a run this morning, but no worries, once we were at the bus station, we got to jog across it with full luggage, culminating in almost getting on wrong bus. Once we found the correct vehicle, I then got to listen to Dan ‘s constant monolog about 1) the temperature on the bus 2) his seat, which was in permanent recline mode and which randomly slid side to side as the bus turned 3) the fact that the on board bathroom was OOO and 4) the condition of the windshield (note large crack in photo) However, the bus was running, unlike the trains which are currently on strike. 10 points for Team Chris and her planning skills!

Bus then proceeded south for a couple of hours at which point driver determined we all would enjoy listening to the radio at approximately 100 decibels, followed by his turning on the AC to a level where we could have put up a few hooks and stored beef for the summer…

Despite all this, we arrived in Sintra by noon and were able to immediately check into our guest house. Turns out all the national monuments in town are closed, also due to strikes, but we enjoyed hiking through the woods and seeing the sights from afar. Even better, it was strenuous enough that it kept the crowds at bay!

In fact, I have realized the older I get, the less I like crowds of tourists. First. I am 62 years old. How is it possible all these people, most younger than I, walk as though their limbs are frozen??? And, of course, the slower you walk, the greater the likelihood you walk 4 to 6 abreast–wouldn’t want anyone to actually be able to get around you! And please, if you are taking a snapshot in a crowd, feel free to take several minutes composing the shot! Ugh. C’mon man, you’re not Ansel Adams, you’re using a 3 year old smartphone–point and snap and move on!

OK, rant over. Got back to our guest house to relax a bit, then had a great dinner served by a delightful young waitress from Cuba who was happy to chat with us. Afterwards we took a walk to see the town under the lights.

Tomorrow we get to explore more and I am sure the tourist crowds will simply delight me…

20,797 steps, 8.4 miles