Food and Restaurants - #Portugal

Part of the fun of traveling (to me) is the food just waiting to be discovered. While in Portugal recently, I had the most wonderful meals...in tiny cafes, in large restaurants, alongside narrow passageways, and overlooking beautiful vistas. Here are pictures of some of the delicious meals I enjoyed. (Click on photos for a closer look.)

While in Lisbon, we walked to the nearby Pastelaria Guadalupe de Alfama for breakfast most mornings. The place was almost always packed. The ratio of bakeries to residents is extremely high in Portugal.

We sampled the Pastéis de Belém (more than once!) at the Lisbon bakery that originated the treat. The pastry has a flaky crust and egg custard filling and tastes best when it's hot from the oven, sprinkled with cinnamon. The line for the shop usually stretched out the door, and crowds filled the sidewalk in front of the blue awnings.

I took this photo in the evening before the pastry shop closed.

I love soups and stews, and Portugal's restaurants served me a delicious selection.

This traditional Portuguese dish is called a cataplana (fish stew) and is named after the copper cooking device in which it's cooked. Cataplanas are unique to the Algarve region of Lisbon. 

Kale soup.

This tapas restaurant offered indoor dining or tables alongside the narrow road, overlooking the Douro River and Ponte de Dona Maria Pia bridge in Porto.

The challenge of eating at this little cafe was to stay on your chair and avoid tumbling down the slanted walkway.

This was one of the prettiest and most delicious dishes I had. The thinly sliced salmon reminded me of lox, served on bread that contains arugula (that gives it the green color), with a dollop of creme fraiche. It's served with ripe olives in the center and a splash of olive oil with herbs on the plate. 

Almost all supermarkets sold slabs of salted cod. They didn't look appetizing to me!

We visited a store (conserveira) that sold nothing but fish preserved in tins--sardines, mussels, mackerel, etc., canned in various sauces and spices--as well as pâtés. One evening we opened a couple of tins and had the fish on slices of crusty bread with a bottle of wine. A feast!

A visit to Time Out Market in Lisbon offers a sampling of Portuguese cuisine. Booths line the building's perimeter, and the whole place smells divine. I had a cod croquette, beef empanada, and glass of lemonade with mint. Delicious!

With all the walking we did--up and down hills--I didn't gain any weight during this vacation. Given all the delicious food I ate, that's a miracle!

If you're a Netflix subscriber, watch the "Somebody Feed Phil" episode where he visits Lisbon. 

I'm linked with:

Jo's Monday Walk -  Johanna at Restless Jo - Link HERE

Our World Tuesday - Link HERE

Saturday Snapshot - Melinda at A Web of Stories - Link HERE 

Miradouros in Lisbon, #Portugal

Recently I had an opportunity to spend a couple of weeks in Portugal. I'll be posting photos of that beautiful country in the coming weeks, starting with the miradouros (viewpoints) I visited in hilly Lisbon. (Click on photos to expand.)

One of the most popular overlooks is Miradouro de Santa Luzia. Not only is there a magnificent view of the old Alfama district and Tagus River, the terrace where I stood features bright pink bougainvilla on the pergolas and beautiful blue and white tile murals on nearby walls.

The same view at night with a cruise ship docked. The drop-off from the pergola on the left is definitely steep!

This view is from the highest hill in Lisbon, with the Ponte 25 de Abril bridge in the distance. The white monolith to the left of the bridge is the Christo Rei (Christ the King) statue, inspired by the Christ the Redeemer statue in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

From Miradouro de São Pedro de Alcântara, the Castelo de São Jorge (Castle of Saint George) is visible on the opposite hill. 

This lovely park provided a great place to recuperate from the steep climb to the overlook.

We didn't visit all of Lisbon's miradouros, but the ones we saw were worth the trek to the viewpoints. Pasted below is a Google map showing the location of all these wonderful scenes atop Lisbon's hills.

I'm linked with:

Jo's Monday Walk -  Johanna at Restless Jo - Link HERE

Our World Tuesday - Link HERE

Saturday Snapshot - Melinda at A Web of Stories - Link HERE 

Butchart Gardens, Victoria, BC, Canada

Recently I enjoyed three days and two nights with my daughter-in-law and granddaughter in beautiful Victoria, British Columbia. Such a lovely place! One of our days was spent at Butchart Gardens.
(Click on photos to enlarge.)

As the sign says, "Over 100 Years in Bloom." According to the garden's official website:
With a former limestone quarry for her backyard, Jennie Butchart envisioned landscaping a sunken garden in its place, transforming the property for her family--and visitors--for generations to come.

This is the classic view of the sunken garden. I'll wager that 99% of the garden's visitors take a photo from this overlook. 

Throughout the gardens, we did not see one drooping blossom or spent flower. The grounds are meticulously maintained.

The dahlia border dazzled. The website says: More than 200 varieties in 11 different forms, in all colours of the rainbow.  

Fountains, too!

And totem poles.

I can only imagine what this magnificent garden looks like in springtime when rhododendrons and azaleas are in bloom. Autumn must be lovely, too, with the trees changing color. I've heard that the Christmas decorations are a treat to see. 

More information about the garden's history and plants, a map, and more: Butchart Gardens

I'm linked with:

Jo's Monday Walk -  Johanna at Restless Jo - Link HERE

Our World Tuesday - Link HERE

Saturday Snapshot - Melinda at A Web of Stories - Link HERE 

Carbon River Ramble - #MountRainier

Recently, a group of walkers from the Auburn Senior Activity Center bravely crossed a high one-lane bridge to explore the Carbon River Trail.
(Click on photos to enlarge.)

Our walk (only three miles, round trip) took us along a wide, gentle path that had been a road until the river washed it out and forced the forest service to close it to vehicles. Along the way we walked beneath towering old-growth trees, listened to bird serenades, and sampled red huckleberries. Tart and not quite ready for pies.

Huge old-growth trees provided shade. Some would make nice shelters.

Nurse logs provide the perfect habitat for nurturing young seedlings. This photo shows the roots of the "baby" tree growing out of the rotting nurse log.

After a beautiful and relaxing walk, we stopped at this wash and headed back.

If you continue farther on, the way becomes more rugged and leads to the base of the Carbon Glacier, which feeds the Carbon River. At 17.5 miles round trip from the parking lot, that's too long for me to cover in one day!

Lunch at Wally's in Buckley, our reward for all that walking.

An editorial comment: We have noticed that some of the national park facilities are not maintained as well as they have been in the past. We've seen restroom facilities where most of the toilets are out of order, structures that need refurbishing, etc. This must surely be due to lack of funding from the federal government. How sad it would be if our treasured national parks were not maintained for our children and grandchildren to enjoy. More info HERE.

For more information about this walk and the extended hike to the glacier, look HERE
For more of my photos from an earlier walk along this same path, look HERE

I'm linked with:

Jo's Monday Walk -  Johanna at Restless Jo - Link HERE

Our World Tuesday - Link HERE

Saturday Snapshot - Melinda at A Web of Stories - Link HERE 

More #MountRainier

Another great hike originating from Mount Rainier's Sunrise area. This trek started at the visitor center and connected with the Wonderland Trail...

skirted Shadow Lake ...

crossed a footbridge...

meandered along verdant meadows, most dotted with wildflowers...

and climbed toward Frozen Lake.

We decided not to cross a snowy patch to reach the overlook to Frozen Lake. Maybe later in the summer.

Nice spot for lunch!

Our route covered about five miles.

What's the weather on Mount Rainier right now? View webcams HERE
For more info about the Wonderland Trail, which encircles Mount Rainier, click HERE
To see posts about other hikes in Washington State, click on the Hikes/Walks tab above.

I'm linked with:

Jo's Monday Walk -  Johanna at Restless Jo - Link HERE

Our World Tuesday - Link HERE

Saturday Snapshot - Melinda at A Web of Stories - Link HERE 

Silver Falls & Grove of the Patriarchs, Mount Rainier National Park

I have a new favorite hike in Mount Rainier National Park. It's a combination of two connecting trails: one that leads to Silver Falls and the other to the Grove of the Patriarchs. I think my pictures will show why I enjoyed these trails.

We started at the Ohanapecosh Campground and hiked along the Silver Falls Loop until we reached this viewpoint.

The path climbed above the river. We looked down on the upper reaches of the falls and dramatic pools and rapids below.

The path led downhill to the trail to the Grove of the Patriarchs. We crossed a footbridge across the Ohanapecosh River to get there. One person at a time, please, because the bridge is bouncy!

Here are a few of the giant old-growth trees in the Grove of the Patriarchs. This area is easily accessible with a parking lot only a 1/4-mile walk away. We saw several families along the path.

This photo of me shows the size of the root system of this fallen giant. Nature's sculpture.

We crossed Laughingwater Creek several times... once on a log bridge (with a handrail).

The Ohanapecosh River at the campground that shares its name... and the end of our trail.

More information about these trails can be found at the Washington Trails Association website:
HERE

To see photos from other hikes and walks at Mount Rainier, click on the Hikes/Walks tab above.

Zoom in to see the trails.

I'm linked with:

Jo's Monday Walk -  Johanna at Restless Jo - Link HERE

Our World Tuesday - Link HERE

Saturday Snapshot - Melinda at A Web of Stories - Link HERE