Beautiful and Fluffy

Do you know Sintra?

It’s near Lisbon…more or less… 

A beautiful and mysterious town full of 19^th century romantic architectural monuments, mountains and nature parks. 

It has been classificated by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site.

If you go there, make sure you visit the mediaeval Castelo dos Mouros (Castle of Moors), Palácio Nacional da Pena (It’s Pena National Palace, but if you would like to know what really means in Portuguese is Feather National Palace) and Palácio Nacional de Sintra (Sintra National Palace).

One day I’m going to tell you all about the Mountain of the Moon…

But now lets talk about Portuguese pastry.

It’s one of the most wonderful things we have. 

In Sintra, you have a lot of typical sweets, cakes and deserts. 

Everyone who goes there always try the Queijadas (cheesecake tarts) and the Travesseiros (which means pillows, but in fact are an almond and egg cream filled puff pastry rectangle).

But, there is a not so known cake in this town…

May I introduce you to Fofos de Belas!

Belas, which means beautifuls (we know the word doesn’t exist but imagine you have a lot of beautiful ladys, in Portuguese we have the plural, so we say beautifuls) is town located in the region of Sintra and Fofos (which means fluffys – yes, plural again) are small sponge cakes, filled with cream and sprinkled with sugar.

So, in fact, these are the Fluffys of the Beautifuls!

(Shakespeare would have hate us right now…)

They are made in a factory that exists for four generations - Fábrica dos Fofos de Belas – managed by Liberdade Fonseca.

The original name was Fartos de Creme (full of cream) and were created by Liberdade’s mother, when she decided to had cream to an already known Portuguese sponge cake – Pão de Ló (Bread of Ló… we don’t know what Ló is but one day we’ll find out).

The recipe has remained unchanged throughout the years, as well as the oven where they are cooked – with its iron door.

And they are still divine!

 

Casa dos Fofos de Belas

(House of the Fluffys of the Beautifuls)

Wonderland Lisbon

Oh Oh Oh, It's Christmas time, with all the colors and lights and food and drinks and crazy people on the streets.

In Lisbon, it’s party time. Do we celebrate Christmas like everyone else? 

Only if they’re crazy people too! Are you? Join us!

Let’s find out a bit what’s going on.

Imagine you are in Parque Eduardo VII (Eduardo VII Park), on top of one of Lisbon’s hills. 

 

You start in a garden where Botero’s sculptures look to the Tejo river. You have fat ladys with fat babies looking at our fat river. 

Then you cross the street and you’ll find a sculpture of João Culileiro, a monument to April 25^th  (Revolution Day in Portugal, next year I’ll tell you all about the story around it and the gillyflowers). 

This monument… you have to see it by yourself. 

Something phallic that gushes…yap, we have a sculpture like this…

But then, you have one stunning view of the city and the river. A beautiful garden goes all the way down to Marquês de Pombal (The Marquis of the Pigeonry) - a huge roundabout with a sculpture of the Marquis in the middle of it.

This is where you’ll find Wonderland until January 8^th 

You can ice skating and ride a Ferris wheel for free. 

 There’s also several stands with food and drinks, a great place to go with children and family.

2€ a glass

And we tried something different: 

Hot Wine. 

Yes, it’s wine and it’s hot. But if you think that the alcohol has evaporated with the temperature, you’re wrong. 

We can assure you. 

But you’ll feel really happy after drinking it!

 

After this, you can continue your journey through Avenida da Liberdade (Liberty’s Avenue), admire the Christmas lights and the city, until you reach Rossio.

Here you stop and drink the famous Ginginha (little cherry, a liqueur…look for it) and admire some more of the crazy Portuguese around. 

 

Yes, it’s a horse playing the piano. 

We have an open mind and if a horse wants to play the piano, a horse will play the piano!

In this case, the horse had a paper in front of him asking for donations because, and we quote: “It’s for an engagement ring”. 

So you see, if a horse wants to play the piano and get married in Lisbon, he can!... It can! He can…you got it right?

Continue walking through Rua Augusta (Augusta’s Street) until you find an arch (a beautiful one, you can go to the top and see the view). 

You have now arrived at Terreiro do Paço (let’s translate as Palace’s Yard). 

Enjoy the light show until December 25^th! 

It’s called Circo de Luz (Circus of light) and it’s just beautiful!

You can see it from Monday to Friday at 19h, 20h, 21h, 22h (7,8,9,10pm) and on Saturdays and Sundays at 18h, 19h, 20h, 21h, 22h (6, 7, 8, 9, 10pm).

MAAT

Maat wearing the feather of truth

Maat the Egyptian goddess of the stars and seasons.

Who regulated the actions of mortals and deities.  

Who set order in the universe at the moment of its creation.

Maat, the ancient Egyptian concept of truth, balance, order, justice.

 The moral principle regulates every Egyptian citizen till the day they die.

One day, we are going to tell you all about that Maat.

But for now, meet MAAT - Museum of Art, Architecture and Technology, in Lisbon.

MAAT by night

 

Designed by the British architect Amanda Levete, opened its doors on October 5^th this year, to combine these three fields in an single unique place.

 

Next to it, we can find the Museum of Electricity, - the Tejo Power Station, a building from the first half of the 20^th century.

Museum of Electricity by night

After the opening of MAAT you can see both museums and building with one single ticket.

 

Until March 2017, tickets are 5€ and include all exhibitions. 

Unless it’s the first Sunday of the month. Then it’s free.

… like tomorrow December 4^th! Good news, right?

 

Discover Lisbon

 in the company of Maat, the goddess of the stars - by night

Now with all Christmas lights on. 

Just beautiful!