Exploring new lands (at least for us - many of the sights were 500 or even 900 years old), the cooler winter months afford travel to Lisbon (including Sintra and Cascais), the Duoro Valley wine country, and Porto, home of port wine. 

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Douro Valley
Douro Valley

It went on like this - terraced hills with endless vineyards, with the Douro River snaking in between. 

Courtyard in repose

Courtyard in repose

Sintra, a UNESCO World Heritage site, is home to a number of fantastic palaces and castles. Pena Castle is a Alice-in-Wonderland-esque compound, replete with whimsical colors, beautiful arches, and over-the-top details.

Sintra, a UNESCO World Heritage site, is home to a number of fantastic palaces and castles. Pena Castle is a Alice-in-Wonderland-esque compound, replete with whimsical colors, beautiful arches, and over-the-top details.

Classic tourist shot.

Classic tourist shot.

The Santa Marta lighthouse in Cascais will celebrate it's 150th anniversary of service in 2018. 

The Santa Marta lighthouse in Cascais will celebrate it's 150th anniversary of service in 2018. 

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The architectural details on these churches was impressive - statues within arches, innumerable levels of detail, and coordinated with the surrounding landscape.

The architectural details on these churches was impressive - statues within arches, innumerable levels of detail, and coordinated with the surrounding landscape.

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Foreign to our American sensibilities, the streets in Lisbon are often small, tortuous, and multilayered - here is an example of a more open thoroughfare.

Foreign to our American sensibilities, the streets in Lisbon are often small, tortuous, and multilayered - here is an example of a more open thoroughfare.

Runner's High
Runner's High

Kaitlin uses the professional athlete card to go for a spin on a Four Seasons Lisbon rooftop track.