Tag: chapel

Postcards from Around the World

Whilst wandering around Cascais we found a short cut to the coastal road north past the interesting bold pyramid shaped towers of the Casa das Histórias Paula Rego which led into an extensive park (Marechal Carmona Park also known as Gandarinha Park) with gardens, architectural and sculptural interests and where we came across a peacock with the largest / longest tail I have ever seen.

We also came across the Museu Condes de Castro Guimarães – a charming fairy-tale example of the revivalist architectural style built in 1897.

The museum’s exhibits include an impressive art collection, rare pieces of Indo-Portuguese furniture, a few prehistoric archaeological remains and a library and if you climb up to the tower there are impressive views over the Santa Marta bay and the Santa Marta Lighthouse.

Views from the tower to the Santa Marta Lighthouse

After visiting the museum and the pretty Chapel of Saint Sebastian, which is close by, we walked down to the lighthouse to have a closer look before going for lunch at a restaurant overlooking the bay.

Chapel Sao Sebastiao (17th century)

There is a lot more to this seaside resort than you might first think, plus it is an easy train ride into Lisbon and also a cheap bus ride to the historic town of Sintra. A perfect base in my opinion.

There is a season – turn, turn, turn

To everything – turn, turn, turn
There is a season – turn, turn, turn
And a time to every purpose under heaven

Lots of ways to interpret this week’s photo challenge, but my immediate thoughts were of the Byrd’s song which was a hit in the 1965. Written by Pete Seeger in the late 1950s the words are taken from the bible (Ecclesiastes). The lines are open to myriad interpretations, but as a song they are commonly performed as a plea for world peace, with an emphasis on the closing line:

“a time for peace, I swear it’s not too late.”

Cascais 2

In view of what is happening in the world today, I thought that this was an appropriate response, though I hasten to add that I am not in any way religious, despite being drawn to religious buildings and ancient churchyards like this pretty little chapel on the outskirts of Cascais, Portugal.