Arts and Entertainment

John and I often spend the last couple days of a trip treating ourselves by staying at someplace special. We decided to stay at a pousada. The pousadas of Portugal are a group of unique places to stay. On our last trip we stayed at several and I will never forget looking out the window of my room in Pouasda of Palmela, a medieval castle. I know how Repunzel must have felt.

While we were in Lisbon, John and I decided to take a half-day trip out of the city. We had visited Sintra years ago but I was so impressed with Pena Castle that we decided to take the Sintra daytrip instead of the trips that went to the beach and/or Fatima. They were too long. Sintra is an UNESCO World Heritage Site and considered the most romantic town in Portugal. The guide provided an interesting documentary on the way as we passed various sites including the impressive 11-mile Livres Aqueduct.

John and I were in Portugal in 1997, but we didn’t visit Lisbon. At that time, we rented a car and drove up the coast to Fatima and didn’t want the hassle of driving in the city. This time, we stayed in Lisbon for a week – no rental car. We used our frequent flyer miles for our air tickets and our IHG points to stay at the Holiday Inn Lisbon Continental. It was centrally located across from the large Parque Eduardo VII.

John and I have been to Hudson, Ohio, several times because our daughter and her family live there. I thought I knew a fair amount about John Brown. We had been to his burial site North Elba, NY, near the ski jump in Lake Placid. For a time, Brown settled in the black community, which was created on land provided by the philanthropic and anti-slavery proponent Gerrit Smith.

There are two very different Ostias. One is referred to as Ostia Antica, an archeological site. It is in the suburb of the city of Ostia, which is on a beach and where the people from Rome go to escape the heat. What a perfect blend – history and beach just 30 minutes from Rome’s international airport. John and I stayed at Hotel Sirenetta on the lido where the prices were reasonable enough so we could reserve a room with a balcony facing the Tyrrhenian Sea.

Gozo is an island in the Mediterranean Sea, one of 21 islands that make up the Maltese archipelago. Over the years, Gozo has been influenced by and/or ruled by a variety of people including the Phoenicians, Romans, Arabs, Sicilians, French and British. It is a 20-minute ferry ride from the main island of Malta. The island is not only smaller than Malta but quieter and more rural. Because of its uniqueness it has been used in many movies.

The name “Mdina” is a reminder that the Spanish Muslims (Moors) ruled Malta from 870 to 1091. During that time, Christians and Muslims lived in relative harmony and the Catholic Church copied some Islamic rituals.
Church bells ring five times a day inviting Catholics to pray and the Islamic month of fasting called Ramadhan was transformed into Lent. In the 1200s, Charles II of Naples had all the Muslim inhabitants exiled or sold into slavery and the mosques were destroyed or converted to churches.

Many people had suggested we visit Malta. I don’t know what took so long. I think Malta is one of Europe’s best kept secrets. There are an amazing number of historical sites dating back to Neolithic times. Even though more bombs fell on Malta during World War II than any other place, the reconstruction maintained the island’s architectural integrity.

Malta is an island in the Mediterranean, so seafood it very popular. One day, John and I had lunch at La Nostra Padrona, a seaside restaurant in the picturesque fishing town of Marsaxlokk. The weather was beautiful – perfect for dining alfresco. John was able to pick from the “catch of the day” while I had a great salad.