From the mouth of hell to the blistering sun.

After having walked so much the past days that my legs and feet hurt like hell, I decided to take a day off. Just relax at the swimming pool, read a book and take it easy. But I failed.

I did go to the swimming pool, after having slept throught the entire morning, but I found myself bored. There was a piece of coast to the west of Cascais that I had not yet seen, so I set out. There was also supposed to be a natural bridge over the gurgling sea, Boca do Inferno. Every folder about Cascais tries to lure tourists to this shoreline, so I thought I'd check it out.

Well, it wasn't that spectacular. In the middle of nowhere there are suddenly a handful of restaurants and dozens of gift shops and some stairs down to the rocky coast. You get a good view of the coastline, which is very impressive, and of this natural bridge in the rocks. I was lucky enough to visit it during ebb, so the sea made a real mess of its waters, banging it against tiny islands under the bridge.

After lunch I set my mind on another quest. Far in the distance I saw the shimmering beaches of the neighboring town Estoril (say Shtoe-reel), and a little castle-like house above the beach. I made it my destination to reach that house, to walk along the boulevard from Cascais to Estoril till I would stand next to it.

It was a real quest all right! It took all day and many ice-creams! But I reached my goal. See the "castle" on the picture! I have fought against myself for that picture! When I got back I was sunstruck and spent the rest of the day in the shades. It was worth it though!