Magical Sintra Portugal and the Unbeaten Path
There is something special about the energy of Sintra Portugal. From the moment I arrived, I felt alive and well. I haven’t felt such positive energy since Rishikesh, India, or San Juan Island, Washington. I don’t know if it’s the climate, the sea air, the happy people, or its mystical history, but Sintra is magical, and I didn’t want to leave. The village is so much more than palaces and castles. Get off the typical tourist path, and you will discover gorgeous beaches, charming coastal towns, impressive wineries, and a fascinating history.
The Cork Covenant
Capuchos, also known as the Cork Convent, is a 15th-century monastery that provided refuge to impoverished people. It’s intriguing to think that at the same time they were building all those lavish palaces, they erected a monastery for the poor between ancient boulders and Cork Trees. Oddly, the door frames are about 4 feet tall and edged with cork bark. The hallways are about two feet wide, and the ceilings are about 5 feet high. The buildings feel like part of the landscape and have an incredible spiritual vibe. I sat and meditated there for a while. One of the more fascinating stories about the place is that one of the most famous monks fell in love with a woman, and they moved into a tiny cave just outside the monastery, where they lived happily together in exile for the next 30 years.