Another beautiful sunny day today, as we take our leave of the ship, walk to the train station and pick up the rental car we were lucky enough to book (this time taking pictures of the paperwork to ensure it was in the correct name!) Car handled, we head out of the city, across the Ponte de 25 de Abril – which looks so cool from below but is a little creepy when you are driving across it – that high above the Targus. From there we head south, through little towns and countryside, all the way to the Cape of Espichel, one of the southernmost promontories in Portugal.

The area has been occupied at one time or another since the prehistoric days. But its big claim to fame is the Lady of the Cape Tale: there are apparently (and we will see them later, btw) dinosaur trackways below a small shrine atop the cliff. Legend has it that the Holy Virgin appeared out of the sea, ascended up the cliff walls on a mule, leaving the tracks on the wall and appeared before 2 pilgrims who had traveled from afar after dreaming of her. Well, you know where this goes! The Cape then became the site of pilgrimages, the Sanctuary of Our Lady of the Cape was built, and an Opera House was added in 1770 for royal events during the pilgrimage.

Hey – religion. But it makes for a fun story and some great building ruins to explore up here on the edge of the cliffs.

Next we hiked over to the Lighthouse, built in 1790 on the site of a hermitage from the 14th Century that was said to hold an image of the Virgin found on a rock. (This started the development of the community that grew to receive pilgrims.) It is said that as early as 1430, the monks built a beacon on the site to help guide ships along what was called the “black coast” due to the lack of light.

Continuing on our explorations, we hiked all over the little peninsula there – in the gorgeous sunshine, but freezing cold wind! Phew – gorgeous views, but really cold.

We wandered over to an abandoned building that was once a bar with some weird, old machinery inside, now filled with graffiti. Would have been a great place for a bar! Talk about views and atmosphere. Sadly, today, we can only dream.

Retracing our steps, we hiked back up to the lighthouse and on past the Sanctuary to find the dinosaur footprints – Pedra de Mua. Wow – what a hike – up and down, cold wind. It was gorgeous and fun – and well worth it! We found the tracks! If not the Virgin!

Then back to the car we went – to warm up – and find some lunch. Which ended up being sandwiches and cold cuts from Lidl – in the car because we couldn’t find a good picnic spot after driving around looking for somewhere to stop. Ah well – at least we were able to get food – and chocolate and things for everyone on Journey to whom we want to give gifts.

Then back to the train station – past the Christ statue – and onto a lovely but bittersweet last night aboard the wonderful Azamara Journey.