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Lisbon Coast: Estoril and Sesimbra
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Index:
THE COAST
1-Coast (Roca cape) 2-Coast (Guincho beach) 3-Coast (Ericeira beach) 4-Coast (Estoril coast) 5-Coast
(Sesimbra beach)
THE COAST
1-Coast (Roca cape) And here we are in the Coast. Our first visit is the place where Sintra Mountain ends, abruptly in
the ocean. It's Roca cape, the westernmost point of continental Europe, the place where the land ends and the sea
begins. This is the closest point to America in the European continent, where, 140 meters high we have a nice view of
the ocean and a part of the Portuguese coast, with its granite outline of the mountain. This was called the magnificent
cape by the Romans, the place where primordial people came to listen to the whistle of the setting sun.
2-Coast (Guincho beach) There dozens and dozens of kilometers of nice beaches near Lisbon and we start by one
that is close by to Roca cape, Guincho, beach. A desert beach in the past, is now crowded by those searching for
waves and strong wind with the beautiful mountain as background.
3-Coast (Ericeira beach) Further north there is Ericeira. This is a place where the strong breeze fills your lungs with
fresh air, plenty of iodine. It was also the place where Manuel II, the last king of Portugal, embarked, leaving Portugal to
exile.
It's a beautiful seaside resort. It's also a busy fishing harbor, where fishermen are always on the go, and it's quite a
show to watch this brave men going and returning from the ocean, facing the waves when the sea is rough, in their
small boats, like many other fishermen in Portugal. Even near the capital, there plenty of small fishing boats, with some
characteristics that come from those used by Phoenicians, Greeks and Carthaginians, maritime people stopping here
on the Portuguese coast, thousands of years ago. The rocky formation of the Coast gives us stunning scenes and is
like a crawl for several kinds of seafood and shellfish.
4-Coast (Estoril coast) Let's get back to the south to see Estoril coast, which is close to Lisbon and is one of the most
famous seaside resorts in Portugal. Here, fishermen also mingle with bathers in a harmony that fits with the tranquility
of the bay. Estoril bay was advertised in the beginning of the 20-century as the Sunny Coast, because it is said to
have 300 days of sunshine per year. It's a microclimate of Portugal, with a mild temperature all year round and with
plenty of iodine. There was a train connection with Paris in the past and tourists could come here directly from different
countries in Europe. It became a fancy place in the world and is still a famous one. It was also where many deported
kings from different countries came to spend their exiles. Together with many other refugees, this place has been a
very well located safe dreamland for many families.
But it developed in the end of the 19-century when sea bathing became fashionable. The court came to the beach but
it was different then. Ladies went to one beach and gentlemen to another. And they were not almost naked. Most of
the bathers belonged to the court. Noble families built a number of exotic palaces near the beaches, matching the
landscape. Lots of them exist today and they are a décor of the coastline.
5-Coast (Sesimbra) If we go further south we have hundreds of kilometers of nice and warm beaches. But we keep
close to Lisbon to see another typical one called Sesimbra. It's also an ancient fishing harbor and a little bigger fishing
boats are always busy. Here we find swordfish, a real specialty of the region. This is also close to another mountain we
have to the south of Lisbon. Arrabida Mountain, also with magnificent vegetation, has a gorgeous seaside resort.
When we take a look at some of the beaches here, we realize that the water is so clear that we can often see the
bottom of the ocean. That's because of special seaweed that releases the water from impurities and we can swim in
crystal clear water.
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