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Cabo da Roca

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Sabina315
Sabina315
First Reviewer
5 out of 5
Avg. Member Rating
2
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6
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Editor Pick

Where the Land Ends and the Sea Begins

  • August 5, 2009
  • Rated 4 of 5 by zabelle from Portland, Connecticut
Where the Land Ends and the Sea Begins

When we left Sintra we didn’t have a plan but Victor Emmanuel did. We were going to Cabo da Roca. We had no idea what that was or why we would want to go there but since he had never let us down before, we had no reason to doubt him now.

We drove through the country side with a running commentary as usual. Let me tell you there is never a dull moment with Victor Emmanuel. We did find out that we had blown his plan for lunch by eating at the Pena Palace, well okay but if he had plans he should have told us!! Anyway we drove through some him and through some woods and finally arrived down a steep hill to the Atlantic Ocean.

As it turns out Cabo da Roca is the western most point in continental Europe. Much like Key West has the Southernmost spot in the US Portugal has Cabo da Roca. There is a parking lot that can accommodate buses but we only saw one and it was leaving when we arrived. Not that we were alone mind you, it was like a mini United Nations there. There were people from around the world snapping away with their cameras.

If you are expecting a lovely beach location think again. This is a rocky outcropping that has no access to the water. There is no beach here but nearby there is. The Atlantic is however an amazing blue-green here that is hypnotic. Everyone just stands and stares at the crashing waves. You can see sailboats and ships in the distances heading for the port of Lisbon.

You have to stand here and have your picture taken; it is required, well not really but why not. You walk down a sandy, stony path amid flowers and scrub. On a sunny May afternoon it was a beautiful place even with all the other people.

I believe that all the drivers bring their tours here to support the local economy. There is no charge for the view but you are expected to perhaps eat in the cafe and certainly to buy souvenirs in the shop. There is a second building that houses a visitor center and bathrooms.

So Victor Emmanuel I am sure was disappointed that he couldn’t bring four hungry travelers to the restaurant but he went to eat himself. We went into the gift shop and though it is tempting, resist. I didn’t and I lived to regret it. I bought Brandon a ship for his collection and when we got to Cascais I saw the exact ship for ten Euros less. The good news was that they wrapped it well for travel for me.
Get a postcard to prove you were here but wait until you visit Cascais to shop, the deals are much better.

There is an ice cream bar here and the ice cream was wonderful. We got cones and went outside to enjoy the afternoon sunshine. I am glad that we came here and just about any tour that you take in Portugal will take you here.

From journal More Adventures in Lisbon

Editor Pick

Cabo da Roca

  • August 17, 2006
  • Rated 5 of 5 by Sabina315 from Athens, Ohio
Cabo da Roca

Cabo da Roca is a little remote, I'm not aware of any busses that go there (though there may be some), but it is absolutely worth the trip, especially if you've already rented a car to go to Sintra-Cabo da Roca is on the way. It means 'tail of the rock' in Portuguese-named this way because it is the westernmost point of continental Europe, nicknamed The End of the World. When we went to Cabo de Roca, I had never heard of it and did not know what to expect. But I think even if I had high expectations for this site, they would have been exceeded as I walked from my group's bus to the cliffs. There is a small lighthouse, but otherwise Cabo da Roca is a bluff covered with green plants and small yellow flowers, dropping sharply off into the Atlantic. It is absolutely one of the most beautiful places I have ever been. We all agreed we could have spent hours there, staring out over the cliffs and running around, unfortunately, it gets windy at the end of the world and we left when a huge thunderstorm rolled in (not before we got to watch the storm cloud come in over the ocean).

From journal A Rainy Weekend in Portugal

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