Last Week's Speaker was our own Mark Campbell
Postcards from Portugal
Last Thursday we were taken on a magical journey to Portugal by Santa Rosa Sunriser, Mark Campbell. Mark, an avid world traveler, works for one of the most elite traveling tour companies in the world- Abercrombie and Kent, and has a deep passion for the Portuguese culture.
All members who attended live and on Zoom had the pleasure of experiencing Mark’s love for this incredible country. There is no doubt we all want to win the grand prize at the raffle following Mark’s presentation.
Our journey began in Lisbon where we learned that this capital city is like San Francisco. There is a lovely balance of tradition and modern architecture. The city is rich in culture with an abundance of excellent food, shopping, and a robust nightlife. Mark introduced us to Azulejos, which are small, polished tiles found throughout Portugal. These predominantly blue and white colored tiles became prevalent during the 1200’s during the Moorish invasion of the Iberian Peninsula. The National Museum of the Azulejo in Lisbon is the perfect place to dive deep into the history of the Azulejos.
The selection of seafood in Lisbon is divine. They are known for their cod, dishes called lapas and calderada, and the Portuguese are crazy for sardines. Mark explained it is not uncommon to see vibrant colored tins of sardines on market shelves and speckled on people’s dinner tables.
Mark shared pictures of the Belem Tower that was built during the 16th century renaissance. It was built in a style referred as Manueline, and Mark described this type of architecture as, “Gothic on Steroids.”
Our next stop on our adventure was to Sintra, a town 30 minutes outside of Lisbon also known as “heaven on earth.” We were dazzled with photos of fairy tale buildings and ruins. Pena Palace is a must-see, and on a clear day, it is visible from Lisbon. The citadel of Quinta Regaleria has tunnels and caves and was erected with the assistance of the free masons.
Mark shared that the Portuguese are pastry diehards and take their coffee extremely seriously.
We were introduced to the walled town of Obidos, which was a wedding gift to the queen of Portugal in 1282, and then were whisked away to Porto. Porto, the country’s second most populous city, is in the Duoro Valley where it is hot and dry. It is the prime location for Port wine. This is the foodie capital of Portugal. If you are not a port fan, no worries! This area of the country is also creating world class red wines. It is best to visit this area with a private driver. Mark described Portuguese drivers as some of the craziest in the world.
Mark regaled us about the Alentejo Region, with its 12th century Roman temples, vast fields of sunflowers, and the Capela dos Ossos-an eerie chapel lines with human skulls. We were introduced to the Barcelos Rooster, which is the unofficial national symbol, which has a fantastic tale of resurrection and redemption.
Mark saved the best part of the journey for the last portion of his presentation: Madeira Island. This is Mark’s favorite spot to visit in Portugal. He and his wife, Julie, exchanged their wedding vows on the “Island of Eternal Spring.” The island has lava rock pools and is lush with orchids. A toboggan ride down one of Madeira’s crazy roads perfect for the adrenaline junkies in the group.
Mark’s enthusiasm was extremely contagious, and we were so fortunate to get insider tips on one of the most beautiful countries in the world. Thank you, Mark!
Click HERE to see a recording of Mark's presentation available for a limited time.
