Last Updated on May 20, 2020 by PowersToTravel
We stopped to stretch our legs, and take a couple of pictures of the Casino in Estoril. “No thanks, we don’t want a coffee.” What kind of travelers are we that we don’t want to stop every hour for a coffee? We are diet soda travelers who always make sure the cold stuff is in the cooler and we sip as we go…
Jorge, our guide from MyWayTours, regaled us with stories of spies and fleeing royalty. The casino was the hub of World War II spies and rich and famous in exile. Ian Fleming turned the casino into Casino Royale.
I myself had no knowledge of Portugal’s role in World War II. I certainly had never seen any movies set in Portugal or stories of Portuguese resistance. Jorge taught us that Portugal was neutral in the war, and had been a magnet for the disposessed rich of Europe. Royalty of Spain, Italy, Hungary, and Bulgaria lived in mansions in Estoril. It became real to me as I remembered the plot of Casablanca, and Victor Laslo’s search for passage on a flight to Lisbon.
Neutral or Resistant? The question is as pertinent today as it was then.
Diabetic Travel Tips
Communicating information of value to diabetics as they travel is the purpose of this website, as well as inspiring diabetics to travel. However with an increasing number of posts I find that the only information of value I can impart is “Where to find food and drink.” I haven’t studied all of the pharmacy locations and the completeness of their medications. Many of the sights we have seen have not been at the end of ten mile hikes. They have been in towns, and generally reasonably close to sources of nutrition. My tip is just to always have plenty of juice and glucose tablets in the car, and on your person, keep your insulin cool and safe, and then just enjoy! It really hasn’t been that hard.
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MyWayTours, for which Carlos works. Carlos is a fantastic and entertaining guide. Don’t let the solemn look in the picture fool you – he was a blast to spend the day with!
Map
Estoril was not our ultimate destination for our day out from Lisbon. It was a nice place to stop and get a great story on our way to other destinations on our full-day tour out of Lisbon. Together with Carlos we chose to see the Palace of Queluz, Estoril, Cascais, Boca de Inferno, Cabo de Roca, the Castle of the Moors and finally, Pena Castle. I wish we had had a week to spend in the area.
