Óbidos receives thousands of visitors all year round but at Easter the usual festive atmosphere stops for a couple of hours to solemnly welcome its main procession, the Burial of the Lord, which is celebrated on Good Friday night and is followed with devotion by many people dressed in costumes of the time. http://www.semanasantaobidos.pt/
2. Folar de Páscoa
In all the central area of the country, one of the most typical traditions at Easter is to eat the Folar de Páscoa, a sweet bread made with flour, eggs, sugar, and cinnamon. The Folar can be decorated also with hard-boiled eggs and is sometimes also eaten with cheese, ham, and a glass of wine. If you haven’t tried it yet, we especially like the one they prepare at the Atelier do Doce, between Caldas da Rainha and Alcobaça, which has received numerous awards. https://atelierdodoce.pt/produto/folar-de-bronze/
3. The waves of Peniche
Although there are more and more brave people who also dare to ride the waves during the winter, Easter traditionally marks the beginning of the surf season on the beaches of Peniche. The temperatures, both outside and in the water, are beginning to become more pleasant and thousands of surfers start or resume their passion for the waves.
Surf in Peniche
4. Flamingos in the Lagoa
The end of winter also normally marks the time when the wetlands are at their peak and it is easy to see some of the flamingo families that nest in the lagoa de Óbidos during the winter season.
Flamingos in the Lagoa de Óbidos
5. Sardoal
We end with a suggestion that is not geographically within the Oeste region but is very close, and it is perfect for a day trip. Sardoal is a small town on the A23, near Abrantes, with deep religious traditions. During the procession of the Bonfires, public lighting is turned off and there is only light from torches and hundreds of small lamps that are placed in the windows and balconies of the houses. The churches are decorated with carpets of flowers and in the Main Church they put also wheat germinated in the dark, which gives it a particular yellow tone.http://www.cm-sardoal.pt/images/CMS/SemanaSanta2023/cartaz_semana_santa_2023_final.jpg
All cultures appreciate the mixture of simplicity and depth that Chinese proverbs have been offering since ancient times. We especially like the one from Lao Zi that says that a journey of a thousand miles begins with the first step.
For decades China has been a disciplined and powerful but very self-centered country. But in the 21st century, for several internal and external reasons, China has taken off as a great global power, moving from an economy based on low-cost manufactures to a more complete one, in which new technologies have great importance. This has generated very powerful companies, with great export strength, which have started to gain a global presence that is more than remarkable. And it has also given rise to a growing middle class, with the capacity to travel and to enjoy previously impossible luxuries.
To understand the economic importance that these new travelers can have, according to the official information from the Ministry of Tourism of Portugal, in 2017 a Spanish tourist spent an average of 89 euros a day in Portugal, while a Chinese one spent 642 euros. That is, a Chinese tourist spent in one day what a Spanish did in a whole week. The pandemic meant a total stop in these trips but they resumed in 2023 and at an exceptionally high rate: in the ten days around the Chinese New Year there have been nearly 2 billion movements of Chinese citizens.
Therefore, it is not surprising that there is a growing interest in Europe to try to re-attract this type of tourists, to offer them something that makes them want to come back again and to recommend the trip to their millions of compatriots. And what attracts this type of traveler most?
In the first place, and surprising as it may seem, the weather. A day with blue skies and cool temperatures, with a light breeze, is one of the elements that can most attract an Asian traveler, who often suffers at home from hot humid days, with a sticky and uncomfortable heat. That is why it is easier to have a more positive experience in the cool summers of the Spanish and Portuguese Atlantic coast than in the Mediterranean ones. And for that reason perhaps the strategy of the Mediterranean areas should focus on trying to attract this type of visitor in the winters, in which its climate is mild and also its occupation is lower.
Secondly, they appreciate very positively the open landscapes, the forests, the big parks, the not too crowded beaches, the mountain trails. In general, the population density in large Asian cities is much higher than in Europe and that is why they would usually prefer to visit a natural park in Europe than a very monumental but very crowded city.
The beauty of the ocean
Third, they like Mediterranean culture very much. Our food, our wines, our lifestyle. That is why they value very positively having experiences that allow them to enjoy these elements first-hand. To be able to go to small restaurants where they serve simple and quality food, fresh fruits and vegetables, seafood and grilled fish. They appreciate gastronomy as a culture, as a way of understanding and knowing better the area and the people they are visiting. That is why it is not strange to see them also in the best restaurants because they look especially for that quality experience.
In this line, immersive experiences are increasingly successful, such as visits to wineries where they can see the whole process of elaboration and end with a wine tasting. Or attending popular festivities and being able to live the atmosphere and traditions with local people, imbuing themselves with the party.
Umbrella Sky Project – Águeda, Portugal
In 2017 the number of Chinese tourists who visited Portugal rose by 80% over 2016 and in 2018 it was again the country that most increased its number of visitors to Portugal. Which is not surprising if we take into account the mild climate, the beautiful landscapes and the great gastronomy of Portugal. And, in addition, compared to European tourism that is very seasonal, the Asian tends to be distributed more during the year, because it does not seek the sun and the beach and enjoys much more a quiet place, without large crowds and cool temperatures. Portugal has all to make the most of these advantages and for the beginning of a beautiful friendship. Or for Lao Zi’s first miles for the journey of a thousand miles that many millions of people could start in the coming years. Will we be ready to welcome them?
There are studies that have calculated that children smile on average 400 times a day while adults only smile between 30 and 40 times a day. There are also several studies that have analyzed that children are much more creative than adults because they see life as a game and are able to imagine playful situations in any scenario.
Fortunately, there are times in adults’ lives when they have the opportunity to recover some of that joy, sharing games with their children, nephews or grandchildren. For that, it is enough to let go, get some imagination and let yourself be carried away by the little ones.
For several reasons, the Oeste region of Portugal is an ideal setting for children. In the first place, because it has a climate that favors all outdoor activities; the temperatures are mild all year round, never too cold or too hot. Second, because it has more than 100 km of coastline, with dozens of beaches, which are, as is known, the preferred scenario for children to play. And, thirdly, because it is still not a saturated destination, and does not have the long queues that always characterize the most typical children’s destinations.
So today our recommendation is that we all fit imaginary cowboy boots and hat, that we take our horses and that we throw ourselves to the great adventure of the conquest of the West.
The route can begin in Óbidos, which with its castle and its walls can be the best inspiration for any adventure. If we need a certain atmosphere to warm up, the ideal moment would be in summer, while the medieval fair takes place, with its famous combats between knights. During those days, costumes are rented and anyone can feel for a few hours the lord of the castle.
Another very appropriate time to go to Óbidos with children would be in December, during Vila Natal, when the whole town becomes a large theme park of games and activities related to Christmas. You can check in the city council website for dates and schedules of these two events: www.cm-obidos.pt
The beaches of the region are known worldwide thanks to surfing. The Praia Norte in Nazaré, with its giant waves, and Supertubos in Peniche, with the World League events, are the most famous but almost all have a surf school and instructors to show you how to start with this spectacular sport. We tend to think that surfing is not suitable for small children but in reality, as soon as they know how to swim well, they can start jumping on the board and at those ages it is when their approach is simpler and more natural and they immediately dominate the movements. For the little ones, the ideal is to start on beaches with little waves, like Gamboa in Peniche, where the veteran Escola Surf Peniche offers its courses.
For those who do not dare to try it, another fun and different beach plan is the Parque Acuático of São Martinho do Porto, a set of slides and jumps that is installed during the summer in the sea, a few meters from the shore.
And for children and not so children, an option that never fails to make you have a good time with friends is a kart race. In the region there are several kart tracks, all quite good, such as the Kiro Kartódromo do Oeste in Bombarral, the Dino Kart in Lourinhã and the Euroindy near Batalha. There is even an option for rainy days, the Indoor Karting Caldas da Rainha, which is somewhat smaller but also great fun. It is advisable to check beforehand the minimum ages, although most of them have different options to welcome the smallest too.
We can continue our adventure in the Jurassic period, looking for fossils and discovering all the secrets of the dinosaurs in the Dino Parque de Lourinhã.
And finally, for those who want to make the most of the boots and hat that they put on at the beginning of this entry and prefer not to bring their own horse, there are also several first class equestrian centers where you can give free rein to the cowboy you carry inside. We highlight the Alfeizerão International Equestrian Center, with very complete facilities and all kinds of services, and the Quintas de Óbidos, which also has magnificent facilities and is gradually starting up after some very troubled beginnings due to the crisis.
With all these elements and a bit of our imagination we have more than assured the smiles of children and adults.
The human being is curious and adventurous by nature. And anyone who visits Cape Carvoeiro, on the westernmost tip of the Peniche peninsula, would probably be curious about some islands that are seen in the distance, about 10 km away. It is the archipelago of the Berlengas, a group of small islets, with three peculiar histories that interweave surprisingly with the present.
In the history of the islands there is a very relevant first date, 1465. It was in that year when King Afonso V issued an order prohibiting hunting in the Berlengas, in what was a pioneering and very novel decision of care and attention for the nature. Anyone who has visited or seen pictures of the islands, and their coves with turquoise and crystalline waters, understands well what King Afonso could see and feel to dictate an order so unusual at that time. The line to the present, and the future, takes us to more than five centuries later, when in 2011 UNESCO declared the Berlengas a biosphere reserve and confirmed what the king’s sensibility valued long before.
In the century following that of King Afonso, in 1513, with the help of Queen Leonor, a small monastery of San Geronimo monks was founded on the islands, seeking a place for their spiritual retreat and to help the victims of the numerous shipwrecks that generated that coast. Saving the distances, is what nowadays also look for the many retreats that in different points of the coast of Peniche offer interesting combinations of mindfulness, yoga, meditation and surfing. We hope that modern history is more favorable to these initiatives because the monastery and the poor monks ended in closure just a few years after its founding because the monastery was frequently attacked by pirates and their members taken as slaves. Surely they were ahead of their time and did not get everyone to see the peace, beauty and spirituality that inspires this Atlantic coast.
The third story connects the past and the present century through sea, football and technology. In 2018 the company Apple shot a short film about a supposed historical rivalry between the football teams of Baleal and Peniche, who preferred to settle their matches on a neutral pitch and chose to move to the Berlengas. You can watch the video in this link. The story, obviously fictional, is aimed at showing the technical excellence of the phone model with which the ad is recorded. But, in a certain way, it allows us to understand the difficulty of those who live from the sea and to value better all those who ventured to sail the waters and discover the mysteries that they hid. It is a story that connects the past and the present through the sea and these special islands. If watching the video makes you want to visit the islands, please note that from June 1, 2022, there is a 3-euro tourist tax, Berlengas Pass, destined to improve the infrastructures and ensure that the number of visitors do not exceed 550 per day.
The small village of Lourinhã is known worldwide for several reasons. It was where the first remains of dinosaurs from the Iberian Peninsula were found in 1863. More importantly, a unique specimen was discovered in 1949, which ended up being called Lourinhasaurio and which has been the object of a detailed scientific study.
This intense relationship between the village of Lourinhã and the world of dinosaurs led to the opening in 2018 of one of the largest open-air parks in the world dedicated to these animals, the Dino Parque. Throughout 10 hectares of verdant forest, there are full-size reproductions of well known dinosaurs; allowing visitors an intimate knowledge of the natural environment of how these animals were. The park also includes educational and playground areas, where children can work on stones and find small fossils.
The park is open all year round, but November is an excellent option because it allows a quieter visit, with fewer visitors than on holiday weeks. The trees in the area are also in the full splendor of autumn, with a spectacular color palette. And you can also time the visit to coincide with the Quinzena Gastronómica Aguardente DOC Lourinhã, which is now in its tenth edition and takes place in most restaurants in the city.
For those who do not know the aguardente of Lourinhã, it is a great opportunity to try it, first in its liquid format, which is highly appreciated because in Europe there are only three DOC brandies: Cognac, Armagnac and Lourinhã. At the same time, you can also sample it in the many recipes of both sweet and savory dishes that use it during these gastronomic days and bring out some exceptional and surprising flavors.
An exciting option for a whole day trip could be visiting the Dino Parque in the morning, having lunch at one of the restaurants in the city, and going for a leisurely walk in the afternoon. It could take you to the beach of Porto das Barcas, a virgin beach in a small bay, with calmer and clearer waters than other more open beaches in the area.
A small paradise to burn off the calories from lunch, watch the sunset from the beach and complete a perfect day outdoors for children and adults.
It is challenging to recommend beaches because not
everyone likes the same things. Therefore, when someone asks us
for advice on choosing a beach destination in the Oeste region, we always ask them first about their goals before answering. For those looking for surfing and fun, we usually
suggest Baleal, Peniche, or Santa Cruz. For those who prefer family
beaches and calm waters, we point them towards São Martinho or
Nazaré. For those who want to have it all, towards the resorts
around the lagoa de Óbidos. And for those who like bathing in
warmer waters… towards a good spa.
And, for that very reason, we believe that it is best if our list of
beaches does not have a ranking, as, for some, the top 1 may be a
beach that, for others, is one of the least desirable. The ones that
follow appear, as the cast in Woody Allen’s films, in
alphabetical order:
– Baleal. The small peninsula of Baleal and its two beaches is
a popular with the international crowd, especially with surfers from all over the world. It is also a recommended option for beginners,
since it always has different difficulty levels spread across the various sections of the peninsula. The accommodation on offer between Baleal and
Peniche is extensive, especially in apartments and
youth hostels. For those looking for a good higher-
end option, the MH Peniche is a very good hotel and has an
excellent location, being close to both the beaches and the restaurant district.
– Bom Sucesso. The Bom Sucesso beach, on the southern
side of the lagoa de Óbidos, has a wide sandy area, and calm,
transparent waters, perfect for children’s games.
Furthermore, it has the bonus of walking between the dunes to the open sea
and enjoying the waves. There are several resorts in the area that offer an excellent level of accommodation. Our personal experience and opinion, suggest none offers such a complete experience as the Bom Sucesso Resort, with its distinctive design element but still complete with the main amenities of the other resorts.
– Física. Surfing destination, bustling and fun, with all the
services and entertainment of the touristic town of Santa
Cruz. The Noah Surf House has different accommodation
options and has developed the boho-eco-chic concept like no other.
– Nazaré. Praia Norte is a must during the winter, to watch the pros taming the largest waves in the world. In the summer, the Nazaré main beach is a top-rated family destination, with all the services and entertainment one would expect. For those who prefer a somewhat quieter accommodation, away from the city center, the Vale d’Azenha hotel, with its modern architecture and characteristic style, may be a good option.
– Porto das Barcas. It is a beautiful beach, usually quiter, in an area still under development. Accommodations are cosy and family-friendly, highlighting the Silver Coast Vacation Inn.
– Porto Novo. This beach is in an area with very low density,
near the small towns of Vimeiro and Maceira, but the Well Hotel & Spa, right by the beach, has sufficient attractions and
services to enjoy a complete stay.
– Supertubos. Its perfect waves host the Surf World League in
October and make this beach an absolute mecca for
European surfers. It has a wide range of accommodation and
good surf schools. For those who may prefer to stay this time
in a hotel rather than in a Volkswagen minivan, the MH Atlántico is an excellent option.
It is impossible to condense 100 km of beaches in a few lines, but
we hope we have helped you with this small selection, which you
can expand by sharing your preferences in the
comments. Come on, dive in…
Today we are going to play a version of The Alphabet Game, or Pasapalabra (the Spanish equivalent), that seeks to raise awareness of a significant problem that most of us have which we sometimes forget about or do not give enough importance to. This problem is the constant attention we pay to our mobile phones. If we do not control such addiction, it quickly takes over all waking moments of our life and adversely affects our ability to carry out other essential activities properly. So what can we do about this creeping issue?
Starting with an O. Organization. Try to be organized and disciplined in the schedule and rules of use of your mobile devices. Do not check it while you work or study. Or program periods of at least half an hour of work or study and then five minutes of rest, like the Pomodoro technique. The mobile is a skilled thief of our time and concentration, but it is in our hands to avoid it.
With an E. Essential. Check periodically all the key apps you have downloaded and delete those that are not essential. As much as possible, avoid social networks.
With an S. Silence. Manage notifications, eliminating all sounds and leaving only the most essential alerts. It is tough to concentrate if you are constantly receiving notification sounds. The temptation to check the mobile when you hear the alert must be resisted. But again, it is in your power to eliminate such sounds and control when you look at the phone.
With a T. Temperance. Dictionaries usually define temperance as moderation, sobriety and continence. Applied to mobiles means that it is unnecessary to erase yourself from the digital world or live in a hippie eco-commune. But you should have a certain degree of self-control and a sufficient level of discipline to adopt good practices in the use of the mobile. Examples of such good practice include not using it when you are eating with other people or when you are in meetings with friends, turning it off at least one hour before going to bed, and not turning it on until an hour after getting up.
With an E. Experiences. Multiple studies have shown that for personal well-being it is fundamental to have new experiences. These do not usually come from having money, the latest generation mobile phone, a thousand virtual friends whom you infrequently interact with, or 500,000 likes. Multi-dimensional experiences, in the real world, with people of flesh and blood, enjoying nature, playing sports, trying new foods, discovering new places, learning new hobbies; these are the experiences that really bring you happiness and a variety of them coupled with the convenience of the mobile help enrich our lives more broadly.
Smartphones have managed to penetrate so much into our lives that it can be quite challenging to apply these tips but we can always go little by little, developing more self-discipline, asking for help from our friends and family so that it is a joint exercise in which everyone can support each other. And for moments of weakness, we can take the word that is read in the acrostic in our game, OESTE, because it is also scientifically proven that the Oeste region is conducive for outdoor activities, to enjoy the sea, nature, gastronomy and culture. Who knows, maybe we even end up inventing the word oestherapy to describe all the positive effects of coming here.
So, do you have any additional tips or ideas that you can share to manage our smartphones better?
Studies about countries with the highest life expectancy always mention common elements such as good nutrition, a reliable health system, plenty of physical activity, and active social life.
In longevity, as in happiness and many other things, money is not always the most crucial factor. For example, it is significant that the United States, despite having high income per capita, always appears in the middle of the ranking and has never been rated highly in that respect. Inequalities in access to healthcare, and high rates of obesity and violent crime, are undoubtedly the cause of this poor result.
An interesting study by the University of Chicago provides a new vital factor in considering life expectancy: pollution levels. Analyzing microparticle data in the air and comparing the life expectancy in the population of a region of China more exposed to pollution against another area with lower pollution levels, the study reaches devastating conclusions about the effect of pollution on life expectancy.
The study showed areas with high air pollution could result in a decrease of up to six years in life expectancy. Or, in other words, the mere fact of living in an area with poor air quality can mean a significantly earlier death for inhabitants of that area. The authors emphasize that these data suggest that pollution is a more relevant factor in mortality rates than elements we know to be harmful such as tobacco addiction.
The Iberian Peninsula generally gets good results in the University of Chicago study, with only a few months of loss of life derived from pollution. However, as the study identifies combustion derived from transport, heating, and power plants based on fossil fuels as the leading causes of these problems, it can easily be inferred that large cities and highly industrialized regions will be where life expectancy is more adversely impacted by pollution.
The good news is that the damage caused by pollution on the body is not permanent and can be remedied in certain situations. In the same way that research has shown the lungs of an ex-smoker can, a few years after stopping smoking, recover most of their initial good condition, eliminating or reducing exposure to significant air pollution also allows our body to clean itself and heal slowly.
Praia de Baleal
And that is the positive message that we wanted to share today. That we still have the chance to improve our life expectancy. If we are citizens of the European Union, it is as simple as buying a plane ticket and coming to live in Portugal, which due to strong sea breezes, low industrial density and transport, and the high percentage of renewable energy in electricity production, is one of the best places in the world to recover our lungs and general health. In many cases, we can even benefit from substantial tax advantages, which is also a factor of increased wellbeing for many people. And if you are from outside the European Union, you can move in via the golden visa, a visa regime that grants access to EU residence with an investment of 500,000 euros in real estate or 1 million euros in financial assets. It may seem a lot, but how much do we value each year of our life? And what about our children’s lives?
If we add to that the quieter pace of life, excellent food, the possibilities to do all kinds of sports, and the kindness of the people here, we see that the equation adds all the recommended elements. So perhaps we should reformulate the previous question towards the famous song: tell me quando, quando, quando.
A couple of semesters ago, a new university campus opened in the city of Carcavelos, on the coast between Lisbon and Cascais, offering several studies on business administration. They call it the Nova Way of Life. Its main difference to traditional universities is that the campus, or center as they like to refer it, seeks to merge economic studies with beach culture and new technologies, in the style of some Californian centers.
With the collaboration of leading companies such as Microsoft, Cisco and Axians, the idea is to get a very open center, with Wi-Fi throughout the space and even at the adjoining beach, to make it easier for students to make the most of new technologies at all times. For example, there is an ultra-modern Pingo Doce supermarket where students can buy items 24/7 and there are no cashiers, with users instead paying only by electronic means.
We will still have to wait a while to see how this new concept works but the Portuguese environment is certainly welcoming for the set-up of tech and innovative ventures, as the constant announcement of new openings is showing (Amazon, Google, Mercedes Benz and many more, as described in this article). But whatever the result of the new Carcavelos center, it is an interesting example for other Portuguese universities, which could take advantage of the proximity to the sea and the obvious connection between youth and surfing, to internationalize the offer and attract many more European and global students.
In Peniche, very close to the Cape Carvoeiro lighthouse, is located the Campus 4 of the Polytechnic University of Leiria, with an educational offer focused on marine biotechnology, food and bio-engineering and studies related to gastronomy and tourism management. It is not difficult to imagine that some of these classes or after-school activities could well take place on the beaches of Supertubos or Baleal, just 10 minutes from the campus. A relaxed environment and proximity to the sea provide countless advantages for physical well-being and intellectual stimulation.
The same could also apply to the campuses of Marinha Grande and Caldas da Rainha, which also have great bike lanes to reach the sea, making it easy for students who want to move around the area by bicycle. E-bikes are becoming a revolution in mobility and are the preferred mode of transportation for students, who value above all their sustainability, flexibility and low costs. Bearing in mind that European higher education students increasingly seek to complete their studies with some international experience, the Universities in Portugal should try to offer distinctive elements that make them stand out, be different and attractive, because it is proven that greater international diversity in classrooms is a factor that enriches and increases the quality and prestige of the center. Can there be something more attractive for young people from northern Europe, tired of cold days with little sunlight, than to study in shorts on the sunny and pristine sandy beaches of Portugal?
My Fair Lady was a musical film released in the 60s, directed by George Cukor, with Audrey Hepburn and Rex Harrison in the leading roles. It received good reviews and numerous awards, including the Oscar for best film.
Although in Spain the exhibition of films in its original version is gradually increasing, it was previously only possible to see the films in a dubbed version. In the case of musical films, such as My Fair Lady, the lyrics of the songs were also translated, which was sometimes a real challenge to get them to fit the original music. In order to maintain the metric or the rhythm, the translators needed to make small changes to the original lyrics. In the case of one of the songs of My Fair Lady, which in English was called “The rain in Spain”, the change was radical and became “La lluvia en Sevilla es una pura maravilla” (the rain in Seville is a pure marvel). The reason in this case was to fit the circumstances of the scene where the song was featured.
This scene was where the character of Eliza Doolittle had difficulties with the correct pronunciation of the letters “ai”, which in English sometimes adopts the sound [ei] and so the teacher uses the phrase “the rain in Spain stays mainly in the plain” as a speech exercise to help Eliza improve her pronunciation. The problem is that in Spanish in the phrase “the rain in Spain stays mainly in the plain” did not rhyme well and there was not much challenge as a speech exercise since those words are pronounced as they are written. Hence, and it did not have much logical argument to keep to the original lyrics. The writers therefore chose to refocus the sentence on the pronunciation of the double “l”, which not everyone pronounces in the same way.
It must be said that the problem with the phrase and the song was not only in the Spanish version. In the German version, the song changed to “Es grünt so grün wenn Spaniens Blüten blühen“, which means “The greenness is so green when the flowers bloom in Spain”. In Italian it was “La rana in Spagna gracida in campagna“, that would be “The frog in Spain croaks in the field”. However, none of these versions has been as successful as the Spanish one, where the phrase penetrated deep into popular culture and even today, more than 60 years after the premiere of the film, it is still common to hear it when a rainy day arrives in Seville.
Well, paraphrasing this anecdote it could be said that “The rain in Portugal, can also be practical.” To begin with, because it is that rain that keeps the green landscapes so lush which is a characteristic attraction of the Portuguese geography. This is also what allows Portugal to be one of the leading countries in renewable energy, thanks to abundant hydroelectric power. On a more personal level, because it allows you to stay at home, light the fireplace and enjoy a quiet afternoon filled with the fragrance of a rainy day. Or even embark on a journey of discovering some places and activities less known by tourists which can guarantee a great afternoon of family fun.
We can start with one of the newest, the Quantum Park, in Lisbon, which offers one of Europe’s largest indoor surfaces of trampolines, climbing areas, skate ramps, and basketball courts.
Another classic for rainy days is the Oceanário de Lisboa, which in 2018 was chosen as the best aquarium in the world by Tripadvisor, and always offers plenty of quality and interesting activities for the whole family.
For those who are in the Oeste region and do not want to make it all the way to Lisbon, there are also closer plans which are equally enjoyable. The Bowling Caldas, next to the municipal sports area, offers bowling, games, karaoke and, sometimes, even live music. And in that same line, another interesting plan is the Indoor Karting Caldas da Rainha, which has a small but fun kart track, and an area with snooker and karaoke.
A different kind of excursion is to visit the grutas Mira de Aire, which are located a few kilometers from Fatima and constitute the largest group of caves in Portugal. At the time when its commercial exploitation began in the 70s, there was less sensitivity for the preservation of nature, and some people may think that the caves have too much human intervention. But the experience is still very interesting and the children love the adventurous element.
Then there is always surfing, which you can continue enjoying quite as much, as you end up more or less equally wet with rain or without it. And even golf; under the rain is a little less pleasant, but you can still play, and if you choose the links of Praia del Rey or West Cliffs, you can get into an experience very similar to what the inventors of this sport in the British Isles would have had in their time (and which the Ryder Cup contestants have had to face from time to time on the British courses).
And, to close as we started, one of our favorite plans is to go to the La Vie shopping center in Caldas, and see a good movie. Most of the films are in the original version, with subtitles in Portuguese. The restaurants in this shopping center share a food court, which allows everyone to choose what they want, for the whole family to find something to their liking and for the rainy afternoon to finish with very good grades.
We open the forum and welcome more ideas for rainy days.
