Or the story how I almost fell of the cliffs and missed the last bus going home at Cabo da Roca – the most western point of Continental Europe.
Cabo da Roca
When waking up in Lisbon it didn’t feel like this will be the day I’d have a near-death experience. But let me tell you the whole story.
Getting there
By train I traveled from Rossio station in Lisbon to beautiful Sintra with its palaces, mysterious gardens and breathtaking views. But limited my time there for a reason: I wanted to stand at the most western point of Continental Europe at Cabo da Roca. So in the afternoon I took the regular bus with the number 403 at Sintra station that runs about once an hour. With buying a day pass in Lisbon earlier, I could get on without paying again. The driver drove me and other passengers 18 kilometers through beautiful green landscapes, small villages with charming white houses and streets that were so narrow the bus had to squeeze its way right through them. The longer it took, the more I noticed with fear the sky turning darker and darker.
It’s windy at Cabo da Roca
After more or less one hour the bus dropped me of at Cabo da Roca and continued on its way to Cascais in the south of Portugal. A lighthouse, a souvenir shop, where you can get a certificate of being at the most western point of Continental Europe, and a restaurant were the only buildings for miles and miles around. However, that’s not a bad thing: The scenery focuses on the beautiful cliffs, meadows and open sea anyway.
Immediately after stepping out of the bus I felt a strong wind whipping through my hair and a sudden drop in temperature. Just in case I even brought a jacket with me – but as it turned out – it wasn’t enough. I was shaking all over. To warm up and fight the upcoming hunger I ordered a burger and fries in the restaurant. It has nice panoramic windows, but the atmosphere is less cozy and more highway service area.
Right that second I forgot how cold and windy it was
To take at least a few decent pictures before the storm set in, I’ve worked up all my courage and stepped outside. I held my camera tight and walked down the little path along the precipice. The view was breathtaking and I decided to sat down on one of the big rocks.
Right that second I forgot how cold and windy it was and just enjoyed myself. Only a few travelers were there with me. Some of them were hiking up and down, others were sitting behind big rocks and eating the snacks they brought.
Pumped with adrenaline I climbed on top of some rocks
In the end I just wanted one epic proof that I was actually standing at the most western point of Continental Europe.Therefore pumped with adrenaline I climbed on top of some rocks for a photo. The wind was even stronger up there and I wished it would be taken quickly. Suddenly I slipped and the only thing that was weighting me down was my purse. Normally I pack it as lightly as possible but right then I was more than happy about its specific weight.
The storm luckily never came. So I could witness a beautiful sunset at Cabo da Roca. After that I still had a few more minutes until my departure. However, on my way there I could see the bus leave early and all my arm waving didn’t help. I missed the last bus going back to Sintra. I did what everybody would have done: I approached a nice couple from Ukraine which offered me a ride. This restored my faith in humanity and our conversation even gave me some inspiration for upcoming travels. In the end so it was a win-win situation for me.
Have you been to Cabo da Roca? What were your experiences at the most western point of Continental Europe? Tell me about it in the comments below. I’d love to hear it!
