Is this the Netherlands?
by acemj
Nope. We saw this Spanish style windmill in the countryside near Leiria as we were driving by some tiny village in the hills. There are plenty of interesting sights to see away from the major towns and sights in Portugal, so if you can rent a car, I'd recommend it.
Leiria, Portugal
by acemj
"Just passing through"
My buddy Pav and I stopped briefly in Leiria (pronounce, "lay-ree-uh") on our way from Coimbra down to the cathedral in Batalha. Many people use this town as a resting place to visit some of the area's many attractions. This region of Portugal (known as the Estremadura) includes the pilgrim's paradise, Fatima, the amazing monastery in Alcobaça, Batalha's spectacular cathedral and many other sights.
The Medieval old quarter is a fascinating web of cobbled lanes, full of shops and azulejo covered walls, but the dominant highlight of Leiria is the castle the sits on the hillside above town.