For a change of pace, the next day we took a side trip to the quaint and colorful town of Obidos. This charming Portuguese walled town with narrow cobbled streets, traditional painted houses and medieval castle, is a perfect destination to immerse yourself in Portugal’s history. The white washed houses with colorful blue and yellow accents screamed that they needed an artist to try and capture their beauty and uniqueness. Then add the gorgeous, prolific bougainvillea blooming out of the cracks in the ground and you had the makings for a perfect painting!

That afternoon we headed to another amazing palace, Monserrate.  It is a visually striking blend of Arabic, gothic and Indian influences, and once again is surrounded by beautiful, lush, exotic vegetation. While our photographers and tourists explored the palace’s interior, I set up outside to capture its distinct architecture.