Alcobaça, Nazaré & Batalha
We visited Alcobaça, Nazaré then Batalha (next day) with Cristina Duarte, who emphasized the importance of experiencing travel with all of our senses. She said that unless we witness the sunset colors, smell the laundry, taste the food, and feel the ocean, we cannot fully appreciate the wonder of travel. In Alcobaça, we stumbled upon a bustling marketplace that had been featured in a video by Rick Steves. When Cristina excitedly announced that we would be visiting more cathedrals that day, she compared them to different pasta dishes in Italy, highlighting that no two cathedrals are alike. Many of us were inspired by her words and enjoyed the destinations throughout the day.
The map indicates that it's possible to plan a trip from Nazaré to see Alcobaça, Batalha, and Fatima, as they are easily accessible by bus. Personally, I decided to stay in Nazaré and take a day trip to visit Batalha and Fatima. Visitor can add another day trip to Alcobaça. Rick Steves said, "For its small-town atmosphere, I find Alcobaça a better stop than Batalha if you have to choose."
