Portugal 2021

Cascais & Lisbon

August 31st – September 7th  /2021

Only 6 spots left!!!

Photography / Plein-Air Painting Workshop
Taught by Scott Williams & Niki Gulley

Painting along the coast.

We are setting our sights on another new adventure this year, Portugal. From the harbor and rugged coastline of Cascais, to the dynamic city of Lisbon, juxtaposed with the walled town of Obidos, and the stunning structures and palaces in Sintra, this trek has something for everyone.

Join us as we showcase the rich history, splendid scenery, amazing food and of course their namesake drink, in Portugal.

Pena Palace.

From our home base in Cascais, we will set out to explore one of the most diverse regions of Portugal. Where a short stroll from our 4 star accommodation takes you to the crashing oceans waves at Boca do Inferno or to a picturesque lighthouse standing watch or along the defensive walls of a 15th century fort guarding the harbor. All of this before embarking on a leisurely boat cruise, culminating at the city’s dizzying inlaid wavy tile plaza before sampling local cuisine and port.

Lighthouse in Cascais.
Boca do Inferno.
Quinta da Regaleria, Sintra.

With some of the most spectacular palaces gathered in one area, Sintra is one of those can’t miss destinations. Where its star attraction, Pena Palace, dazzles with bright colors and fairytale design. Not to be outdone, Monserrate Palace is a visually striking blend of Arabic, gothic and Indian architecture. The Quinta da Regaleria is another must see attraction. With its ornate facade and enchanting gardens filled with gothic turrets, carved gargoyles and hidden tunnels, this is a truly magical setting.

Monserrate Palace, Sintra.

For a change of pace we will take 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.

Rounding out our adventure is the bustling city of Lisbon. Where the Carmo Convent, know as the church without a ceiling creates a unique visual scene. Lastly we will stop off at one of Lisbon’s the most visited sights, Jeronimos Monstary. Its architecture is unlike any other church, demonstrating the wealth in Portugal’s age of exploration.

Wavy tile plaza.
Obidos.

Niki will conduct the Plein-Air Painting Workshop from different picturesque locations daily, teaching through a combination of demos, discussions, assistance and critiques.

Sessions will be broken into different morning and afternoon locations, with plenty of time in between for shopping, sightseeing or to dine al fresco for a leisurely lunch.

Scott will take the photographers on a daily walking tours where you will have the opportunity to experience Portugal through your lens and to define what you see while achieving your own artistic vision. As with the painters, there will be daily destinations with time allowances for exploring on your own.

So come join us as we take you on an inspirational exploration of Portugal with an emphasis on observation and perception as we help you develop your own style. Admission is limited to 12 participants, so we encourage you to enroll as soon as possible. There will also be space open for non-participating partners at reduced rates on a limited basis.

Triton Gate, Pena Palace, Sintra.

Work Shop includes:

  • Hotel for 7 nights – in Cascais (Double occupancy) / (Accommodations are in shared rooms, although a few single rooms may be available at an extra fee)
  • Transportation to and from Lisbon airport (LIS) on the day of arrival and departure, as well as all transportation throughout workshop.
  • Side trips to Sintra, Obidos & Lisbon
  • Boat cruise
  • Wine & Port tasting
  • Admission to Pena Palace, Quinta da Regaleria Palace, Monserrate Palace , National Palace, Carmo Convent & Jeronimos Monastery 
  • Emergency Medical Insurance.
  • Instruction, guidance, experience and fun.

Your cost for all of this is $4,195 and to reserve a spot, simply send a completed application form (the forms will be provided

Lisbon tram.

by email upon request) along with your deposit of $1,200 per person. 

A second payment of one half of the remainder after deposit is due by Jan. 16th, with a final payment due by March 6th. For those wanting a single occupancy room, there will be an additional cost of $850. We can take credit card payments, however it will incur a 3.5% fee.  

There is a discount of $350 for partners wanting to accompany participants on the trip, but not take the workshop. We will also setup optional events/ classes when available at an additional

Portugese tapas.

cost for participants not interested in the painting/photography sessions. There has to be a minimum of 6 people for the workshop to make. If the 6 person minimum is not met by the 12/5/20 deadline, deposits will be refunded.

Carmo Convet, Lisbon.

Airfare to the workshop is not included, you are responsible for your own travel arrangements. We will provide transportation from the Lisbon (LIS) airport on Tues. Aug. 31st at one appointed time, as well as the return to the airport on Tues. Sept. 7th and all transportation throughout the workshop.

Our trips, while not overly strenuous do require a reasonable amount of physical fitness. In order to derive the greatest experience from our destinations, we spend a fair amount of time walking within each location. Our goal being that each person should see and experience as much of the culture as possible during our excursions.

In the event of inclement weather during the trip, arrangements will be made for museum visits, etc. Once deposits are received, there will be no refunds for cancellations as trip arrangements will have been made. We suggest trip insurance for travel difficulties or unforeseen illness.

Please let us know if you have any questions or if we can help you in any way and we hope that you will be able to join us!

Scott Williams       214-289-8512      /       Niki Gulley     214-803-5812

Squirrel-logo                                                                    Niki-Logo

Email Scott, photoguy@blind-squirrel.org  if you are interested in joining us.