Mai thoughts on life

When I entered the complex of The Pena Park and Palace, I started wandering around the gardens. There were fountains, ponds, beautiful water lilies, chalets…it was magical and romantic.

The whole place is full of exoticism. Almost as the romantic easthetic is expressed in the untamed wildness of nature. There are tree species from every continent which makes The Pena Park the most important arboretum in Portugal.

After enjoying the enchanted gardens for quite some time (it’s huge!) I came to the Palace. It was breathtaking. Pure Disney magic. And it has a Disney love story embedded in its walls.

King Ferdinand II, a German prince, married Queen Maria of Portugal and wanted to build a perfect place for them to enjoy their time together. He chose a monastery that was left in ruins after the terrible earthquake and decided to transform it into a palace from a fairytale. Being known as the King-Artist, Ferdinand II, with his romantic side, saw the aesthetic value of the ruins. The palace incorporates architectural references displaying Moorish influence that gives it a ‘1001 nights vibe’. The King even imported some specimens from his favourite forest, Germany’s Schwarzwald, just to make it more special.

Unfortunately, Queen Maria never saw the palace completed. She died giving birth to her 11th child. Many years after King Ferdinand II attended the National Theatre in Lisbon where he fell in love with the opera singer Elise in one of her performances. He was enchanted with her the same way as when he first saw the ruins of what will later be known as Pena Palace.

Ferdinand II and Elise encountered a lot of criticism and their relationship was seen as somewhat discrediting for the Portuguese crown; Elise was not just an opera singer, but also 20 years his junior. because of that they decided to fled from Lisbon to Pena Palace where they could live their true love story.

Elise designed a chalet that fit perfectly in the Pena Park. There they spent time enjoying literature, music, having picnics and contemplating life and nature. When Ferdinand II died, he left his assets, including the Palacio da Pena, to Elise, but legal proceedings were filed to pass this heritage to the Portuguese State. Elise gave up everything, but the chalet and its garden where she continued to reminisce some of the happiest moments of her life.

I walked around, took millions of photos and left with hope that it is never too late to find love. Ferdinand II lost Maria, but found Elise. And she was everything he needed. I too, like Ferdinand II, should open my heart to new people. To someone who will withstand everything for me. Someone who will fight the world to be with me. I should stop searching for you in everybody else and give people a chance.