Wrap 2025....Welcome 2026....Season's Greetings....

As the final verses of 2025 settle like soft snow upon the year, I turn toward the quiet light of gratitude and send these words to you. This has been my first full year in retirement—a gentle unfolding, guided by a simple, sacred rhythm: Invest, Learn, Share.

Beginning of the year spent time in India to pay homage to our loving brother Partha. Wonderful to meet our family members who loves Partha so much. 

 I have invested in causes that stir the heart, in charities that carry forward any beyond the measure of coin.

I have learned without pause, tasting new ideas, new technologies, new perspectives. Collaborated with my sister Nirmala, published a cookbook honoring the memory of our mother. It is now available in Amazon/Kindle.

Kumkum surprised me with a birthday celebration in Pondicherry—

a day of laughter, love, and unexpected delight.

Great to meet David Thomas after so many long years! So also, virtually connecting with Balu, Bijoy, and Subro.

Visited IIT Madras to witness ITEL’s inspiring work, enjoyed the hospitality of Prof. Jhunjhunwala’s. Back in the USA - great to attend the Fireside chat and meeting IIT folks in Reston.

I have shared—speaking of artificial intelligence soon after stepping away from the daily rush, at SAP CATCON. 

Ashok, Bhavani and Reema brightened our day with their pleasant stay at our home in Virginia — bringing stories, smiles, and the simple joy of togetherness.

Sucheta and her husband came home in Virginia to make the afternoon wonderful sharing stories and laughing.

Three quests carried me across the earth:

A spiritual pilgrimage to Varanasi, where the Ganges whispered at dawn and the Maha Kumbh Mela opened like a living prayer.

A quiet seeking of nature’s peace in Japan— Kyoto’s temples glowing in autumn light, Nikko’s sacred forests, Kamakura’s timeless calm, Tokyo’s gentle heartbeat.

A journey of delight through Portugal—

Lisbon’s golden streets, Cabo da Roca where the ocean meets the edge of the world, Sintra’s dreamlike palaces, Cascais’ soft waves, and Fátima’s silent, sacred stillness.

Each path taught me again: the deepest richness is found in calmness, in gentle detachment, in the soft glow of simply being present.

I am grateful for your inspiration, collaboration, and support.

May this holiday wrap you and your dear ones in peace as deep as a moonlit river, health as steady as ancient stone, and moments as bright as lanterns on snow.

Wishing you and your loved ones a joyful holiday season filled with peace, good health, and cherished moments. May 2026 bring you fresh opportunities, meaningful adventures, and continued success.

                                                             Merry Christmas

                                                             Happy Hanukkah

                                                             Happy New Year

                                                   

                                                            

                              PEACE ON EARTH

All content copyright © by Sobana Iyengar.

Portugal Travels Part 3 - Sintra...Cascais...Cabo da Roca...

Palaces, Cliffs & the Edge of the Continent

 

After exploring the sacred towns and coastal wonders north of Lisbon, we set out again — this time toward Portugal’s fairytale hills and its wild Atlantic edge. If the previous day had been a tapestry of history and faith, today felt like stepping into a dream painted with bright colors, misty forests, and the endless sea.

Sintra — A Kingdom of Mist & Magic

As we approached Sintra, the landscape began to change. The air grew cooler, the hills rose in soft curves, and dense forests wrapped the roads like a green cloak. There is something undeniably mystical about Sintra — as if legends live quietly among the trees.

The town itself is charming, lined with cafés, pastel façades, and little shops selling ceramics and Ginjinha. But what truly makes Sintra unforgettable are its palaces perched high above the clouds.

Pena Palace — A Fairytale on a Mountaintop

Our destination was the spectacular Pena Palace, one of the most whimsical structures in all of Europe. Rising in vivid hues of yellow, red, and blue, it feels less like a palace and more like a page torn straight from a fantasy storybook.

As we walked across its courtyards, we admired the romantic architecture blending Neo-Gothic, Neo-Manueline, and Moorish influences. Every tower, every arch, every mosaic tile tells a story. From the terraces, Sintra’s hills unfurled in layers of green mist, occasionally revealing a glimpse of the royal gardens below. The royal kitchen, bedrooms, paintings are there with so much history.

As we walked across its courtyards, we admired the romantic architecture blending Neo-Gothic, Neo-Manueline, and Moorish influences. Every tower, every arch, every mosaic tile tells a story. From the terraces, Sintra’s hills unfurled in layers of green mist, occasionally revealing a glimpse of the royal gardens below.

Inside, the rooms preserved Portugal’s royal life as it once was — elegant, ornate, and echoing with memories. It was easy to imagine kings and queens standing at the windows, looking toward the Atlantic and dreaming of distant worlds.

Cascais — A Gentle, Breezy Coastal Retreat

From the cool forests of Sintra, we descended to the sunlit coast and reached Cascais, a seaside town where the Atlantic gently kisses the shore. Cascais is all about simple pleasures: a walk by the marina, colorful fishing boats bobbing lazily, charming cafes spilling onto cobblestones, and that unmistakable salty breeze.

 

We strolled along the waterfront, watching waves shimmer under the afternoon light. Somehow Cascais feels both luxurious and deeply comforting, like a beach town that has mastered the art of relaxation.

Cabo da Roca — The Westernmost Point of Europe

From Cascais, we drove to a place that felt truly symbolic — Cabo da Roca, the westernmost point of mainland Europe.

Standing at the cliff’s edge, we felt the full force of the Atlantic wind, cold and wild, sweeping across the rugged landscape. The waves crashed far below, sending up white foam that sparkled in the winter sun. A stone marker declared proudly:

“Where the land ends and the sea begins.”

It is a place that makes you pause — not just to admire the view, but to reflect on the enormity of the ocean, the courage of explorers who once sailed into it, and your own small but meaningful place in a vast world.

Cabo da Roca felt like the perfect metaphor for our trip: spontaneous, bold, and quietly awe-inspiring.

 A Day Wrapped in Beauty

From palatial heights to seaside calm, from forested hills to Europe’s final western frontier — this day captured Portugal’s magic in all its diversity. It was a journey of color, history, and emotion, stitched together by warm people, scenic drives, and that unmistakable Atlantic spirit.

Bye Portugal

As our trip came to an end, we found ourselves reflecting on the many layers of Portugal we had experienced:

      Lisbon’s maritime pride, where centuries of exploration began

Belém’s monuments, whispering stories of daring voyages

Sintra’s palaces, where imagination takes architectural form

Cascais’ quiet shores, perfect for thoughtful pauses

Cabo da Roca, where the land makes peace with the sea - Western most point 

Fátima’s sacred stillness

Batalha’s solemn Gothic beauty

Nazaré’s roaring waves - Surfing capital

Óbidos’ Christmas magic - Medieval rampart and village

 

                                                     PEACE ON EARTH

All content copyright © by Sobana Iyengar.