The Ambiance of Portugal

Two parts to our three weeks in Beautiful Portugal - Oct. 2017

Part 1

Testing our aging bodies, three couples hiked for 6 days, covering 60 miles, in the northern most mountains of Portugal along the Spanish border. This area is called Parque Nacional da Peneda-Geres.
Using "On Foot Holidays" an outfit in England, we were given directions for each day's walk.
Below is part of our group figuring out the next set of directions.

Most of the destinations were small, rural villages or hamlets with incredibly friendly folks

We crossed paths with cows, flowering plants and ending in really ancient places to stay. The accommodations were each different, simple but classy and innkeepers who couldn't do enough for you. We did laugh at the firmness of the mattresses. It gives a new meaning to board firm!!

One town we where we spent 2 nights had 6 residents. There had not been a birth in 30 years!

We hiked through varied terrain, amidst chestnut trees, stepping on a million chestnuts, acorn trees, olive trees and cork trees.

Portugal produces the most cork of any country in the world. Interesting how they strip the tree of the bark up until the tree branches. leaving a very rust colored trunk. A number is painted on the tree with the date the tree was shorn. It takes 9 years for a tree to grow its bark back and then it is shorn again. Stores sold many cork products beyond wine corks. You can purchase cork capes, cork purses and cork shoes. Don't know what they will do if screw tops on wine bottles becomes the norm.

In the background above, are the famous tiles which you will see in abundance on the second part of our trip.

These structures called Espigueiros are scattered around every small hamlet in the mountains. The corn is harvested and stored up on mushroom pillars to dry and keep animals out.

Passing a Roman bridge

Rural life below - Washing and drying clothes, meeting the locals and getting directions!

While the California fires were raging, Portugal experienced 119 fires, many right around us. 39 deaths were reported. One day we happened on this piece of forest with smoldering ashes and a few embers!

The wine was inexpensive and very good. Not just the Port you hear about!

The crew was quite proud of ourselves that we made it to the end without injury!

And for our last night of the week's walk we stayed in this impressive monastery (pousada), complete with antiquity, classy interior design, a pool and comfortable rooms. Across from our rooms, on the interior stucco walls was this image!!!! Can you see what it is?

Part 2

Renting a car, we began to explore some of the old and interesting cities, towns and countryside in Portugal. We spent our time in the mid to upper portion of the country.

Lisbon

Old and new tiles cover many of the facades in Lisbon. They say it is to keep the humidity out and heat in. This style has been the norm for hundreds of years.

One of many museums below

Lisbon is an extremely hilly city that has an ever present view of the water

Woman serving cherry brandy samples on the street

Porto

Vibrant city on the water. Home of Port wine

These are the vats of Port wine.

Companies buy the oak barrels from wine makers after the first 4 years of use

The old tiles decorating the Porto train station are amazing, depicting Portugal's history

LOL..These creations below were in a store window. They are Mary, Joseph and the baby Jesus going surfing and playing music!

Coimbra

This city was the medieval capital of Portugal for 100 years and has the country's greatest university for the past five centuries.

Students playing upbeat music for tips and below amazing frozen yogurt

Cozy streets and even a walk by tiny store window to have a nice pot of tea

Weddings in the university square, autumn crafts festival and two happy tourists sampling a cherry liquor

A few seaside towns

Aveiro, a small town, was like little Venice....Go figure

Below was a beautiful beach at Nazare, with jagged terrain

I always like a good fable. In this town of Nazare in 1182, a local nobleman was hunting deer in the fog. The deer disappeared off the cliff. Because of the foggy conditions the hunter only realized he and his horse were going to fall to their death as well. The nobleman cried out to the Virgin and his horse miraculously stopped right at the edge of the cliff. The mark of one of the horseshoes is still visible.

Horse and hunter were spared a tragic death.

I thought this was a good idea if you have to have smokers on your beaches.

Obidos

A walled in city, built in 1228 complete with a castle.

The King gave his bride-to-be the town to go along with the castle.

Our suite in the Castle

Sintra

This city of narrow winding streets is very quaint.

There are fanciful castles, walks above and below ground, gardens and good food

People who know me well, know that I am very particular about my pillow and wine.
In our hotel you could choose what kind of pillow you wanted from the "pillow menu" to sleep on besides the regular ones on the bed. Ring room service and that pillow was delivered. Brilliant!