On Sunday morning I was looking at the map to see where I hadn’t taken Charlie and Carol. I saw a new beach on the map, one I hadn’t spotted before, just south of town. We talked about going out to breakfast or lunch later at a newly re-opened restaurant north of our house. First, we went south of town, going by the usual beaches we already been to, looking for signs to this other beach. All of a sudden Charlie noticed was a long driveway going west. I thought it was to a farmers field, but Charlie said let’s go. It was bumpy, really bumpy, and then it got smaller and smaller, and then it came to an end, with a lot of trees. There is a little path. I parked the car and off we went down the path. When the trees opened out, it was a beautiful view of a gorgeous beach. I don’t know the name of it. No way to get down to it. It was on the trail of the Rota Vincentina, the fisherman’s trail, because there were a lot of hikers going along. Obviously at some point there would be a way down. I took some pictures and then we went back out to the car, drove out the driveway and then went hunting for another way of getting to this beach. So far the site was undiscovered and it was getting close to tea time! We went back up to the restaurant just north of where we’re staying it’s near the fishing village called A Barca, and had a lovely lunch outside on the patio right by the cliffs overlooking the fishing port.
From there I realized I hadn’t taken Charlie and Carol to Odemira although I wasn’t particularly excited to drive! Charlie hopped in. If you remember my bad memories of Odemira, I got stuck on the streets that seemed to me at that time, to be a 45° angle, although I know in reality, that’s exaggerating. Also, coming out of there, in my excitement to take a picture so I could show all of you where I was, I got the back wheel of the Mitsubishi car stuck in a ditch, and I had to stand at the side of the road and wave for help. I was glad Charlie offered to drive and I didn’t want to warn him of anything. He would figure it out. All in all it was good to see Odemira again; it’s a really beautiful town although I wouldn’t want to walk there or live there. The streets are so steep you would have to get used to climbing down and back up every day of your life! Those streets are really steep.
We came back to Zambujeira, stopping at the grocery store on the way in Odemira. Because it’s Sunday, the grocery store in Zambujeira would not be open. Back at the house Carol made Sangria and then painted. She also made a great pizza with her own crust, which we had for dinner. The new neighbours arrived around 6 o’clock or even later; their plane had been delayed. Apparently they came from Denmark. In the evening we watched the last two episodes of Bad Sisters and the weekly episode of Ted Lasso.
That was the day.
Carol and Charlie leave on Tuesday morning by bus for Lisbon
We made a list of memorable moments for the last two weeks:
Most memorable beach: Porto Covo,Portugal
Most memorable meal: Pousada and convent – Evora,Portugal
The best shopping downtown: Zambujeira Do Mar with Graca (pronounced like grage)
Best fun evening : Drinking wine, watching the sun go down
Best view: that’s gonna be a tough call. There are so many, all amazing.
Best surf: at Porto Covo ,Portugal
Best 2 day trip: Evora ,Portugal
Best alcoholic drink: the Tawny Port ( a bottle is under 7 euros)
Best town to live in in Portugal: Zambujeira Do Mar ,Portugal
Best vehicle incident: Carmel can make a long list!!!
Best natural object found: The outside of a crab shell
Unknown beach
