tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-82686799688264474702024-02-22T17:15:30.607+00:00Travels In DickieMOTORHOME GETAWAYS
Graham, Kerriann, and their chorkie, Hugo, head off to explore Europe and the UK in their Hymer, Dickie. There is usually a theme, be it stone circles, Black Madonnas or just fabulous cheese. Let's see what it turns out to be this time.Gather No Mosshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04711767644434877711noreply@blogger.comBlogger291125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8268679968826447470.post-59489091933181734312024-02-22T17:14:00.001+00:002024-02-22T17:14:37.126+00:00A Soggy Return<p>It wasn’t the welcome home we expected - torrential rain, flooding, and giant potholes in pretty much every road we drove on today. Ugh! The drive was pretty awful but it’s good to be home.</p><p>We actually arrived back yesterday after spending a couple of days in Montreuil Sur Mer but didn’t want to drive too far so stayed at a pub in Sussex.</p><p><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgECU3FbnAHBmDbnARERxziRnCbbdSOS4TWf-2VUfYaR4POiV5MNTkILnO7WTC2FpxTXZHMPDYDO5L4iR5IZzy8LR61ifcfKHjj15O8Ijf1AU_g4XbkD7IuAoLDq1LuJGv0NOvMdpxD83me9LD4pjrJUkeQauGnjG80jkXVf_EwjQ22PSUIcvXp0TpB6vQ/s1024/IMG_5918.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1024" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgECU3FbnAHBmDbnARERxziRnCbbdSOS4TWf-2VUfYaR4POiV5MNTkILnO7WTC2FpxTXZHMPDYDO5L4iR5IZzy8LR61ifcfKHjj15O8Ijf1AU_g4XbkD7IuAoLDq1LuJGv0NOvMdpxD83me9LD4pjrJUkeQauGnjG80jkXVf_EwjQ22PSUIcvXp0TpB6vQ/s320/IMG_5918.jpeg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Collapsed ramparts</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiWmjQP3ojIBCir9FcdP9mLiiBakigPs2aO-AE8-KAo_ltHATz-btOQrAiiHuzgmIKm_uJOe14bX84qWPbayrD1MUPJwtp0Qj17G4vBjYBsI0Z-LsNtl1A-T7ydSvehfv-OEd3Nei69uTNeghMz7NrNMr_IFtO3-DetsIan9fgZBA-ll5r1pZ1GX4_ao0/s1024/IMG_5917.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1024" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiWmjQP3ojIBCir9FcdP9mLiiBakigPs2aO-AE8-KAo_ltHATz-btOQrAiiHuzgmIKm_uJOe14bX84qWPbayrD1MUPJwtp0Qj17G4vBjYBsI0Z-LsNtl1A-T7ydSvehfv-OEd3Nei69uTNeghMz7NrNMr_IFtO3-DetsIan9fgZBA-ll5r1pZ1GX4_ao0/s320/IMG_5917.jpeg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Closed to the public</td></tr></tbody></table><br /></p><p>Montreuil has had its fair share of flooding over the past couple of months and it’s lost 18 metres of its famous ramparts due to the downpours. The fields in the area were also flooded and there has been much on the French news about the situation. Here is a <a href="https://actu.fr/faits-divers/inondations-la-citadelle-de-montreuil-sur-mer-et-un-pan-du-chemin-du-cap-blanc-nez-seffondrent_60324069.html" target="_blank">Link</a> if anyone is interested in learning more about it. It will cost a fortune to repair according to the friendly Tourist Office chap.</p><p><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQ27d30qwf1wbND4-fCPlHzFX10z_nRNOriI5ZOVRJCDrF6yzLiLjWMa-Cal1J4JCEx0yeesi3YQqhDddYFuX-4YsfFhorYC7JhhzYfnKSjP-cArva8CzpW4lUkBVX18d5iq_YA6alyPciyUQZHrrY7WvOrPC8lfx4yGm_QCazLxwzUk8bV4bISZbABF8/s2016/IMG_5919.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1512" data-original-width="2016" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQ27d30qwf1wbND4-fCPlHzFX10z_nRNOriI5ZOVRJCDrF6yzLiLjWMa-Cal1J4JCEx0yeesi3YQqhDddYFuX-4YsfFhorYC7JhhzYfnKSjP-cArva8CzpW4lUkBVX18d5iq_YA6alyPciyUQZHrrY7WvOrPC8lfx4yGm_QCazLxwzUk8bV4bISZbABF8/s320/IMG_5919.jpeg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A touch of local colour - beige</td></tr></tbody></table><br /></p><p>We like to go to this town as the vet is excellent and sorts our return animal health certificate out (thanks Brexit) each time we travel. Hugo only tried to bite her once. The restaurants are pretty good too. At lunch we got talking to an English woman whose father is a singer. He sang on the winning Katrina and the Waves song, Love Shine a Light, at the Eurovision Song Contest in 1997. Very exciting.</p><p>Now we’re back the fun begins. Unpacking, cleaning, and washing. I must say it’s rather fabulous to sit in front of the fire while sprawling out on the sofas. Hugo is loving his beanbag as well. </p><p>I think I’ll order takeaway tonight. Until next time…</p>Gather No Mosshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04711767644434877711noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8268679968826447470.post-708977857171322492024-02-18T15:22:00.000+00:002024-02-18T15:22:07.646+00:00Trotting Along the Normandy Coast<p>The last few days in Normandy before we head back have been filled with beaches, bars and a birthday. Villers-sur-Mer was a lovely spot to enjoy a fabulous birthday lunch and a stroll along a sandy beach admiring the stunning houses along the coast. The town is not far from Deauville which is well known for its horse racing so that explained the horses being ridden through the water along the beach in the morning - a most idyllic scene that we weren’t quick enough to get a photo of.</p><p><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQDmkV2Ee8pWilxxJ36xFr05haG0Yfc48js_0X0OJo8bVqroXIgmjMuIp41YnsbPcbmXMaEFpm_5PY8auTA5jzlE33-eYL2uKZ3bx0YqdEDURz5H4yN1vBw9uATlwC1pmJk62NRcIjnoFMS-A1Tb7d-4EzG1ondxr4rjS3yRKDfrWfwyuDYvsxPgZWX7k/s1024/IMG_5911.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1024" data-original-width="606" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQDmkV2Ee8pWilxxJ36xFr05haG0Yfc48js_0X0OJo8bVqroXIgmjMuIp41YnsbPcbmXMaEFpm_5PY8auTA5jzlE33-eYL2uKZ3bx0YqdEDURz5H4yN1vBw9uATlwC1pmJk62NRcIjnoFMS-A1Tb7d-4EzG1ondxr4rjS3yRKDfrWfwyuDYvsxPgZWX7k/s320/IMG_5911.jpeg" width="189" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Not a bad pad</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1pu8-d8Jje7m-tRfSrQ0NaobW4cO71UjE4_TpCgWkggX27-bN6J6qI8Zzrv81XZapJ_2wPqHwSUQqPjMNgpcrn_rAYAiXbdWVE7GOg-NjUy30q3ZoMbUu6r6EeqA8IIlx1La9diZEa0tf77oDiSjnDtkvklAHQFDDwtnWuejWoAZhzfJCVczOcvn8yks/s1024/IMG_5909.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1024" data-original-width="630" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1pu8-d8Jje7m-tRfSrQ0NaobW4cO71UjE4_TpCgWkggX27-bN6J6qI8Zzrv81XZapJ_2wPqHwSUQqPjMNgpcrn_rAYAiXbdWVE7GOg-NjUy30q3ZoMbUu6r6EeqA8IIlx1La9diZEa0tf77oDiSjnDtkvklAHQFDDwtnWuejWoAZhzfJCVczOcvn8yks/s320/IMG_5909.jpeg" width="197" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hugo was loving the sand<br /><br /><span style="text-align: left;">Yesterday we went on to another ‘Sur Mer’, this time Veulettes, which was a beach but this time a rocky one - Hugo was not so impressed and made a show of the stones causing much discomfort to his little paws. The sheer cliffs at either end made it a dramatic site and it seemed very popular with tourists. We found the last restaurant to be open and scoffed on moules mariniere before heading to the van to await the rain.<br /><br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEio5j91FkFDcZBEDV9BpIycFp-1ZTKwNbES0O429Xf2hYi7GLW0lNUnerxsYJmzOCD3zbh4L0CxHpsHthyFXzFnFgMpIdRkASTbFhIOLFTv_0D8oFxMU_7ISR0BULT5syrf-P5wRTBQdVDn9baovT9_ktCgND1CyJmMa6OTBPBLgzv6G6TWRz0GD23ZLhA/s2016/IMG_5915.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1512" data-original-width="2016" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEio5j91FkFDcZBEDV9BpIycFp-1ZTKwNbES0O429Xf2hYi7GLW0lNUnerxsYJmzOCD3zbh4L0CxHpsHthyFXzFnFgMpIdRkASTbFhIOLFTv_0D8oFxMU_7ISR0BULT5syrf-P5wRTBQdVDn9baovT9_ktCgND1CyJmMa6OTBPBLgzv6G6TWRz0GD23ZLhA/s320/IMG_5915.jpeg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A few gannets nested in the cliff face</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPib_4dvQNgpol_zCoDl5cW5Xa3CW5ZRqmKz6gnIwz8-WgYI1tMbUefKn4yCsHe5UG5ubbIa3dyyLzeXeJg5JtfDskXp6yerDeu-GdPHtqLc03dmYi7n4TkkIrnNrTrIU-FjFkOEgRrcC44O5nSjFKoU3nGqMBmRuYW1k66j0Gam7QuXiQ7xmql_GImDM/s2016/IMG_5912.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1512" data-original-width="2016" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPib_4dvQNgpol_zCoDl5cW5Xa3CW5ZRqmKz6gnIwz8-WgYI1tMbUefKn4yCsHe5UG5ubbIa3dyyLzeXeJg5JtfDskXp6yerDeu-GdPHtqLc03dmYi7n4TkkIrnNrTrIU-FjFkOEgRrcC44O5nSjFKoU3nGqMBmRuYW1k66j0Gam7QuXiQ7xmql_GImDM/s320/IMG_5912.jpeg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Quite a lot of wartime history here too</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_rG1N088NsLt0F60ApMf14daNE77iDPUoXfpzmeeTmgiFuG_xINVGO3Fzhl4gGdPGLcdfSCCIiGHECjFR25PdkDMTrkIPVm8d-DnRVBwma8MZHipTky7C3OX-iOzbtUAuYdgQtEDAXlwXQCN-AB1AWXCAPo-XPYroL0-xxD222EU6Xvdkj9oCDWewbi8/s1024/IMG_5910.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="771" data-original-width="1024" height="241" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_rG1N088NsLt0F60ApMf14daNE77iDPUoXfpzmeeTmgiFuG_xINVGO3Fzhl4gGdPGLcdfSCCIiGHECjFR25PdkDMTrkIPVm8d-DnRVBwma8MZHipTky7C3OX-iOzbtUAuYdgQtEDAXlwXQCN-AB1AWXCAPo-XPYroL0-xxD222EU6Xvdkj9oCDWewbi8/s320/IMG_5910.jpeg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Rocks ahoy<br /><br /></td></tr></tbody></table>It’s raining once again as we sit in the van at Le Crotoy before we make our way to Calais over the next three days. This is a regular stop as we love the seafood restaurants here so much. On our walk around the town today we discovered that Jules Verne was a regular visitor and started writing <i>Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea </i>here, and Joan of Arc was imprisoned somewhere in the town before she was taken to Rouen for trial. Guerlain also had a house here. An interesting place that is more than just good seafood.</p><p><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaZ6c90OWWIt8leuK1q3EtNn_qb_d7YZ7ddyFC3sywprT2Viaw5p5q8p294tKRlBb9fKtmgfR_5cs5PwHu3fmqJU1H8QMqWQyu3Bur5vT825SAe26wEWUZ_3lvjxj0l6bPN5QcwVbWXTNq5b4u8USSv1fSQu8tfoG5I3YG9o43cGUX9AyVCes7auB2GYY/s2016/IMG_5916.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2016" data-original-width="1512" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaZ6c90OWWIt8leuK1q3EtNn_qb_d7YZ7ddyFC3sywprT2Viaw5p5q8p294tKRlBb9fKtmgfR_5cs5PwHu3fmqJU1H8QMqWQyu3Bur5vT825SAe26wEWUZ_3lvjxj0l6bPN5QcwVbWXTNq5b4u8USSv1fSQu8tfoG5I3YG9o43cGUX9AyVCes7auB2GYY/s320/IMG_5916.jpeg" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A fairytale house in Le Crotoy </td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCcOi1UVCjh9-chmUrvvyZJDWgTOUs_o46u9RK5Ur3v_w6Ccobe7hVnQX_3MRQ4EkOUJkOvIvQOOVcvo-BwFtzb6LmX-n0ukASNsGzoSR4oslHEg5HFkTYCuH0-lEMSqMeTa58FS-Y_U5kLzUBLzFA4rliUMHn7OUjatxgqwVvo9NrN29JogPQMVnM0gU/s2016/IMG_5914.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2016" data-original-width="1512" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCcOi1UVCjh9-chmUrvvyZJDWgTOUs_o46u9RK5Ur3v_w6Ccobe7hVnQX_3MRQ4EkOUJkOvIvQOOVcvo-BwFtzb6LmX-n0ukASNsGzoSR4oslHEg5HFkTYCuH0-lEMSqMeTa58FS-Y_U5kLzUBLzFA4rliUMHn7OUjatxgqwVvo9NrN29JogPQMVnM0gU/s320/IMG_5914.jpeg" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I need prawns!!</td></tr></tbody></table><br /></p><p>The fog is now coming in across the water making the atmosphere quite spooky. Tomorrow we head to Montreuil Sur Mer for Hugo’s vet visit to have his paperwork signed before we take Wednesday’s Shuttle back to England.</p>Gather No Mosshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04711767644434877711noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8268679968826447470.post-26292202325297472092024-02-14T16:25:00.005+00:002024-02-14T16:27:43.609+00:00A Miserable Meal and some Magnificent Misericords<p>I think we’ve just had the worst meal of our whole trip away. My hamburger bun was soft and sweet, the tomato was just skin and my pommes frites were just barely to the left of charcoal (unlike my burger which was pretty rare). Graham’s escalope could have fitted into a matchbox and the creamy sauce … well, I’m not going to go there. This Aire at Courville sur Eure, on the other hand, is very pleasant. The river is close to overflowing but the grass is green, the sun is out, and the sky is blue.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMqeCzDTFHXTOGiuIjisaEVmbbmf6yB-hp5Mgd1SJTWkOT8wG8qxPaCIIwhuasQKAj1C8_0NESR8nvo6rEXsNXGySaN1TvnrAAu2owHwPh9p-HHUkga9NT5EPhRaCZYttPeA-8pQSb0YAq5ml0k-k5Zo_oyyeJyHimSJ_5TIGLW95WHCyl1SqzgWc4YcA/s1024/IMG_5894.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1024" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMqeCzDTFHXTOGiuIjisaEVmbbmf6yB-hp5Mgd1SJTWkOT8wG8qxPaCIIwhuasQKAj1C8_0NESR8nvo6rEXsNXGySaN1TvnrAAu2owHwPh9p-HHUkga9NT5EPhRaCZYttPeA-8pQSb0YAq5ml0k-k5Zo_oyyeJyHimSJ_5TIGLW95WHCyl1SqzgWc4YcA/s320/IMG_5894.jpeg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Our neighbour today - before the sun came out<br /><br /><br /><span style="text-align: left;">We made it to Vendôme yesterday and what a stunning little town it is. It has a rich history, some of it relating to Henry IV, the revolution, and Rochambeau who fought alongside George Washington in a battle in the American War of Independence. Sitting right on the Loire River, it’s had many floods over the years and was also bombed extensively in WW2 but it seems to have been restored very well and remains rather charming.<br /><br />Yesterday’s meal was much better than today’s - a crepe (well, it was Pancake Tuesday)<br /><br /></span><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div></td></tr></tbody></table><div>The Trinity Church is rightly proud of its misericords. There’s a fun selection of chaps warming their hands over fires, dragons, bearded men, bagpipers, and a green man. The facade is rather special as well.</div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQejlkyIsCkIGByMCJUNCkEtBCsVZejBzZj7NrBJnTJhA6khK0l6sLh-1YLoqH9vToxuQA8a9dXcyKhTAoZpfEoUsnFCBRB_Bj6ZbERK8Ye84BBSH0R42PN5q1eDc031yxYap0Yz3RZt_PXYWIuaw4Dj0hMw0OAVKQrBFZbdAd-JYU2XpMWSwLMtVCpRw/s1024/IMG_5899.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1024" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQejlkyIsCkIGByMCJUNCkEtBCsVZejBzZj7NrBJnTJhA6khK0l6sLh-1YLoqH9vToxuQA8a9dXcyKhTAoZpfEoUsnFCBRB_Bj6ZbERK8Ye84BBSH0R42PN5q1eDc031yxYap0Yz3RZt_PXYWIuaw4Dj0hMw0OAVKQrBFZbdAd-JYU2XpMWSwLMtVCpRw/s320/IMG_5899.jpeg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Oooh, chilly </td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEih4vQYEiJRcu2DgoK7kgLMu7Gc1F85LWCRM6ua8jkVX1_m_WnfI0vlTBcRdiIJUYIN51FQTD636MYWi69VRFEVlOw9vHYwjSnQNXUQ5y20tntkRWRpL-Te7uZTEsp7DXzSaeTUKKDK00ls9w7pzAgWT2Y1-CNsQLY4UqBf8m_1HuDp_9pgPiZXr4FFN3w/s1024/IMG_5900.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="778" data-original-width="1024" height="243" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEih4vQYEiJRcu2DgoK7kgLMu7Gc1F85LWCRM6ua8jkVX1_m_WnfI0vlTBcRdiIJUYIN51FQTD636MYWi69VRFEVlOw9vHYwjSnQNXUQ5y20tntkRWRpL-Te7uZTEsp7DXzSaeTUKKDK00ls9w7pzAgWT2Y1-CNsQLY4UqBf8m_1HuDp_9pgPiZXr4FFN3w/s320/IMG_5900.jpeg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A handsome green man</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXSXP0c_sbRlqSse-ozK2YWwgqzoFFSJqFgq3i_v9upTYY9FP0jJV1TQ4Xsh4RWkiE7rfNnj-q7_pDFMeTIhxkFQ3VEkIxB4JVFaYOQungVd6xAb_ZRJOF6P5msplHbvUhJbsrxJuuIe07rruA7H8RQOKrnboykncTCVKt_Muw8lNzomiBPcV7SfeggQM/s1024/IMG_5903.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1024" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXSXP0c_sbRlqSse-ozK2YWwgqzoFFSJqFgq3i_v9upTYY9FP0jJV1TQ4Xsh4RWkiE7rfNnj-q7_pDFMeTIhxkFQ3VEkIxB4JVFaYOQungVd6xAb_ZRJOF6P5msplHbvUhJbsrxJuuIe07rruA7H8RQOKrnboykncTCVKt_Muw8lNzomiBPcV7SfeggQM/s320/IMG_5903.jpeg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ouch</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqJu0Y1uThoMIrdc9MVjA9kp9zx3_0RmnzhARWthh9QqlyX1f2ZQJyppUNku71dSM9vUjJnW1qhk79U6qtiZKI2-sfAthdLPJSbNGkgJvweZ-cstz8M5rFKAqsltd0WvGFpLK_Pjf6ItPe2EEYfxnSXUK5CP_xSznVw8tDgMF_UWIouIoH7JgdspAlgPE/s2016/IMG_5904.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2016" data-original-width="1512" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqJu0Y1uThoMIrdc9MVjA9kp9zx3_0RmnzhARWthh9QqlyX1f2ZQJyppUNku71dSM9vUjJnW1qhk79U6qtiZKI2-sfAthdLPJSbNGkgJvweZ-cstz8M5rFKAqsltd0WvGFpLK_Pjf6ItPe2EEYfxnSXUK5CP_xSznVw8tDgMF_UWIouIoH7JgdspAlgPE/s320/IMG_5904.jpeg" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Impressive facade</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUFE-vLrRVs2QpTcNcXkeWTMmQSzHO_wNp2NIP86d275PoeNf3Q_YsWc2hbaXVVfVbshMMSF__z0p8Q8P3XJSiqgmRM62aDeh_pFPIgk2JLWJhtOSyLP7EqGqs6Ci3IDRv8dAEf48dy2_5KTJ0PizUvmVLBMlcuv90VnS0ynFPRgsybVe9uVfrFp8ZLGI/s1024/IMG_5898.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1024" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUFE-vLrRVs2QpTcNcXkeWTMmQSzHO_wNp2NIP86d275PoeNf3Q_YsWc2hbaXVVfVbshMMSF__z0p8Q8P3XJSiqgmRM62aDeh_pFPIgk2JLWJhtOSyLP7EqGqs6Ci3IDRv8dAEf48dy2_5KTJ0PizUvmVLBMlcuv90VnS0ynFPRgsybVe9uVfrFp8ZLGI/s320/IMG_5898.jpeg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Beardy Mc’Beardface </td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div><br /></div><div>We walked up to the castle this morning to discover a pretty little array of spring flowers and a major reconstruction of the building going on. It will be fabulous when it’s finished.</div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjReirL2HmAJhDTwNyYnouVSiZiMTIQkFd-uhDpQnv69tbf4jDvsGl9qyqUeVGdMojWBZF823DhfP9hvufgON3BubmRh_Rr5RKGgDdn7u0Bz-_Ow8eZ-cuupuKnljUcXEJXSEhKStqGbrM_kwUs5-WDIdVJKrtf1sIW2qA683uUikpX-T40Tgnr_hZClkE/s1024/IMG_5901.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1024" data-original-width="768" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjReirL2HmAJhDTwNyYnouVSiZiMTIQkFd-uhDpQnv69tbf4jDvsGl9qyqUeVGdMojWBZF823DhfP9hvufgON3BubmRh_Rr5RKGgDdn7u0Bz-_Ow8eZ-cuupuKnljUcXEJXSEhKStqGbrM_kwUs5-WDIdVJKrtf1sIW2qA683uUikpX-T40Tgnr_hZClkE/s320/IMG_5901.jpeg" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The colours of spring</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWdgZMKUiHZ2enczn_Msjvt1XJtFK8-Wrby5dmOQhL3bjpgTyQiWukCJBZnPhFrM0hZYuLE7kvYrJff390BtIM6wyX-Yl4IoTK9efuLXd9xirxvxLTyg6gnpm5Z6lpfBqAySsaMzE2um_TVniZE3OxrzOrMf4Dv2gZzsVGeMxtfetJLi5R-9I74xGoWjQ/s1024/IMG_5902.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1024" data-original-width="768" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWdgZMKUiHZ2enczn_Msjvt1XJtFK8-Wrby5dmOQhL3bjpgTyQiWukCJBZnPhFrM0hZYuLE7kvYrJff390BtIM6wyX-Yl4IoTK9efuLXd9xirxvxLTyg6gnpm5Z6lpfBqAySsaMzE2um_TVniZE3OxrzOrMf4Dv2gZzsVGeMxtfetJLi5R-9I74xGoWjQ/s320/IMG_5902.jpeg" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Massive reconstruction</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div><br /><p>Heading more towards the coast tomorrow.</p></div>Gather No Mosshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04711767644434877711noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8268679968826447470.post-44737145842192441412024-02-12T17:18:00.000+00:002024-02-12T17:18:27.277+00:00Watery Memories<p>Whenever we hear helicopters overhead we are taken straight back to the flood in Boscastle which happened 20 years ago in 2004 when many people were rescued over several hours by the very skilful pilots flying that day. Last night we were casually chomping on our galettes and salad when we heard the throb of a very low chopper above the van. It turned out to be a SAMU rescue helicopter and it landed extremely close to us in the field across the road. EEEK! The pilot did a fabulous job not hitting any of the pylons surrounding the field. I managed to get a few shots as it took off into the night. We hope the person transported to hospital is ok.</p><p><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigWFcZXxdnKO7l11v08GBB4sH06l6sSqWM3vReaQwOwcP0LPcAfW2wW0cRyFyJclXXlw55xWqgEcVrpXnwmTNRryPUL2mgSLSUzZzVQbxalxT71VA4L9VMxwcnTcF7YSYDZ0kAMhPgC5ocwgry4_RBvhV8kTFwXKcuWrQMcl1ZMp2H1RlmepXzChrTN1I/s1024/IMG_5892.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1024" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigWFcZXxdnKO7l11v08GBB4sH06l6sSqWM3vReaQwOwcP0LPcAfW2wW0cRyFyJclXXlw55xWqgEcVrpXnwmTNRryPUL2mgSLSUzZzVQbxalxT71VA4L9VMxwcnTcF7YSYDZ0kAMhPgC5ocwgry4_RBvhV8kTFwXKcuWrQMcl1ZMp2H1RlmepXzChrTN1I/s320/IMG_5892.jpeg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Skilful flying</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAK_n5DXuQEh7cboy2i7ksP5VfCWtuFlwoVco_s1-Pw5F2R458Uam5pjglgCD6JTH55DZWLp-1jPjztyQqjxYhQx5O6aEIM5vIPOp-Mbo4oPwuvhF5C_v50VSGVXUsgd_ch-RBkSiK-1cqvZJqZHnz61f82uh94cin6MaQRGafl52jBMB6frQqLm3CIaU/s1024/IMG_5888.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1024" data-original-width="768" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAK_n5DXuQEh7cboy2i7ksP5VfCWtuFlwoVco_s1-Pw5F2R458Uam5pjglgCD6JTH55DZWLp-1jPjztyQqjxYhQx5O6aEIM5vIPOp-Mbo4oPwuvhF5C_v50VSGVXUsgd_ch-RBkSiK-1cqvZJqZHnz61f82uh94cin6MaQRGafl52jBMB6frQqLm3CIaU/s320/IMG_5888.jpeg" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Off we go</td></tr></tbody></table><br /></p><p>Strangely enough, where we have parked this evening also has a flooding vibe despite being tranquil and relaxing - for now. We drove along the Loire today after a change of plan. Vendôme was our original target but we thought we’d check out the Chateau du Clos Lucé in Amboise instead. It was the home of Leonardo Da Vinci until he died (I had no idea he lived in this area) and sounded really interesting. Unfortunately, the Aire in town was closed due to roadworks so we had to quickly reorganise our target overnight spot. We’ll have to save Leonardo for another day.</p><p><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTZYbfOB6gX1OiLq3654yezG-Xt7pCjUYI5RlWBvYwSR2u95jogjY2MguOu1RLMYrUbMtLnqMxrBv4wSuJr3OyIn4dP12QuMZhkJmjPM1axjkXHOHfwSEx_ymCvTzcT9UsBkG5CmmYa5wnCpkKpklrL7AZACwvpTrgyh06YgcRWhe8asPiIg5fSGfFAc4/s2016/IMG_5885.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2016" data-original-width="1512" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTZYbfOB6gX1OiLq3654yezG-Xt7pCjUYI5RlWBvYwSR2u95jogjY2MguOu1RLMYrUbMtLnqMxrBv4wSuJr3OyIn4dP12QuMZhkJmjPM1axjkXHOHfwSEx_ymCvTzcT9UsBkG5CmmYa5wnCpkKpklrL7AZACwvpTrgyh06YgcRWhe8asPiIg5fSGfFAc4/s320/IMG_5885.jpeg" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Worrying water height marker</td></tr></tbody></table><br /></p><p>We spotted Chouzy sur Cisse so headed there. It’s a lovely lakeside area with a river running through it but we have since learned that it is prone to flooding, particularly in winter. As we walked around the lake we (well, especially me) were horrified to see the flood marker that showed a 2 metre mark from 1961 and just under a metre from 2001. I’ve checked the weather report and there shouldn’t be any rain tonight - fingers crossed. I hope we don’t find any more flood prone areas on our trip. Let’s see where we end up tomorrow.<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEWcAqqzKJKbAoMb3bruG5wp8f2Y643ss2pFAWXCsWWqNsHbjlm0zI4gjpW4xblA19pst_GOzEdrAtRUA5NHLWwidpc0r07WnomXPhNLBeZbYbqDFi4eJ2KzcnRQ8q6bOjeXY2VYiCECCBrliB-zgqLQ7jE-Hef-94ux4jFl6AiGHYdPWzeQBNhlf6_Lw/s1024/IMG_5893.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="724" data-original-width="1024" height="226" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEWcAqqzKJKbAoMb3bruG5wp8f2Y643ss2pFAWXCsWWqNsHbjlm0zI4gjpW4xblA19pst_GOzEdrAtRUA5NHLWwidpc0r07WnomXPhNLBeZbYbqDFi4eJ2KzcnRQ8q6bOjeXY2VYiCECCBrliB-zgqLQ7jE-Hef-94ux4jFl6AiGHYdPWzeQBNhlf6_Lw/s320/IMG_5893.jpeg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Let’s hope the water stays in the lake</td></tr></tbody></table><br /></p>Gather No Mosshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04711767644434877711noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8268679968826447470.post-19526631089695801672024-02-11T16:39:00.004+00:002024-02-11T16:39:42.929+00:00Town of Writing and Town of Prehistory<p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfgrzTNuH9ONJKsJgNxmhuENtnGRoB436Gy-N-x_e3zVB0bw0XBzxDTcpLXS8q_d4s0iBnlg_hfWk6mxzM8ep8jrOXC2aZUEB4BWxUf37-QWsamK60plBJ-FJ7kTbIGRd4oNL9aMtdB2KYAtjlDooF0ivqjOOnvluX3bx_QOltAOsjBpneQuEdo3DsHYk/s2016/IMG_5877.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2016" data-original-width="1512" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfgrzTNuH9ONJKsJgNxmhuENtnGRoB436Gy-N-x_e3zVB0bw0XBzxDTcpLXS8q_d4s0iBnlg_hfWk6mxzM8ep8jrOXC2aZUEB4BWxUf37-QWsamK60plBJ-FJ7kTbIGRd4oNL9aMtdB2KYAtjlDooF0ivqjOOnvluX3bx_QOltAOsjBpneQuEdo3DsHYk/s320/IMG_5877.jpeg" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Love the look of this bookshop</td></tr></tbody></table><br />As book lovers, when we saw we were close to ‘The City of Writing’, Montmorillon, we couldn’t resist a stopover. Our parking place was by the fast flowing river, Gartempe, and just a five minute walk into its famous medieval centre where all its bookshops and writing museums are located. Annoyingly, as we arrived on a winter’s Saturday afternoon, everything was shut but we enjoyed strolling around, soaking up the ambience and dreaming of when we could return to experience the place when the bookshop’s doors were flung open and life returned to the quiet streets.</p><p><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbBsxIDLm1gNWHs2nNEPfCLZlGcFzgSEUSQfyIzSzaowRhmXIGhGNbMS6rIHxJ2ZfAjHmHgpstB_OFnTFhWcE_qJW9P6B3oTjGvXAhE_Zy8IGxQxoMimMO7GU2ActjkJyw9xUXYFNzygZLtflLjHOYB4oFW2dGxgcRl6HcjHKnJBXGEOnnkeDpQBYM_bE/s2016/IMG_5879.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1512" data-original-width="2016" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbBsxIDLm1gNWHs2nNEPfCLZlGcFzgSEUSQfyIzSzaowRhmXIGhGNbMS6rIHxJ2ZfAjHmHgpstB_OFnTFhWcE_qJW9P6B3oTjGvXAhE_Zy8IGxQxoMimMO7GU2ActjkJyw9xUXYFNzygZLtflLjHOYB4oFW2dGxgcRl6HcjHKnJBXGEOnnkeDpQBYM_bE/s320/IMG_5879.jpeg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Vieux Pont </td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifXDb7QCjRknpjCltqUp_DaiO7xEgdxeicaTpiFHJMAXo3mbf17ABlDP03m0LJW60aT9CqmX4QUG8jbHc24E1i9xsTQ3-z1bn7iqqrggPVUCro6wNdmfANX5L-ImPWBWjgdWy0DVMYuCTalb22YLx-lDZJP5t37snXpdSGL5P2dhsboftRRiPP_CvYMWE/s2016/IMG_5878.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2016" data-original-width="1512" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifXDb7QCjRknpjCltqUp_DaiO7xEgdxeicaTpiFHJMAXo3mbf17ABlDP03m0LJW60aT9CqmX4QUG8jbHc24E1i9xsTQ3-z1bn7iqqrggPVUCro6wNdmfANX5L-ImPWBWjgdWy0DVMYuCTalb22YLx-lDZJP5t37snXpdSGL5P2dhsboftRRiPP_CvYMWE/s320/IMG_5878.jpeg" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Loving their window displays</td></tr></tbody></table><br /></p><p>On a positive note, the macaron boutique and museum was open so I made a selection of coffee and hazelnut along with rose and lychee flavours to keep us going through the evening. Apparently they’ll last in the fridge for 8 to 10 days. I don’t think so! They’ll all be gone by this evening.</p><p><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsyssO1SVcyfIs1w5NjdRPcBII7f03JbiXDwuLokLdPnQAXcOpzxaQxqZCsjxzdW4gju-BADFYZ_jQfoqvmrDIMyY5aHKxF1qeKeUZXMV-oaPN7-R7x9n6X5stI-jyALbtHnWkFV5L2lRPsgVcDxdBcjxWcX2Ds_TFPzcbGjzEvbM4yV6VxKiPIsVe3rw/s2016/IMG_5880.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1512" data-original-width="2016" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsyssO1SVcyfIs1w5NjdRPcBII7f03JbiXDwuLokLdPnQAXcOpzxaQxqZCsjxzdW4gju-BADFYZ_jQfoqvmrDIMyY5aHKxF1qeKeUZXMV-oaPN7-R7x9n6X5stI-jyALbtHnWkFV5L2lRPsgVcDxdBcjxWcX2Ds_TFPzcbGjzEvbM4yV6VxKiPIsVe3rw/s320/IMG_5880.jpeg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">For sale in an antique shop</td></tr></tbody></table><br /></p><p>The sun came out this morning and we drove on to Le Grand Pressigny, famous for its prehistory museum which is located in a massive chateau above the town. For a change, the place was open but Hugo wasn’t allowed in so we were happy to walk around the gardens and enjoy the replica ancient animals that have been placed in the courtyard. <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDDkLJoUURPzqoy5eqcR9A6lVNw3FsGdU3mIJ4V_LUq5gPfOxqubBj3mySmfXlFHdURAccQVxoO2T1xeHQxov5hsjyXpsS8FhOo0d-WXoWLk6hLjM7xy1eipH_jfUeihxfkWeMmvX3Ie9uWjqQ7Eun13fkJBqIxgZ7Hs38H041GZvxA6zsa4a8rxtxU_U/s2016/IMG_5871.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2016" data-original-width="1512" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDDkLJoUURPzqoy5eqcR9A6lVNw3FsGdU3mIJ4V_LUq5gPfOxqubBj3mySmfXlFHdURAccQVxoO2T1xeHQxov5hsjyXpsS8FhOo0d-WXoWLk6hLjM7xy1eipH_jfUeihxfkWeMmvX3Ie9uWjqQ7Eun13fkJBqIxgZ7Hs38H041GZvxA6zsa4a8rxtxU_U/s320/IMG_5871.jpeg" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Walking to the chateau</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiakAu0P_myUrekDQaN0v4vsnfSM4A4cW2aZEuuY577otOEa1YAgX0zw86aavuPdqyefuUnu_QbK6RHJVPMkQxjTmDkFvQd-m0x3YcZbQIpiM8VIDo9Ez7P7BCAihoKSQHTd6TqLMy09gjq8UeWRPzTMB1YAP7eaeTrdf0-jVUD-EWJ3lJC6EoyZcNo21s/s2016/IMG_5869.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1512" data-original-width="2016" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiakAu0P_myUrekDQaN0v4vsnfSM4A4cW2aZEuuY577otOEa1YAgX0zw86aavuPdqyefuUnu_QbK6RHJVPMkQxjTmDkFvQd-m0x3YcZbQIpiM8VIDo9Ez7P7BCAihoKSQHTd6TqLMy09gjq8UeWRPzTMB1YAP7eaeTrdf0-jVUD-EWJ3lJC6EoyZcNo21s/s320/IMG_5869.jpeg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hugo wasn’t keen</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioGUq70TAOhbpGgZ_7eegDnvgw0k0_XWim1azyiGTjtuB4s1WrVk1Z1DyUU52zjUHnnM9hTKtx4pu3DsNpAZgLNivTTUlK7ffhWI56gBKpQpVg46cQg4w4yRiS-9bCio-Gm2-f4UNw56iUDIJSK9PdG1GCHh0EvchgJr3ySOvR7msIe2nyXNVeGIeqJZU/s2016/IMG_5866.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2016" data-original-width="1512" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioGUq70TAOhbpGgZ_7eegDnvgw0k0_XWim1azyiGTjtuB4s1WrVk1Z1DyUU52zjUHnnM9hTKtx4pu3DsNpAZgLNivTTUlK7ffhWI56gBKpQpVg46cQg4w4yRiS-9bCio-Gm2-f4UNw56iUDIJSK9PdG1GCHh0EvchgJr3ySOvR7msIe2nyXNVeGIeqJZU/s320/IMG_5866.jpeg" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">He quite liked the mammoth though<br /><br /><br /><span style="text-align: left;">We found a recently opened restaurant/bar called La Cabane with extremely friendly owners. We got chatting and discovered the owner is a keen walker and plans to do the Compostela. Needless to say he and Graham bonded and shared observations about the lightness of different brands of walking gear. A knowing eye roll was shared between his wife and I. Tomorrow they head to Spain en vacance and we head to Vendǒme.</span></td></tr></tbody></table></p>Gather No Mosshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04711767644434877711noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8268679968826447470.post-25570639690816943232024-02-09T16:25:00.003+00:002024-02-09T16:25:40.694+00:00It’s All in the Stones - But Not the MudGraham was a little worried about the amount of mud at the Aire we stopped at in the village of Sers earlier today and he turned out to be correct. We wanted to see the site of Roc de Sers which has a replica of some ancient rock carvings found in the area so thought we’d stop in the village. Bad idea!<div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKl4nVPPfPbVTRjv1V1rTbKk0Pg-rb9pfxlIET5gcaZf2GRI91zMpNnwAOpGFxHe5Cwxl8_he0ECldE7Bd-2dn_bFclKbLs4FP6jsv9qM7GJIu2J9nAgyT84onIteHbQNfWrY-EUq1h49U3X0w8qiboArmeKAI2bQx9Z-BaB6Iq_-Te6V7RLjdsbW_NBs/s1024/IMG_5861.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1024" data-original-width="768" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKl4nVPPfPbVTRjv1V1rTbKk0Pg-rb9pfxlIET5gcaZf2GRI91zMpNnwAOpGFxHe5Cwxl8_he0ECldE7Bd-2dn_bFclKbLs4FP6jsv9qM7GJIu2J9nAgyT84onIteHbQNfWrY-EUq1h49U3X0w8qiboArmeKAI2bQx9Z-BaB6Iq_-Te6V7RLjdsbW_NBs/s320/IMG_5861.jpeg" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Small but perfectly formed</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div><br /></div><div>Everything was closed as usual and there was nowhere to eat. The Aire had hardstanding for the parking but the exit was very muddy and very uphill. We decided to leave after getting some water and managed to get bogged on the way out. There is something quite stressful about wheels spinning, mud flying and not being able to move. Thankfully a friendly Frenchman came to our rescue, guiding us through the various reversals, turns, and accelerations to get out. Thank you, that man.</div><div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmJVGLGK_WcbQBgLpt3p3sIkjtR7mdDIRG7L54iAvyHlzwXkuOL3ydjEF8wJu2K8Qg4iJLy2ixOoRFbMndhyphenhyphenW7SbMPFeJOpGyfayZIiUgFN1595Eao80p9ZeOJHoP6-uugGjdvLgYH7qZ0lCr6K0DSZPAh8Qq5mBKk3aJCuqi1gJAYk7M0qHJROXJn7m0/s1024/IMG_5864.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1024" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmJVGLGK_WcbQBgLpt3p3sIkjtR7mdDIRG7L54iAvyHlzwXkuOL3ydjEF8wJu2K8Qg4iJLy2ixOoRFbMndhyphenhyphenW7SbMPFeJOpGyfayZIiUgFN1595Eao80p9ZeOJHoP6-uugGjdvLgYH7qZ0lCr6K0DSZPAh8Qq5mBKk3aJCuqi1gJAYk7M0qHJROXJn7m0/s320/IMG_5864.jpeg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Perfectly carved</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6ljr_iS_tK9mZYSzvcfMkj9IM4b2KL2Qkmj6UZOsFL4CCee3MlgVYZ3VC02ObrjaM2n1gYWYX6r5NemdKw6wL3VwMoM0MCUedVwvveOsWYDS0UeIXhyphenhyphendpH4fYLIhwvvEg57OzxnglF38eThyMUUuSQc98sOVjaVepnUGX4Fbvyk54pH4qkhfJ-I6YmYo/s1024/IMG_5862.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1024" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6ljr_iS_tK9mZYSzvcfMkj9IM4b2KL2Qkmj6UZOsFL4CCee3MlgVYZ3VC02ObrjaM2n1gYWYX6r5NemdKw6wL3VwMoM0MCUedVwvveOsWYDS0UeIXhyphenhyphendpH4fYLIhwvvEg57OzxnglF38eThyMUUuSQc98sOVjaVepnUGX4Fbvyk54pH4qkhfJ-I6YmYo/s320/IMG_5862.jpeg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Two stags</td></tr></tbody></table><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>We drove on to Roc and were rewarded with some fabulous replicas of the carved stones. There are depictions of bison, stags, horses and even humans. It was worth going despite the stress at the Aire.<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZ1ZUsAs-yJxqZb5szSy2k8lBuZQFwBs2_thwiu7sf01XdGa1TZia-xhTfY_4eBCZWFl40klppV_xmeOLMR6enuPTRpTo0Hm1gRybI82GaN9XeMaGX1eb10YmYyXrCG7AiM9-lZeRaVWEMhZsk3KhKLWsd2FORusGJsw4iWh3f9peNb7-iMED9TCFfP2U/s2016/IMG_5860.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1512" data-original-width="2016" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZ1ZUsAs-yJxqZb5szSy2k8lBuZQFwBs2_thwiu7sf01XdGa1TZia-xhTfY_4eBCZWFl40klppV_xmeOLMR6enuPTRpTo0Hm1gRybI82GaN9XeMaGX1eb10YmYyXrCG7AiM9-lZeRaVWEMhZsk3KhKLWsd2FORusGJsw4iWh3f9peNb7-iMED9TCFfP2U/s320/IMG_5860.jpeg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Displayed quite well</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRzrz3M4Rs8-NZcMBResgdp68vLAgNb4I4VcfyQe4i-wSvAT46Ku_d9QJCo4pgkiCR1JaDsc9Nn76DOWI70NvOY7fDqBvoeaCXIINPtZpTf7URtNUakuHMMnmXuPRzDVRBOdv9WeZCcIMHkawMJ3ImaVHoJhncov0Ko8vf0mGMC4cDCJv6sjGUhh3wOo8/s2016/IMG_5859.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1512" data-original-width="2016" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRzrz3M4Rs8-NZcMBResgdp68vLAgNb4I4VcfyQe4i-wSvAT46Ku_d9QJCo4pgkiCR1JaDsc9Nn76DOWI70NvOY7fDqBvoeaCXIINPtZpTf7URtNUakuHMMnmXuPRzDVRBOdv9WeZCcIMHkawMJ3ImaVHoJhncov0Ko8vf0mGMC4cDCJv6sjGUhh3wOo8/s320/IMG_5859.jpeg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A bit soggy</td></tr></tbody></table><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>We’re now nearby at a much less muddy spot in Dirac. It seems an affluent town with a posh farm shop next to us and a lovely church with animal carvings above the door. Not quite as old as the prehistoric ones but around 11th century I think. It’s been a day of carved animals.</div><div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXcJwbqBvWRZ01Q9eslUyB7o6hsd31XsVuKpfXvWWKYT8xm4Ic_Y4BJI4uW9O3ynSf43lzwj2KodHxD33bdydkL_KFtht-b1SbvwAf5ynZ6dqR18KuPEsdBksfmiH4_HQ7wTES6jEwys-UDUvvdE2L97u7z5rU0eld_IYgLbNLi6tZzTkfs5_OSlGFIIs/s1024/IMG_5863.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="770" data-original-width="1024" height="241" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXcJwbqBvWRZ01Q9eslUyB7o6hsd31XsVuKpfXvWWKYT8xm4Ic_Y4BJI4uW9O3ynSf43lzwj2KodHxD33bdydkL_KFtht-b1SbvwAf5ynZ6dqR18KuPEsdBksfmiH4_HQ7wTES6jEwys-UDUvvdE2L97u7z5rU0eld_IYgLbNLi6tZzTkfs5_OSlGFIIs/s320/IMG_5863.jpeg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Church entrance carvings</td></tr></tbody></table><br /></div></div>Gather No Mosshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04711767644434877711noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8268679968826447470.post-46581572684056643082024-02-08T16:45:00.004+00:002024-02-08T16:50:26.264+00:00Big Rocks Come in ‘Handy’<p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiV5vIX4NFwCJnMQksXsMLmPDbfAMrcVqSBIUeW3tNlg1IfvmRJReyWDYPKDiwCVTZtEUEbfVJVJnP3ipzA-WYXQ_t5WJjLNSc3Uv8TI7xa1bayRjoKFIHPg0mHNLPpeZ9kwHxMVbbBVMn6ZfkpcCYl9H-GNoCJpL1z8IYKbtZXOy21ARaAFTbwufQYMsE/s2040/IMG_5849.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2040" data-original-width="1530" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiV5vIX4NFwCJnMQksXsMLmPDbfAMrcVqSBIUeW3tNlg1IfvmRJReyWDYPKDiwCVTZtEUEbfVJVJnP3ipzA-WYXQ_t5WJjLNSc3Uv8TI7xa1bayRjoKFIHPg0mHNLPpeZ9kwHxMVbbBVMn6ZfkpcCYl9H-GNoCJpL1z8IYKbtZXOy21ARaAFTbwufQYMsE/s320/IMG_5849.jpeg" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Troglodyte Lunch</td></tr></tbody></table><br />It was a real ‘wow’ moment as we turned the corner to the market square of St Emilion and saw the magnificent troglodyte church. It was carved into the rock in the 11th Century and has been added to over the centuries. I read that it is the largest rock-carved church in Europe and has always attracted pilgrims on the way to Santiago de Compostela (of course). Unfortunately, it’s not open today so we can’t explore the interior but the outside is impressive enough.<p></p><br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh80vvfwJ9HLUXojQJe6rlfPDNdnHoELmODDRgaCRfIxNvizo5w5NI0gBaZTv5c0wBRgrF9wnCYLLpyZWcEWZPbDs2G-8GvybHsktSUJdWBpWcBb7YpNmO3enGcQwkJ6VDi-xCBDQNkaR7FrclFC2aNtJ0veMG4LiTCHFs9WEEJkjW3a8nhLJ8ncxgozzA/s2016/IMG_5851.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1512" data-original-width="2016" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh80vvfwJ9HLUXojQJe6rlfPDNdnHoELmODDRgaCRfIxNvizo5w5NI0gBaZTv5c0wBRgrF9wnCYLLpyZWcEWZPbDs2G-8GvybHsktSUJdWBpWcBb7YpNmO3enGcQwkJ6VDi-xCBDQNkaR7FrclFC2aNtJ0veMG4LiTCHFs9WEEJkjW3a8nhLJ8ncxgozzA/s320/IMG_5851.jpeg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lower part carved from rock</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1Z1rPQTSwHoRDIlw14F5crjtonSspy0srIomc4dJ_BdMsG-zoHhodu1QSHJL4jH_IMace7Wmxr1vW8BkcsL3uh42MXsv6xBK5BWHPWK-8cafN6nMj3iRJL-hveSFVQoNYWOb7DHskQmh1cf_80GhnL9M2rpeCi8HpNK-HlH5jjYb_0c3o72co_CPWJzg/s1024/IMG_5854.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1024" data-original-width="768" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1Z1rPQTSwHoRDIlw14F5crjtonSspy0srIomc4dJ_BdMsG-zoHhodu1QSHJL4jH_IMace7Wmxr1vW8BkcsL3uh42MXsv6xBK5BWHPWK-8cafN6nMj3iRJL-hveSFVQoNYWOb7DHskQmh1cf_80GhnL9M2rpeCi8HpNK-HlH5jjYb_0c3o72co_CPWJzg/s320/IMG_5854.jpeg" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Market Square - used to be a graveyard<br /><br /><span style="text-align: left;">We didn’t think the 11th Century was far enough back in history for us to go today so we searched for and found a 4,500 year old megalith, the Menhir de Pierrefitte, which is about 4 km outside St Emilion. This is apparently the largest menhir in south west France and is unusually shaped like a hand - if you look at it from the right angle. </span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgoSpT1XblHA3jxhjDFYjD9fiEEeLr3djfpqvAS-fMqjxv_FahINDhLDvQBBnYXvwz32L4vAl-08DHDhnzpb8WEwV-t6xFSo14_pQ9-2GiCsBZCtbrdq5tz4yAtAJYl4Ya7HbB7FAD3DTLLXeT6NSYdgC2HLZajfTgPDWY158DyEIWq0Vekqt253JBIZQ/s1024/IMG_5852.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1024" data-original-width="768" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgoSpT1XblHA3jxhjDFYjD9fiEEeLr3djfpqvAS-fMqjxv_FahINDhLDvQBBnYXvwz32L4vAl-08DHDhnzpb8WEwV-t6xFSo14_pQ9-2GiCsBZCtbrdq5tz4yAtAJYl4Ya7HbB7FAD3DTLLXeT6NSYdgC2HLZajfTgPDWY158DyEIWq0Vekqt253JBIZQ/s320/IMG_5852.jpeg" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hugo posing well for a change</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2vzVNvG7Ke75a_GbuPyyx9ir7ji6DUkodUraRxc3rz0jnRpO5k7ffHa2tnvB8MiOABIsnbsej_fErHV0n2KVvEp5EIJY6TTSXgnd6ngHDpAq2FE82XZWnqwRMj1yF9EeMGMAtAZViUm0W4DnD8OuNoTmgCYU64Y0ESwZNfmvSoNBdeZiJuoLJTMmU9ww/s1024/IMG_5855.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1024" data-original-width="768" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2vzVNvG7Ke75a_GbuPyyx9ir7ji6DUkodUraRxc3rz0jnRpO5k7ffHa2tnvB8MiOABIsnbsej_fErHV0n2KVvEp5EIJY6TTSXgnd6ngHDpAq2FE82XZWnqwRMj1yF9EeMGMAtAZViUm0W4DnD8OuNoTmgCYU64Y0ESwZNfmvSoNBdeZiJuoLJTMmU9ww/s320/IMG_5855.jpeg" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hand in the hand</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div><br /></div>Gather No Mosshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04711767644434877711noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8268679968826447470.post-44354362009510230692024-02-07T15:28:00.000+00:002024-02-07T15:28:03.184+00:00Pines to Pissos <p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgElJijq0ljyEwXXcARkYZm2UP3oTuRdYK1kgDax1fun3VK7YxeBbkz4AUhzYaRHWKwhBOzQgEs5vvTN5HKdtPa4uCAfFuSMH4n5HMmrmO3SRM6Vl4nbtHIds6WpOF5wS1qijnptRasvsM3odxXbJxxolBoNMbZpqnsh1oY0r3Vxq6KB0U9rDACalgC5q8/s2040/IMG_5834.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1530" data-original-width="2040" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgElJijq0ljyEwXXcARkYZm2UP3oTuRdYK1kgDax1fun3VK7YxeBbkz4AUhzYaRHWKwhBOzQgEs5vvTN5HKdtPa4uCAfFuSMH4n5HMmrmO3SRM6Vl4nbtHIds6WpOF5wS1qijnptRasvsM3odxXbJxxolBoNMbZpqnsh1oY0r3Vxq6KB0U9rDACalgC5q8/s320/IMG_5834.jpeg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A 1940’s vibe</td></tr></tbody></table><br />The town of Hagetmau looked like it might have been a good next stop. There’s a crypt, an ancient Mary Magdalene church, and a couple of good restaurants. Perfect. However, on arrival we found the crypt was closed, the church was closed - and the restaurants were closed. Sigh. It was a nice place walk around but we ended up spending the afternoon chilling out in the van watching tele as Graham had wanted a short drive and didn’t feel like moving on. We were greeted by primroses and violets on our morning walk so the visit was worthwhile after all.</p><p><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnNKADiKW9Ct0bRQcmqZmvIaTY6TPb96hbPNfNDLyHtXrKeA5UNdKtxqDwn_mWPoHLbFf9bvrSGD2eOwT23MvLZJKW3Hj8l7047GuryeUlmoAcVOQSDD5ktOetBqmID6bFObadLB9YBTS5f6vzm6yhLltFp_EYSK_s-4VAX2K9Z7WKM7182AIwtyJpMik/s1024/IMG_5845.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1024" data-original-width="768" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnNKADiKW9Ct0bRQcmqZmvIaTY6TPb96hbPNfNDLyHtXrKeA5UNdKtxqDwn_mWPoHLbFf9bvrSGD2eOwT23MvLZJKW3Hj8l7047GuryeUlmoAcVOQSDD5ktOetBqmID6bFObadLB9YBTS5f6vzm6yhLltFp_EYSK_s-4VAX2K9Z7WKM7182AIwtyJpMik/s320/IMG_5845.jpeg" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Good morning</td></tr></tbody></table><br /></p><p>We felt like we needed some yummy food after our disappointing culinary experience and noted that the unfortunately named Pissos (a place we’d stopped at on the way down which has an excellent restaurant) was on our way so we put that in the Tom Tom and headed off. The whole way all we saw along the roadside were pine forests, pine forests, and more pine forests. They like a bit of wood around here.</p><p>As we drove along I noticed a statue of a person on stilts and remembered there were shepherds in Les Landes area who used to work the fields by walking on stilts. I found a website with some amazing photos of these shepherds doing what they do best. Click the link <a href="https://mashable.com/feature/stilt-shepherds-landes" target="_blank">Here</a> if you’d like to get more information on this.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgF1A70SjgPJeGyNv1CI6x6SeMgehYxLr8pHzDnrjnL9I7oYNc2Fx-uftr3QAVwVYcfd6iTinkRlPsuTA28zfeAl8Nf2Lu5PNoxVPh_kLUZBWQmrCyPvDlTMK4vqVXN4jKa0c_VLw54EXCk9WDmCggX88SshUCqTTwM_B4FgwMeDRwjIQ5IJ02xN0L4X5o/s1024/IMG_5842.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1024" data-original-width="768" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgF1A70SjgPJeGyNv1CI6x6SeMgehYxLr8pHzDnrjnL9I7oYNc2Fx-uftr3QAVwVYcfd6iTinkRlPsuTA28zfeAl8Nf2Lu5PNoxVPh_kLUZBWQmrCyPvDlTMK4vqVXN4jKa0c_VLw54EXCk9WDmCggX88SshUCqTTwM_B4FgwMeDRwjIQ5IJ02xN0L4X5o/s320/IMG_5842.jpeg" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Just the occasional pine tree<br /><br /><span style="text-align: left;">Pissos didn’t disappoint with the restaurant and the weather was really warm so we took the opportunity to explore a bit more than last time. The forest behind us was dotted with small holiday cabins, probably for Scouts. Opposite was a very interesting cemetery with some unusual headstones. The white gravestones belonged to those killed in both the First and Second World Wars and were obviously very well kept.<br /><br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgh5VEAGgs_jz7IIcytuuR1mHrMCMcJH1ZJ-rr0x8TGnDBqymdh5ecsGdbTbu-KIsm8bX5WFbVwSjpwBfkk9-oZx9-Q4DBYPiCDEO-15U389InzLm0Y-DE9bBzvdjpdN2QOiJJ-Pl4C-tSKPVbNaNBzDRyILZrwlPpf37sGwutThofcsQipstKdWu9rfbA/s2016/IMG_5836.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2016" data-original-width="1512" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgh5VEAGgs_jz7IIcytuuR1mHrMCMcJH1ZJ-rr0x8TGnDBqymdh5ecsGdbTbu-KIsm8bX5WFbVwSjpwBfkk9-oZx9-Q4DBYPiCDEO-15U389InzLm0Y-DE9bBzvdjpdN2QOiJJ-Pl4C-tSKPVbNaNBzDRyILZrwlPpf37sGwutThofcsQipstKdWu9rfbA/s320/IMG_5836.jpeg" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Angelic child’s head</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGYuEf0ThqL2aAWhnr9S5d9KXIUaXYQH0aDLN2hfa6P7db3LqHJmlZIZEoLbhGSI0cB7Ma8-BtJZCw9d_21Pfe2FrricvxuR_kROiHiBELA-2SSmWOVsLZ-oR0av2A6XuCqwReTjqMoNnqSJ2ompGG8WXKQSFeMWzZZF6bm5tJaesAa0krHp2Uexq2pCc/s2016/IMG_5837.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1512" data-original-width="2016" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGYuEf0ThqL2aAWhnr9S5d9KXIUaXYQH0aDLN2hfa6P7db3LqHJmlZIZEoLbhGSI0cB7Ma8-BtJZCw9d_21Pfe2FrricvxuR_kROiHiBELA-2SSmWOVsLZ-oR0av2A6XuCqwReTjqMoNnqSJ2ompGG8WXKQSFeMWzZZF6bm5tJaesAa0krHp2Uexq2pCc/s320/IMG_5837.jpeg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">War graves in white</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipY2B_vFzGAAE_ltdxrkS53wn8Msot8i8TLOhhzuuKIOZSZ2J8bUxtwDtwqcBR9TvmmspQr9lnAv2kauNoTyc_B46OgyAiE1BP56YY0ocwZH5ZtGYDIhdcvK-QjCRsseHRWxNRnkwvur2mWB0ow4a6i-Pb9zZb_C46w9q5ol8OX0lLnQleZykMopwK1rk/s2016/IMG_5838.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2016" data-original-width="1512" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipY2B_vFzGAAE_ltdxrkS53wn8Msot8i8TLOhhzuuKIOZSZ2J8bUxtwDtwqcBR9TvmmspQr9lnAv2kauNoTyc_B46OgyAiE1BP56YY0ocwZH5ZtGYDIhdcvK-QjCRsseHRWxNRnkwvur2mWB0ow4a6i-Pb9zZb_C46w9q5ol8OX0lLnQleZykMopwK1rk/s320/IMG_5838.jpeg" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Metal headstone</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p>We’ve finally moved on from the pine forests and are parked by the Garonne Canal in Fontet. It’s unseasonably warm and I actually got down to my singlet on our 6 km walk along the tow path - no photos of that you’ll be happy to hear. I fear the weather maybe turning tonight so we’re braced for rain tomorrow.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikeFM9UL4xSvL_5tUBb40sSRqxf_zDS0wjqzCxbbeL5tB6nVzjKRldefb_244ypoMupKf6MECkXiepMwAcpYt3NvG8Zvzl9nCVwh60ImGbkDJaV6c2sA0NFCTwpZOhTkpCJicqh9VylenY9INaIouokjiirbfIpbbJ0rts5pINfXm6eIjGcdDScCOW0Sg/s2016/IMG_5840.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1512" data-original-width="2016" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikeFM9UL4xSvL_5tUBb40sSRqxf_zDS0wjqzCxbbeL5tB6nVzjKRldefb_244ypoMupKf6MECkXiepMwAcpYt3NvG8Zvzl9nCVwh60ImGbkDJaV6c2sA0NFCTwpZOhTkpCJicqh9VylenY9INaIouokjiirbfIpbbJ0rts5pINfXm6eIjGcdDScCOW0Sg/s320/IMG_5840.jpeg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A change of scenery</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAN9tkV5-eSfxl_yXwS6m0M_AEUHC75Fu6Q_-g-N0CyUKEMQgJuMoOeV5Baf9ybSVDyhHbKGRhIu9JHuBo5_FT4upNu5LM09yibNTGqzwLuW82KZfUcLc5JOnESkkIJ0k7iWC3PGsFurZkn-I_HMU6szHuCWyPv4THAJYZ288zUgr4ifiR6BxOOvv166g/s2016/IMG_5841.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2016" data-original-width="1512" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAN9tkV5-eSfxl_yXwS6m0M_AEUHC75Fu6Q_-g-N0CyUKEMQgJuMoOeV5Baf9ybSVDyhHbKGRhIu9JHuBo5_FT4upNu5LM09yibNTGqzwLuW82KZfUcLc5JOnESkkIJ0k7iWC3PGsFurZkn-I_HMU6szHuCWyPv4THAJYZ288zUgr4ifiR6BxOOvv166g/s320/IMG_5841.jpeg" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A beam of light</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsj6dOHahSCS0deOmAN2u06tvSQcU_XYh4B-ppOWxzSxZK3605I7nDB8NF5yZdViT3HXAmXD0VPR4pgZayf04J9Fhn9jre-zD0ix2s09IySVJiaMZ_1O_mCazVP3opVWIidE_abB6CxeJcZcbWaYhQnpmpjIHEeidAF1D0jBLYtc0aMl2_C6OK27Ep9T0/s1024/IMG_5844.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1024" data-original-width="768" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsj6dOHahSCS0deOmAN2u06tvSQcU_XYh4B-ppOWxzSxZK3605I7nDB8NF5yZdViT3HXAmXD0VPR4pgZayf04J9Fhn9jre-zD0ix2s09IySVJiaMZ_1O_mCazVP3opVWIidE_abB6CxeJcZcbWaYhQnpmpjIHEeidAF1D0jBLYtc0aMl2_C6OK27Ep9T0/s320/IMG_5844.jpeg" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Still in the jumper </td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p><br /></p>Gather No Mosshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04711767644434877711noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8268679968826447470.post-61434470757163429792024-02-04T17:33:00.007+00:002024-02-04T17:33:53.403+00:00Pootling in the Pyrenees<p> We took the road across the Pyrenees at a pacey 35km per hour. The weather was clear and bright but the way was dotted with a constant stream of cyclists who were making the most of the gorgeous weather. I was quite happy to go at this snail pace as I didn’t want us to be responsible for a cyclist’s terrible end on such a gorgeous day. We’ve been across these mountains so many times but I think this is the first time we’ve driven it with bright blue skies and not a hint of snow in the air.</p><p>St Jean Pied de Port was our stop and we enjoyed a stroll around the ancient streets where many start their journey along the Chemin de Santiago de Compostela. It was 20 years ago almost to the day that Graham set out on his walk to Santiago. The sun stayed out but we woke to fog and cloud this morning - a very different view across the river.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjv6WaYgggv9wn3IRVQV1p_AsGaOEVSP0w2Hu8V7OyTf12DP3lZ3QVU0A3BFDx2NXfghod21SSNiWovb8hRbqkPL_BGIjRhzMvZadU91IZ_X9oM0ppXnsIzJ1JA_Y0HarR0Xzv2ql8K1-eVC2-2RH1jWMj_HZPhmuFg8gg4x7oHRjxWUFk6_hL-yRJA6kw/s2016/IMG_5827.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2016" data-original-width="1512" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjv6WaYgggv9wn3IRVQV1p_AsGaOEVSP0w2Hu8V7OyTf12DP3lZ3QVU0A3BFDx2NXfghod21SSNiWovb8hRbqkPL_BGIjRhzMvZadU91IZ_X9oM0ppXnsIzJ1JA_Y0HarR0Xzv2ql8K1-eVC2-2RH1jWMj_HZPhmuFg8gg4x7oHRjxWUFk6_hL-yRJA6kw/s320/IMG_5827.jpeg" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">From one day…</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYJYs5CKQ8jyRGmowhmeaOTMIeCtecYtWpw5c25sdY6thYMVrsIQ3bTHKrV78V5eRDCOa0vkcaKU1MBZWE_XoFT6FLUPx7h7O3t8prhRUe4mBIWX5aoMIvkf4Z1n7B2Ha1V8PCHkhggmhWPoGIk5QT-s-lZVHOTDI0Y_sr2lIUTtOkvGjYraYbKHsBsDU/s2016/IMG_5825.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2016" data-original-width="1512" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYJYs5CKQ8jyRGmowhmeaOTMIeCtecYtWpw5c25sdY6thYMVrsIQ3bTHKrV78V5eRDCOa0vkcaKU1MBZWE_XoFT6FLUPx7h7O3t8prhRUe4mBIWX5aoMIvkf4Z1n7B2Ha1V8PCHkhggmhWPoGIk5QT-s-lZVHOTDI0Y_sr2lIUTtOkvGjYraYbKHsBsDU/s320/IMG_5825.jpeg" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">…to the next</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p></p><p>The ancient road in the town centre is full of 17th and 18th century houses marked with the names of those who lived there and the date the house was built. It makes an interesting walk up the winding cobbled streets.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHsRrtYbMDxGLzF-68Owkcxb7t0TPfuED4SM2PneK3cMvef38Z3m9tPLbWWgVRLBoFJhFMlCpEp_WQMxYQzES1HT3yeI_OEBR1EAYdTEMMVi7BEbNDQ3IU3FgiOL9jIBZsh_y9g0heDLiW6gxecaO1ErIm4y3sbcX5HMDmo9nkmUPZPD7sV5k8usaK4EE/s2016/IMG_5833.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2016" data-original-width="1512" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHsRrtYbMDxGLzF-68Owkcxb7t0TPfuED4SM2PneK3cMvef38Z3m9tPLbWWgVRLBoFJhFMlCpEp_WQMxYQzES1HT3yeI_OEBR1EAYdTEMMVi7BEbNDQ3IU3FgiOL9jIBZsh_y9g0heDLiW6gxecaO1ErIm4y3sbcX5HMDmo9nkmUPZPD7sV5k8usaK4EE/s320/IMG_5833.jpeg" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Worth a walk</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilSRXnzNYf7wAOd73NNjpYLYR1Z2ES84RxCtr4I_41aqqS-Ahye8EWPt9k5l5Lqt9w1j_iopwcGPDvnYCqbC9L51IarJqKG9uUhaRunjNFZfDkD7PJfqnNa73xOFRVsZEemRVJS_z7e7-ZkJpkHdwWUHXuk5DcC17JlBq9DwkTv6upZzZcIxunuNrKmsM/s2016/IMG_5832.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2016" data-original-width="1512" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilSRXnzNYf7wAOd73NNjpYLYR1Z2ES84RxCtr4I_41aqqS-Ahye8EWPt9k5l5Lqt9w1j_iopwcGPDvnYCqbC9L51IarJqKG9uUhaRunjNFZfDkD7PJfqnNa73xOFRVsZEemRVJS_z7e7-ZkJpkHdwWUHXuk5DcC17JlBq9DwkTv6upZzZcIxunuNrKmsM/s320/IMG_5832.jpeg" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Up this medieval street</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgC5ufbYASeWAfL6Va71C6POcR1elnMOwNKgihFiB9sLLxf1JnxD7Qah8Cv8Xo-MyBa7M37JUa3FNfsK38wsciPs0IjrmOgtl2BEU_KMNJmow_HeCa_lw0GDyh642-whCwMQVXtIxTpsZwLNXTIfMr5s6G0lJbsDILBgvGGwjZPMExfSWmpsd79Mgj_6i4/s1904/IMG_5830.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1397" data-original-width="1904" height="235" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgC5ufbYASeWAfL6Va71C6POcR1elnMOwNKgihFiB9sLLxf1JnxD7Qah8Cv8Xo-MyBa7M37JUa3FNfsK38wsciPs0IjrmOgtl2BEU_KMNJmow_HeCa_lw0GDyh642-whCwMQVXtIxTpsZwLNXTIfMr5s6G0lJbsDILBgvGGwjZPMExfSWmpsd79Mgj_6i4/s320/IMG_5830.jpeg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">House of 1722</td></tr></tbody></table><br /> When the fog cleared (and after we’d done our washing - boooring) we drove a short 40 km to Sauvetterre de Béarne, another medieval village but this time with a more French, rather than Basque, vibe. We found a fabulous restaurant so Graham tucked into a lamb shank while I consumed a confit of duck and Hugo had several mouths full of both. We came through here last year but everything was closed as the town centre roads and buildings were undergoing a massive refurbishment. I must say it looks a lot better this time.<div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSuHcT3JE56fo-MAKq-_uarbZ4hrIi1oSPTniPW-S9_JLThXBqF_dVawZx3wVHI6HVOcsYpNmLIEgHJPU1a5xiKyHQcYS3Ch3K7NE5MsqMHdC9NyVc0gC0H3ESi0fasrzJvmyZQ1BgFEpxHQlRBudXOF8SUoRoo0bzRJQ2-qM5RHHTzVHOsPMpOpHdpMM/s2016/IMG_5828.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1512" data-original-width="2016" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSuHcT3JE56fo-MAKq-_uarbZ4hrIi1oSPTniPW-S9_JLThXBqF_dVawZx3wVHI6HVOcsYpNmLIEgHJPU1a5xiKyHQcYS3Ch3K7NE5MsqMHdC9NyVc0gC0H3ESi0fasrzJvmyZQ1BgFEpxHQlRBudXOF8SUoRoo0bzRJQ2-qM5RHHTzVHOsPMpOpHdpMM/s320/IMG_5828.jpeg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">12th century church</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5KbugNHKxkEdJh9YkZJNHjHTh_F7MrJxc3naPzo2_dnhA_uOV7QIa_poj6FxJzvuZiluPy077pzbd5ugxJ3oIu1Tr5j707BScrATgUg-vKprPk5Xrvh9sjoiPFLTXvqqJWfMh6xYZlFnrwFAYRNs42we_N8z292gCqXUEXniGfJ9FXu_pLtz059-zARs/s2016/IMG_5826.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2016" data-original-width="1512" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5KbugNHKxkEdJh9YkZJNHjHTh_F7MrJxc3naPzo2_dnhA_uOV7QIa_poj6FxJzvuZiluPy077pzbd5ugxJ3oIu1Tr5j707BScrATgUg-vKprPk5Xrvh9sjoiPFLTXvqqJWfMh6xYZlFnrwFAYRNs42we_N8z292gCqXUEXniGfJ9FXu_pLtz059-zARs/s320/IMG_5826.jpeg" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cute (and yummy) restaurant</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieFbbVJSpeDReuI8Zd5XlAEirrDEEc6mspia7zaqX18N2r6W2Y-o4UbbHyYSveX42OHdd2ErUlQMN8Prnf54oknkEVcmS0t_LRT2PD8OM2goB4vNMO8LtijkBFsqO7EneSW78AjWsnjiNY3lVfddoWD9XV8QbvJuZSFoJe1QfFZpe3wZOQRHoiFnGXa9Q/s2016/IMG_5824.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1512" data-original-width="2016" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieFbbVJSpeDReuI8Zd5XlAEirrDEEc6mspia7zaqX18N2r6W2Y-o4UbbHyYSveX42OHdd2ErUlQMN8Prnf54oknkEVcmS0t_LRT2PD8OM2goB4vNMO8LtijkBFsqO7EneSW78AjWsnjiNY3lVfddoWD9XV8QbvJuZSFoJe1QfFZpe3wZOQRHoiFnGXa9Q/s320/IMG_5824.jpeg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">View to the Bridge of Legend</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p></p></div>Gather No Mosshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04711767644434877711noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8268679968826447470.post-48121530108767269572024-02-02T17:12:00.001+00:002024-02-02T17:12:13.930+00:00Carrying On from Carrion<p> It sounds like we left Portugal just in time as I’ve read that the Portuguese farmers have blockaded some of the border crossings into Spain as part of the growing EU wide protests. We actually saw some tractors congregating on the side of the motorway this morning as they prepare to mobilise for their own protest.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOenpnNq6QO-Bs0WofDJWfp8EyPk0crr-23_YPFMp8m_PSOkL-G0MmuZ5Zvz2VPLbYkMtycJZxpEKxUsqgz62KW_RQG2DuE3ur00cfFT1-p6KgwzdQoXXjX5WmUHaYV9qOBO1yMTbMpa5gcK1dJS4ol7d8MlLTdljDNkywCCtEO5ALWEHrUEnnSYdwbmQ/s1616/DSC05592.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1616" height="214" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOenpnNq6QO-Bs0WofDJWfp8EyPk0crr-23_YPFMp8m_PSOkL-G0MmuZ5Zvz2VPLbYkMtycJZxpEKxUsqgz62KW_RQG2DuE3ur00cfFT1-p6KgwzdQoXXjX5WmUHaYV9qOBO1yMTbMpa5gcK1dJS4ol7d8MlLTdljDNkywCCtEO5ALWEHrUEnnSYdwbmQ/s320/DSC05592.jpeg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pyrenees in the clouds</td></tr></tbody></table><p> We managed to drive through a vast swathe of vineyards to reach Elciego in the Rioja region unscathed. It’s a lovely medieval village that boasts many wineries, one of which has a bodega designed by none other than the famous architect Frank Gehry.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyKRdM90pNdQUJDUHNJnmJ73jYsQVy43gjmOIbytSwO9vui-pX8asUrCdqxmSooGdRqSy9QvP-fg4VAxxw4jTfUXto_AI2IPk5RrN9gBAxuCu0B4W7pKh2EvGA95H-HF4SlDAEfqLxwxz4_DQhKySRKeztRQU3nAkIVTkTSNKpJK0lqTMfG-7HOOF84iA/s1022/IMG_5822.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="776" data-original-width="1022" height="243" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyKRdM90pNdQUJDUHNJnmJ73jYsQVy43gjmOIbytSwO9vui-pX8asUrCdqxmSooGdRqSy9QvP-fg4VAxxw4jTfUXto_AI2IPk5RrN9gBAxuCu0B4W7pKh2EvGA95H-HF4SlDAEfqLxwxz4_DQhKySRKeztRQU3nAkIVTkTSNKpJK0lqTMfG-7HOOF84iA/s320/IMG_5822.jpeg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">It’s certainly a contrast</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikSBcpVAIX0RbcdXuZxclktCire1N3OsNDrMHSJFSGut8Cp6cq6gnSly6DEJC9k8-FaS4tnYvZnZ7jOwXJGrIifIaBKQb8eGNpl4ABiJ9SUhyUOaOu0r1v6z-g8N81BqMqzJGJ2Uw87m0Ehcf21yCAyKnHwl9jPaFAfy7UQvQX2-elVf4qk3o_A_ckZls/s1616/DSC05577.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1616" data-original-width="1080" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikSBcpVAIX0RbcdXuZxclktCire1N3OsNDrMHSJFSGut8Cp6cq6gnSly6DEJC9k8-FaS4tnYvZnZ7jOwXJGrIifIaBKQb8eGNpl4ABiJ9SUhyUOaOu0r1v6z-g8N81BqMqzJGJ2Uw87m0Ehcf21yCAyKnHwl9jPaFAfy7UQvQX2-elVf4qk3o_A_ckZls/s320/DSC05577.jpeg" width="214" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The more usual architecture</td></tr></tbody></table><p>One of the joys of being in this region is the choice of good wines and we found Bodega Muriel where we could buy a dozen Rioja Crianzas for 25 Euros. Hoorah!! We tried one last night and it was so good we bought another box this morning. We’re now on the outskirts of Pamplona in Sarriguren surrounded by high rise flats and the sound of children playing basketball in the background. We will head into France tomorrow, taking advantage of the lack of snow on the Pyrenees.</p><div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEif1A0Q_578wHAXbQpKk9inl-ZvRNeU7LTcgnBYHMAS9wvQaGBRoZ0heUYG4orKmkWLbbR7ZdW1zarWmsUGJPnhvhB9DyhR9kyY_kt9i2C_6l_nCEmUuNVr_gP9eTj7W6TKfzO6kyzvb4cWWYgL8xGu6nnRtd8-03-_7AlqDF2xNEtic2Q0j1znLdriR7k/s1912/IMG_5820.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1912" data-original-width="1512" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEif1A0Q_578wHAXbQpKk9inl-ZvRNeU7LTcgnBYHMAS9wvQaGBRoZ0heUYG4orKmkWLbbR7ZdW1zarWmsUGJPnhvhB9DyhR9kyY_kt9i2C_6l_nCEmUuNVr_gP9eTj7W6TKfzO6kyzvb4cWWYgL8xGu6nnRtd8-03-_7AlqDF2xNEtic2Q0j1znLdriR7k/s320/IMG_5820.jpeg" width="253" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Gotta love a cheap dozen</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div>It’s not only wine they do well here; they also do good doors.</div></div>Gather No Mosshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04711767644434877711noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8268679968826447470.post-17206213087691773972024-01-31T17:21:00.008+00:002024-01-31T17:21:41.790+00:00Masks, Meseta, and Misericords<p> It was a little frosty yesterday morning so we took the opportunity to lie in - to around 815am (yes, the fluffy one thinks that this is lying in).<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZ8YuGLyCpbKlnQWnfaxJ_OPB_t3VceSoVVdrKSi4B6M8UCVcPQoYar41YMyiqDEUL-KX8FoH5JBbiHXA5rNEIJ72ipOUVZIXagnLtRQJk7jTnYgMKFw2thPyGv_kg3uyz-B4hyphenhypheniAK0d7LE9EtyrfUzK76gPzIT5j2AdaxdMeKsBXSc1uXyR_JGj7frdc/s1125/IMG_5783.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="842" data-original-width="1125" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZ8YuGLyCpbKlnQWnfaxJ_OPB_t3VceSoVVdrKSi4B6M8UCVcPQoYar41YMyiqDEUL-KX8FoH5JBbiHXA5rNEIJ72ipOUVZIXagnLtRQJk7jTnYgMKFw2thPyGv_kg3uyz-B4hyphenhypheniAK0d7LE9EtyrfUzK76gPzIT5j2AdaxdMeKsBXSc1uXyR_JGj7frdc/s320/IMG_5783.jpeg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Our morning sky</td></tr></tbody></table><br /></p><p>The Iberian Museum of the Mask and the Costume within the walls of the castelo opened at 9 so we strolled up the steep path to discover that dogs aren’t allowed in - sigh. I went in first and paid the 2 euro 26 cents (weird pricing) for both of us. It’s a fabulous collection of costumes worn in winter festivals in several villages around the region of Tras-Os-Montes and into Spain. According to the information sheet they are known in English as the Feasts of the Boys (Festas dos Rapazes).They are ancient pagan celebrations that have been integrated into the Christian religious calendar. Unfortunately the lighting and the glass cases did not make for great photos and it’s a shame there were no videos of the events but the collection itself is very interesting. Some are very similar to traditional British folk costumes, particularly the paper tatters and te straw man. They have a folk dance tradition called Pauliteiras which is very similar to morris Dancing. You can find videos on YouTube if you want to check it out.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1NNTh2Rr-OqGVQky2gwWvUp0-gl7M3rKZoUa17DLVuvrdnjAvGO7nsj1qlscl7qc42TzfkB3E1fqb90Aam6QtTpHDr-M9V8ZbJWfiDgfNvV_3m8RBFXWs5Z1-DP4qDSWiJSOmc_IKKb0MSaxsAN630d2Ge2iz5olVnuMBNgfyqFfsDlr0m7DttggTl1U/s240/IMG_5785.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="240" data-original-width="240" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1NNTh2Rr-OqGVQky2gwWvUp0-gl7M3rKZoUa17DLVuvrdnjAvGO7nsj1qlscl7qc42TzfkB3E1fqb90Aam6QtTpHDr-M9V8ZbJWfiDgfNvV_3m8RBFXWs5Z1-DP4qDSWiJSOmc_IKKb0MSaxsAN630d2Ge2iz5olVnuMBNgfyqFfsDlr0m7DttggTl1U/s1600/IMG_5785.jpeg" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Familiar face</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXUVww2niKLjvULR2ejhnuIRhRbPLK4LBC0VEFJZlhmI7I6D3kwHgz54JphEvn_28Cgqc048DHmP54jpRlyYOLIcFpzYxQvt34bvbMKxxyOBsblPl0Z3hXs69GV1FAkP5vtW4yCRtZUSC_9fSQxjHdvJKFiQUjf_t2fS5nNDcjRjdPohPHCcnBkHrGLgY/s1500/IMG_5786.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1500" data-original-width="1124" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXUVww2niKLjvULR2ejhnuIRhRbPLK4LBC0VEFJZlhmI7I6D3kwHgz54JphEvn_28Cgqc048DHmP54jpRlyYOLIcFpzYxQvt34bvbMKxxyOBsblPl0Z3hXs69GV1FAkP5vtW4yCRtZUSC_9fSQxjHdvJKFiQUjf_t2fS5nNDcjRjdPohPHCcnBkHrGLgY/s320/IMG_5786.jpeg" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Paper tatters</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXkjKgyViDb62ZmXQ0C_UscOz8xohYriZoEb2D7wDdM7i55gpn16RiMPFT48N6rhKCQEzkbRasOOzH-BFOJ9cJb9c6eWot_NxqO9FOKN1zKYj3kI7L3jzPOdqxtAPCx0Inws4S5oHTi0mD12vGdCPFioH0gmRuJKGDhVpKLAOSZrHIsD6wLPPMp42OIVY/s1500/IMG_5787.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1500" data-original-width="1125" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXkjKgyViDb62ZmXQ0C_UscOz8xohYriZoEb2D7wDdM7i55gpn16RiMPFT48N6rhKCQEzkbRasOOzH-BFOJ9cJb9c6eWot_NxqO9FOKN1zKYj3kI7L3jzPOdqxtAPCx0Inws4S5oHTi0mD12vGdCPFioH0gmRuJKGDhVpKLAOSZrHIsD6wLPPMp42OIVY/s320/IMG_5787.jpeg" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Straw chap</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEil1gpx9LKmUw2JY35G61TAnvJ-iQJ40mqlBd_aue5Ub5hnebsk3TOlV8azuzxyh8wAtHzMpiyMESgmcVmxVCEe5A5jR80HcxgvDBL3oFpTjl7Vo6wwlVWhpZEBeoIN2Bsp7XVFG5_JQ61CXYxcRHncytLylp7H6ViC_bDoBwJlNbnovskKsiwI96T_nGk/s1500/IMG_5788.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1500" data-original-width="1125" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEil1gpx9LKmUw2JY35G61TAnvJ-iQJ40mqlBd_aue5Ub5hnebsk3TOlV8azuzxyh8wAtHzMpiyMESgmcVmxVCEe5A5jR80HcxgvDBL3oFpTjl7Vo6wwlVWhpZEBeoIN2Bsp7XVFG5_JQ61CXYxcRHncytLylp7H6ViC_bDoBwJlNbnovskKsiwI96T_nGk/s320/IMG_5788.jpeg" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cute smile<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><p>Having had our fill of demons and skeletons we popped into the supermarket to stock up on fabulous Douro and Alentejo wines then bid farewell to Portugal. The route took us across the dry, flat meseta to our next stop Léon in Spain where we parked by the river and walked into the old town to peruse the grand cathedral and find a restaurant. It’s one of the main waypoints on the Compostela and we’d been before several years ago. It’s an impressive cathedral but we both found it strangely devoid of atmosphere - maybe it’s just us. There’s an impressive altar of course and some amazing carvings and stained glass windows. The old town was buzzing with bars and cafes but, as we were eating early (around 730 and most kitchens didn’t open till 830), the only place we found to eat was a pizza joint. Very good it was too.</p><p><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihkc6jp1lMPk-wFDZV_NDzfKdUS9jprznqQoQz52Qqutb6L-5IKs2s4IyF9O6-i64VFaFxGmkKHkaputLl_lgIJem3jnKb9kouL0bPk8_tKtxSB6SHLHYLRP-LaB28yv07KyL0x3wDxPoIjLtCw3jVpRmTLr_IQP_IPcyTHWuUSQolvLPpn8bRh_qUP6g/s1727/IMG_5801.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1727" data-original-width="1422" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihkc6jp1lMPk-wFDZV_NDzfKdUS9jprznqQoQz52Qqutb6L-5IKs2s4IyF9O6-i64VFaFxGmkKHkaputLl_lgIJem3jnKb9kouL0bPk8_tKtxSB6SHLHYLRP-LaB28yv07KyL0x3wDxPoIjLtCw3jVpRmTLr_IQP_IPcyTHWuUSQolvLPpn8bRh_qUP6g/s320/IMG_5801.jpeg" width="263" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Understated altar</td></tr></tbody></table><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOAEF5Z_YTbvClzNSswvM08meQVaSUBNasWln2iTlhGPpaSW8R8U6XJOY7WnBoOv813cpaUmg3VN4Oiermy20xTSdWSCuMHo8xyw3N_HOSTXSSxi5Z4zYlZ6RsJfbjby9fdEbTHTn2NKwC_28LTGXe4-uyvJfyXGGXavkTq8YHs6MFyQasH0lKomZuOP4/s2016/IMG_5799.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2016" data-original-width="1512" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOAEF5Z_YTbvClzNSswvM08meQVaSUBNasWln2iTlhGPpaSW8R8U6XJOY7WnBoOv813cpaUmg3VN4Oiermy20xTSdWSCuMHo8xyw3N_HOSTXSSxi5Z4zYlZ6RsJfbjby9fdEbTHTn2NKwC_28LTGXe4-uyvJfyXGGXavkTq8YHs6MFyQasH0lKomZuOP4/s320/IMG_5799.jpeg" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cute green man</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiP6cTZDlJpLlZ4dP4o2q4l3WzKt1xP4yXwWHfgDiJuOMXGaSHiMciLrVz8M_Dfv0BW6qw4-uLxcDFCq2nzbf_WwonU2Mo5Yt8zufNOjr9NxVUS-YOWQU84O_hFKVDLJ9wIkdr6XrejKSAeKje0YHX3HC1QXwfoH51832C3zzLvyZSmAMN-f2iUAgY9XB0/s1656/IMG_5798.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1231" data-original-width="1656" height="238" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiP6cTZDlJpLlZ4dP4o2q4l3WzKt1xP4yXwWHfgDiJuOMXGaSHiMciLrVz8M_Dfv0BW6qw4-uLxcDFCq2nzbf_WwonU2Mo5Yt8zufNOjr9NxVUS-YOWQU84O_hFKVDLJ9wIkdr6XrejKSAeKje0YHX3HC1QXwfoH51832C3zzLvyZSmAMN-f2iUAgY9XB0/s320/IMG_5798.jpeg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mermaid misericord</td></tr></tbody></table><br /> We’re now still on the Compostela in Carrion De Los Condes. Just about every restaurant is closed but we found one with a menu del dia for 14 euros - three courses with wine. Excellent.<p></p><p><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgd9cfsvuRCQ_bC4Ipt-oS3gF3NfAEqGbwBJDIsActc2BBRDZDO_FRCv9HgZYAMgoi-zwLjKWTqAIc2PK4uXbSC9USSkIfdg8UJJoPIUL2cL_SVgrLdRotX0AosANMLEnAfm28tUhY6dJP9U04vSqOOPXeYZBE8eATnhT6GtaWxoDL__Tpv-RMUGPHIcUQ/s2016/IMG_5802.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1512" data-original-width="2016" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgd9cfsvuRCQ_bC4Ipt-oS3gF3NfAEqGbwBJDIsActc2BBRDZDO_FRCv9HgZYAMgoi-zwLjKWTqAIc2PK4uXbSC9USSkIfdg8UJJoPIUL2cL_SVgrLdRotX0AosANMLEnAfm28tUhY6dJP9U04vSqOOPXeYZBE8eATnhT6GtaWxoDL__Tpv-RMUGPHIcUQ/s320/IMG_5802.jpeg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Our overnight stop</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTXJX33BfHkrE8RuxPY7LkiEYtNaJmByfwkkmaGngJr8Nn6-ZWRFndfkbmCBbgwXlnArx77MDVpMMTjKG3pKKQpFbWZrqc0cSbb54y3AUW2WSRT-YMhH9kyXbTiHG6CgT7oimyq9fsGxJTJCtPfNc272u7ohSx7e4vMEphgCtLmj15sfQbTEOgZKWrR-M/s1500/IMG_5797.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1500" data-original-width="1124" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTXJX33BfHkrE8RuxPY7LkiEYtNaJmByfwkkmaGngJr8Nn6-ZWRFndfkbmCBbgwXlnArx77MDVpMMTjKG3pKKQpFbWZrqc0cSbb54y3AUW2WSRT-YMhH9kyXbTiHG6CgT7oimyq9fsGxJTJCtPfNc272u7ohSx7e4vMEphgCtLmj15sfQbTEOgZKWrR-M/s320/IMG_5797.jpeg" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Waymarkers on the footpaths</td></tr></tbody></table><br /></p>Gather No Mosshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04711767644434877711noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8268679968826447470.post-13518704706004908652024-01-29T17:15:00.001+00:002024-01-29T17:21:19.824+00:00Child Bride and Perky Duke<p style="text-align: justify;">Around 800 years ago a Spanish princess, Isabella of Aragon, married a much older King Dinis of Spain just near where we were parked at Trancoso in the mountains of Portugal. She was later canonised for putting up with her husband’s affairs, looking after the children he had with his many mistresses, and turning bread into flowers. I’m sure there was more to it than that but you get the gist. There is a lovely pair of statues of them both outside the walls of the fortified city - apparently the woman is smaller than the man as she was only a child when they married. The town had a very chilled vibe, mainly because it was Sunday and everything was shut but we managed to catch another castelo (yes, with washing hanging on the walls) and a small Jewish centre. </p><p><br /></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZR0_eaK2Ok7tF6QHcupoVbd-9hbH9RAq_wSrEG_lAO8R3wsEw_daxzEMTB-6aSLxTsn7K-d903HeSqukz3mKm3ZW_uqBa18M6O16gUJzmAeZYPCMTdnxzitFVhY8N3_HLDKHZsuw6_eYsjSiKvsjB-LGt9iTz8pJmhk7zz32pEFTbHy92tMVzs9v3848/s1616/DSC05573.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1616" height="214" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZR0_eaK2Ok7tF6QHcupoVbd-9hbH9RAq_wSrEG_lAO8R3wsEw_daxzEMTB-6aSLxTsn7K-d903HeSqukz3mKm3ZW_uqBa18M6O16gUJzmAeZYPCMTdnxzitFVhY8N3_HLDKHZsuw6_eYsjSiKvsjB-LGt9iTz8pJmhk7zz32pEFTbHy92tMVzs9v3848/s320/DSC05573.jpeg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">More washing on the castle walls</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiVyG2nc-Ry8BSvU6mUO2_XWX4yAQ2dDzi6h1RzWin0elHrYvIta72Hh-gsRSchgcBPTIquT8fj_Jtr8-VrhW8vtvEJeeohNlzqo2SrQLBhGEfLk5_DebqeXuiq9maM_1VoABKRyhOzD2yd8jr8pla7hK4pPqvT6evHIOf5RNeeWPdt5M6qvtf1-sV4mA/s2016/IMG_5781.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2016" data-original-width="1512" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiVyG2nc-Ry8BSvU6mUO2_XWX4yAQ2dDzi6h1RzWin0elHrYvIta72Hh-gsRSchgcBPTIquT8fj_Jtr8-VrhW8vtvEJeeohNlzqo2SrQLBhGEfLk5_DebqeXuiq9maM_1VoABKRyhOzD2yd8jr8pla7hK4pPqvT6evHIOf5RNeeWPdt5M6qvtf1-sV4mA/s320/IMG_5781.jpeg" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0 0 0 40px; padding: 0px;"><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0 0 0 40px; padding: 0px;"><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0 0 0 40px; padding: 0px;"><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0 0 0 40px; padding: 0px;"><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0 0 0 40px; padding: 0px;"><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0 0 0 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;">Rather like chess pieces, we thought</blockquote></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote><br /><br /><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0 0 0 40px; padding: 0px;"><blockquote style="border: medium; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="text-align: left;">Our night in the car park was uneventful but for Graham waking up to a strange light show outside. Was it someone checking out the van in an attempt to break in, or was it the spirit of Isabella paying us a visit? It turned out to be the full moon making an appearance through a slit in our skylight, much to the fluffy one’s relief. (In case you’re wondering, I have no idea why this paragraph is sitting in this position on the page)</span></blockquote></blockquote></td></tr></tbody></table><p style="text-align: justify;">The drive today took us through the high Douro River regions with vast stretches of vineyards, a few goats, and yet more olive groves along the route. At one point we were driving through clouds and could barely see the road ahead but Graham’s masterful driving got us through unscathed and we arrived in Bragança just in time for a yummy lunch at a restaurant we’d visited many years ago just inside the castle walls.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdn8wRVpZBRCJt7F1UYzC9D7OvyJJfxr2HaJoL0AOtew3tKE-6JNhxeOHqJwRbzY2SzMDOqwjngZHrAV0RP6S5q8JVdz_MrmSIY5HLt0d62fxEgPuqoXLdM4FcUc3OZRPhuYfAl5ZjzLcEtTLl0_cEgmGwcy48zU44rm7yFRNNuuOtxE5HBZl-HafoATE/s2048/IMG_5772.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1086" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdn8wRVpZBRCJt7F1UYzC9D7OvyJJfxr2HaJoL0AOtew3tKE-6JNhxeOHqJwRbzY2SzMDOqwjngZHrAV0RP6S5q8JVdz_MrmSIY5HLt0d62fxEgPuqoXLdM4FcUc3OZRPhuYfAl5ZjzLcEtTLl0_cEgmGwcy48zU44rm7yFRNNuuOtxE5HBZl-HafoATE/s320/IMG_5772.jpeg" width="170" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Unfortunate angle of Duke Fernando</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuann2QTpe8TlOo05nYidOLZ5w2JUfGDz0b8Wq05tHb8aslSPHMISpZKhOZD-gww-i9F-bc4kOIzI2hJYfbm_UipqkYV7zaXQAupxkkoPGQBxMfvCxyK1CjfpehMpOQywKzIou5EMZHccu6D3-1JiL5vVl9niztSuVWVdQ3HIQ8PFXttMO4N8KJW0Jw6w/s2016/IMG_5777.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2016" data-original-width="1512" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuann2QTpe8TlOo05nYidOLZ5w2JUfGDz0b8Wq05tHb8aslSPHMISpZKhOZD-gww-i9F-bc4kOIzI2hJYfbm_UipqkYV7zaXQAupxkkoPGQBxMfvCxyK1CjfpehMpOQywKzIou5EMZHccu6D3-1JiL5vVl9niztSuVWVdQ3HIQ8PFXttMO4N8KJW0Jw6w/s320/IMG_5777.jpeg" width="240" /></a></div><br />Our last Portuguese castelo</div><p style="text-align: justify;">Tasca Do Zé Tuga is a traditional (but slightly overpriced due to its location) Portuguese restaurant with an old fashioned interior, very nice jazz music, and the best chocolate ice cream we’ve ever tasted. Our waiter was very friendly even after Hugo tried to bite him for giving him a pat on the head. We later strolled around town and learned that all the museums were closed (of course) but we hope to see the Mask Museum in the morning before we head to Spain.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgksVSRiu7Yxzu02P4UJOAvWBM72yhdCGj6eG35UTC0zPl6VRNiIngq_U7YVMtptvj8BZP6YlCiEksf5MBV0GvESWYHG0YHILOhyMcl8VZZmZqR1tteGkfISGq-NLFgOkGtJv3F_xgok50JqG50U7TJ_GzDUucJSa7FfaS4ukuHYZ1Dva736Az3Ln3Rv6k/s1490/IMG_5778.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1490" data-original-width="1347" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgksVSRiu7Yxzu02P4UJOAvWBM72yhdCGj6eG35UTC0zPl6VRNiIngq_U7YVMtptvj8BZP6YlCiEksf5MBV0GvESWYHG0YHILOhyMcl8VZZmZqR1tteGkfISGq-NLFgOkGtJv3F_xgok50JqG50U7TJ_GzDUucJSa7FfaS4ukuHYZ1Dva736Az3Ln3Rv6k/s320/IMG_5778.jpeg" width="289" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Perfection </td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7DXJ4F2LLQvtwM4g8BfS9FPYvdKsulK4olOZtzH1V3urvMaPMk8PYKj0IrEKxd6WaU2qbZ1x0bma-XOnoAY4yjNlaqCc7lk02wPMcB3VVs3CZiIvmnG4K2HxXteHn2bDVuZfuN8U6NBvjxj2FfY5AYwFbSBp7WwNvqnqU7ZHPP2G5w45xfrcXz34I4kA/s2016/IMG_5780.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1512" data-original-width="2016" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7DXJ4F2LLQvtwM4g8BfS9FPYvdKsulK4olOZtzH1V3urvMaPMk8PYKj0IrEKxd6WaU2qbZ1x0bma-XOnoAY4yjNlaqCc7lk02wPMcB3VVs3CZiIvmnG4K2HxXteHn2bDVuZfuN8U6NBvjxj2FfY5AYwFbSBp7WwNvqnqU7ZHPP2G5w45xfrcXz34I4kA/s320/IMG_5780.jpeg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Loving this cute interior<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p><br /></p>Gather No Mosshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04711767644434877711noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8268679968826447470.post-4156004936409185752024-01-27T16:29:00.001+00:002024-01-27T16:29:20.347+00:00Up to the River Below<p> On our road north the view is changing. When we look up we no longer see storks on sticks but osprey, vultures, and the odd flock of lapwings swirling above our heads. It’s getting a little more mountainous and a lot more ‘rivery’. And there was a random woman walking beside the road with a large plastic bucket on her head - no hands.</p><p><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjieHb32_4h52z59BXb5hP2JgKo8l9QlxoaE2Q7rmXxWjHGQg0aadOXt87yS7RzR9Vya1XqyNezOevGbCy1-bjOsSVFtES2C5wnLy_Qw4n5pp-m7lSdy9JRP_giqR8nMaS8Ao4uuQ66MRDzHJZ73TFXQkOoLeju8aPesZiHZ0QaUeFhkXStDqOzY-5TWzc/s1616/DSC05560.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1616" height="214" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjieHb32_4h52z59BXb5hP2JgKo8l9QlxoaE2Q7rmXxWjHGQg0aadOXt87yS7RzR9Vya1XqyNezOevGbCy1-bjOsSVFtES2C5wnLy_Qw4n5pp-m7lSdy9JRP_giqR8nMaS8Ao4uuQ66MRDzHJZ73TFXQkOoLeju8aPesZiHZ0QaUeFhkXStDqOzY-5TWzc/s320/DSC05560.jpeg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Easy walking</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaESovfo2rJQFLsupc-QxouU5qN_G_-8rt49aUuegf1DpfzeTMILpypifyPgO2zILoxIeTtUZ9CU5NnrTiA9KxEJZXph4n_Nu5kgPt5MAaV8K_7y_TlTBYLo9dXtM8fhLGE4LMxIvMXDW1rYVRIt34mt0pj4U_v0OxF0ozEr5l8zBGq9-8ZVlVAB0zzaU/s1616/DSC05555.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1616" height="214" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaESovfo2rJQFLsupc-QxouU5qN_G_-8rt49aUuegf1DpfzeTMILpypifyPgO2zILoxIeTtUZ9CU5NnrTiA9KxEJZXph4n_Nu5kgPt5MAaV8K_7y_TlTBYLo9dXtM8fhLGE4LMxIvMXDW1rYVRIt34mt0pj4U_v0OxF0ozEr5l8zBGq9-8ZVlVAB0zzaU/s320/DSC05555.jpeg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Does this look like two turtles kissing to you?</td></tr></tbody></table><br /></p><p>Yesterday’s route started out as very relaxing as I calmly watched the cork fields slip by. But then - the road got twirlier - and thinner - and more full of gigantic trucks loaded with massive logs bearing down on us from in front and from the rear. I must say it’s a tad terrifying when you come around a bend and see a big blue truck almost on your side of the road. Thankfully Graham’s driving was very calm and measured and the scary bit was only for the last 20 or so kilometres of the drive.</p><p><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgE5hQ7fAP8Ee_31TNKWjr-SwOAxkL14eZLjyyCE_V-KfKIv9Y35a1Lvxr5V5hy3Ap4661d8XUblgvooBv_ezE-qD9dJNC08xJsULz2K5BwBAYS8ZYAxiLiqzeDgzkL6OFfculpcYc3HrYACm7zP02eTZmvvIau0IZbyZLP1aaO7vjh9qcDw8pILLIc9ig/s1616/DSC05546.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1616" height="214" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgE5hQ7fAP8Ee_31TNKWjr-SwOAxkL14eZLjyyCE_V-KfKIv9Y35a1Lvxr5V5hy3Ap4661d8XUblgvooBv_ezE-qD9dJNC08xJsULz2K5BwBAYS8ZYAxiLiqzeDgzkL6OFfculpcYc3HrYACm7zP02eTZmvvIau0IZbyZLP1aaO7vjh9qcDw8pILLIc9ig/s320/DSC05546.jpeg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">And of course we’re still on the Compostela</td></tr></tbody></table><br /></p><p>The entrance to the town of Vila Velha de Rodão was dusty from roadworks and, of course, we got the red light for the one way traffic system as we were still on the extremely high bridge. EEEEEK! Surprisingly the parking area for the van was down a steep hill that took us directly to the peaceful and attractive banks of the River Tagus. It was exciting to find that this area is famous for its archaeological finds and petroglyphs. The museum is currently closed but we remembered we’d visited quite a few years ago so we simply enjoyed walks by the river and Graham posed with a few Neolithic individuals (albeit cartoons).</p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3LFV87joIF8095iQ6bshF2YgDcxhlXYtuQb1Bt8eJZlHQVve7KWUSa97J0ay11PJNlWXt30di4LkbDtlk-Mac1cxSVzWbOd_eUpnyLIYPdH62yQ5vkr_hyAOhplvPEw_fEJMeuPvpmrbzrKnoa5c11pNwGi4uc-umWGQuw2ee2uRwDm-_1WtEkdEXd6w/s1236/DSC05550.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="770" data-original-width="1236" height="199" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3LFV87joIF8095iQ6bshF2YgDcxhlXYtuQb1Bt8eJZlHQVve7KWUSa97J0ay11PJNlWXt30di4LkbDtlk-Mac1cxSVzWbOd_eUpnyLIYPdH62yQ5vkr_hyAOhplvPEw_fEJMeuPvpmrbzrKnoa5c11pNwGi4uc-umWGQuw2ee2uRwDm-_1WtEkdEXd6w/s320/DSC05550.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p>The area is well known for its fauna as well. We didn’t see any of the otters, cobras, or mongooses (Mongeese?) that live in the area but Hugo met an unpleasant collie who tried to nip his heels.</p><p>Today we drove further up the mountain to a spa town, Unhais de Serra. There is a river running through the town that, in summer we think, is blocked off in certain sections to turn it into swimming areas. I don’t think I’d like to use the diving board at this time of year. Not sure where we’ll end up tomorrow.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioXqT8Rnt1qqEzlcAXfktC1jqPPOPgsqT5sTOghxrNBoSQ6VBZ0JC51qjvt8U-B92f982IQTbxDAS0QfISohmhb9zdFHKlgNlS_n-9ruUVsFArpzSfIpWNZIEB4fQq_Y4m4muYlumyKNI8amxJCmEEVqh-f9X7ZhHCXS1BoH4pqp9D1wHOFT4LDwkACLM/s1500/IMG_5757.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1500" data-original-width="1124" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioXqT8Rnt1qqEzlcAXfktC1jqPPOPgsqT5sTOghxrNBoSQ6VBZ0JC51qjvt8U-B92f982IQTbxDAS0QfISohmhb9zdFHKlgNlS_n-9ruUVsFArpzSfIpWNZIEB4fQq_Y4m4muYlumyKNI8amxJCmEEVqh-f9X7ZhHCXS1BoH4pqp9D1wHOFT4LDwkACLM/s320/IMG_5757.jpeg" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Looks dodgy any time of year to me<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p><br /></p><p><br /></p>Gather No Mosshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04711767644434877711noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8268679968826447470.post-44504764604652067562024-01-25T18:01:00.000+00:002024-01-25T18:01:15.476+00:00Castles Aplenty<p>It seems we’ve swapped beaches for castles as we’re currently parked by the walls of our third one in three days. Once more our drive has been along a road weaving through green of rolling hills studded with vineyards, cork trees, and yet more eucalypt forests. All along the way we saw storks nesting on the top of power poles and clacking their beaks. At one point almost every pole had a nesting pair.</p><p><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0bCO0DAbWXwspppTvgyeVMsH9uk-uPZ1Q8ui3Vip9i7kgihj-9KMFmsXa0tuhdBaOZE8voWseXoPvKsPZxlT3TxluPD14lkLSuW6y4Q9xkZfRfio0WH7WKEqISGYttNU0IC5i9srUrtCmtpM1wJ1_HocXOV9BczZv_yylOnJmqt5oxmIdo304YbGNfE8/s1500/IMG_5719.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1500" data-original-width="1125" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0bCO0DAbWXwspppTvgyeVMsH9uk-uPZ1Q8ui3Vip9i7kgihj-9KMFmsXa0tuhdBaOZE8voWseXoPvKsPZxlT3TxluPD14lkLSuW6y4Q9xkZfRfio0WH7WKEqISGYttNU0IC5i9srUrtCmtpM1wJ1_HocXOV9BczZv_yylOnJmqt5oxmIdo304YbGNfE8/s320/IMG_5719.jpeg" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">And they were on the chimneys in town, too</td></tr></tbody></table><br /></p><p>We found our first Castelo in Silves. Graham hadn’t seen his friend, JJ, in some years so we pootled along to Silves to catch up with him there. I think it’s as close to the Algarve as we got. Lots of British, French, Dutch and Germans spend winter there in their motor homes and the food reflects that. We even had a ham and cheese toastie (under duress) which was actually quite yummy. Thankfully we were able to find some fabulous Portuguese food and it was so cheap - two separate restaurants did three courses for 10 Euros. Fresh whole fish, salad, desert and wine - bargain.</p><p>The castle was unique as it had an Aldi supermarket at the base of it - very posh. The winding lanes are always fun to get lost in, especially when you find a souvenir shop to top up those essential items like a chicken shaped toothpick holder, an oven glove and a fish-themed tea towel. And I can understand why all those Brits come down here - the temperature was a sunny 22 to 25 degrees all day. Very acceptable.</p><p>Once we’d had the taste of our first castelo we couldn’t resist another. Off to the village of Mértola we went and parked by the Guardiana River.</p><p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuDjuk4itu4ycT9L711FbzsReLa43tyj88yl21253H_h_yYtN0STsj4GESG-sVLWS3rDH04tkGnotYKqiMScbbnqVi5MzigdmS8Q2uooJ2mW8_oz5M3_J8wcFaB91GVSoz-0A9hf053WItu3iNWptD_KQFgpxVM0c8aytUctg3owqxUoYyUsbCss0qK8I/s2016/IMG_5726.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1512" data-original-width="2016" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuDjuk4itu4ycT9L711FbzsReLa43tyj88yl21253H_h_yYtN0STsj4GESG-sVLWS3rDH04tkGnotYKqiMScbbnqVi5MzigdmS8Q2uooJ2mW8_oz5M3_J8wcFaB91GVSoz-0A9hf053WItu3iNWptD_KQFgpxVM0c8aytUctg3owqxUoYyUsbCss0qK8I/s320/IMG_5726.jpeg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Our view up to the village</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6wLSz9ZhUd6ZgM0tUpVQuP_CzRDOqFJhABA37nluY1dCmnlBzf1GTw4Pcebv7oJYEGiITOEiVexn5Z0J5u_8dAyKtu3YzuvQY0Zc3s2EFv66wqPGPcslD_Tn_jG-AaxScm9yLuyCqfIG5NSuqodtgpyWbVAlTtlDkWHSUSVmXumSdHwDW8BXHezxiG3c/s1500/IMG_5735.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1500" data-original-width="1124" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6wLSz9ZhUd6ZgM0tUpVQuP_CzRDOqFJhABA37nluY1dCmnlBzf1GTw4Pcebv7oJYEGiITOEiVexn5Z0J5u_8dAyKtu3YzuvQY0Zc3s2EFv66wqPGPcslD_Tn_jG-AaxScm9yLuyCqfIG5NSuqodtgpyWbVAlTtlDkWHSUSVmXumSdHwDW8BXHezxiG3c/s320/IMG_5735.jpeg" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A slightly muddy Guardiana River</td></tr></tbody></table><br />It has an interesting history and is worth a visit if you’re in the area. The church was once a mosque and still has the vaulted ceilings you’d find there. There is a small museum of weaving which shows a lot of the Berber style brought over by the Moors when they conquered the area. </p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMZgtI5YrfHS-RyKT_Xm1qsV7vdEyyBQkGLOXqNzddcaPwTThdGI4RtcA7MwGDNlTEck5fz32cLxewkd7FexmKf1uXgE0TGWIuCnqhguG0hoNEqM59-z7G9L39XA5fMrVHeAWndd0-CPV65q0CAkrPPfUk0q2SBq-lw-dRF9L7syV1-PDCWvrRBsMFPHI/s1500/IMG_5733.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1500" data-original-width="1125" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMZgtI5YrfHS-RyKT_Xm1qsV7vdEyyBQkGLOXqNzddcaPwTThdGI4RtcA7MwGDNlTEck5fz32cLxewkd7FexmKf1uXgE0TGWIuCnqhguG0hoNEqM59-z7G9L39XA5fMrVHeAWndd0-CPV65q0CAkrPPfUk0q2SBq-lw-dRF9L7syV1-PDCWvrRBsMFPHI/s320/IMG_5733.jpeg" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mosque turned church</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p><br />The castle itself was impressive but a bit of a slog to traipse up the to the top - all worth it to take a photo of the boys looking tiny from a great height.</p><p><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiO5ymYVNnQ7r9lO-HuAdpEBsNRK8Q8I3bWbcfUF2Oeo-Ek4zN3dSWcIYyZC79D2jhOsxc3uVfKnKjV1NqhhiR4Y4J1Q6rEr2wusjhLkrIIedz9Z3hDKnkJNtrxdSFgek-SM03PN7eGP7pGYcOSKpci9tX3KftDmxn9HdFJDbErCsEEYdXkE2eU5dmoJFM/s2016/IMG_5723.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1512" data-original-width="2016" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiO5ymYVNnQ7r9lO-HuAdpEBsNRK8Q8I3bWbcfUF2Oeo-Ek4zN3dSWcIYyZC79D2jhOsxc3uVfKnKjV1NqhhiR4Y4J1Q6rEr2wusjhLkrIIedz9Z3hDKnkJNtrxdSFgek-SM03PN7eGP7pGYcOSKpci9tX3KftDmxn9HdFJDbErCsEEYdXkE2eU5dmoJFM/s320/IMG_5723.jpeg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Where is everyone?</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgB9FDqOIboDCOz4KBeYtwmvprOU_pTp1g3YKMi7rw-F5v1_jPCvRnSLe0-VG9WkajT1rt4qMtdJ37WxONXWFKCZ9syGJTEsGWT-4f1Dxgic2DCFswPLgJSAypu9EJUAZil4JqfIBz_bJuYkW1n2kf7kw5VoXyYjFBXX0JAQMkAia-2seWloR2o7DlXL38/s2016/IMG_5722.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2016" data-original-width="1512" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgB9FDqOIboDCOz4KBeYtwmvprOU_pTp1g3YKMi7rw-F5v1_jPCvRnSLe0-VG9WkajT1rt4qMtdJ37WxONXWFKCZ9syGJTEsGWT-4f1Dxgic2DCFswPLgJSAypu9EJUAZil4JqfIBz_bJuYkW1n2kf7kw5VoXyYjFBXX0JAQMkAia-2seWloR2o7DlXL38/s320/IMG_5722.jpeg" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I’m down here!!<br /><br /></td></tr></tbody></table>Our latest castelo is in Vila Viçosa in the heart of the Alentejo wine region. It was once an important political centre but now is famous for marble and wine.The food’s pretty good, too.</p><p><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6v3yTXa-zFH1RrHaf3nxrPSph6jhyGnbyuteKd8xtvs77KS00CZtuiQV7N8fDDdns1YMYVHZn4I39f3kDq2xifWU2BYb7B3mkGLAhjhSTibRJu3OjiyJOCRx2XZvpUDk6HO87N0C16wa96UvAMaNJAEDo_xQB6ztp1EkwoNmrk2VoE4ugxIZqnZ-Nquw/s1843/IMG_5729.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1843" data-original-width="1184" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6v3yTXa-zFH1RrHaf3nxrPSph6jhyGnbyuteKd8xtvs77KS00CZtuiQV7N8fDDdns1YMYVHZn4I39f3kDq2xifWU2BYb7B3mkGLAhjhSTibRJu3OjiyJOCRx2XZvpUDk6HO87N0C16wa96UvAMaNJAEDo_xQB6ztp1EkwoNmrk2VoE4ugxIZqnZ-Nquw/s320/IMG_5729.jpeg" width="206" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The door of knots</td></tr></tbody></table><br /></p><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfE1uHsyIeWS2O4NZo4aPOv3_0a-5qElJOcVHeZzxHM5EJJUrIdcnuwQyPENAv4aoXnbJoyVO8PlxWTBuoextHDvcutNDSA1AERWg7OCjJFq1jgRNjODXw2GOkm74oUXefkVcTCWQxEsc-ur6RFZxWieIWoiS1EjpsjVzkoA5y9qMl8p8blxuzeTcDBP0/s2016/IMG_5727.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2016" data-original-width="1512" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfE1uHsyIeWS2O4NZo4aPOv3_0a-5qElJOcVHeZzxHM5EJJUrIdcnuwQyPENAv4aoXnbJoyVO8PlxWTBuoextHDvcutNDSA1AERWg7OCjJFq1jgRNjODXw2GOkm74oUXefkVcTCWQxEsc-ur6RFZxWieIWoiS1EjpsjVzkoA5y9qMl8p8blxuzeTcDBP0/s320/IMG_5727.jpeg" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Oh, and it’s on the Compostela</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjE_xTJfDUPMJm-GCMywC1slcZk-npUySHqNnnP9XExQtVHSegD6IuQdMP8cWLqIPrXzzkWLgjWDyuFT4UD8utM5Uh0n_8Oq8ua9SXYzuGvaKbmI035kgkF2UthsyfGYdLRE4582SsghPTvZhlR4IW1u37-IhzTHbO_FSMTWGj7FcJtjss8vC4t83ki8zU/s2016/IMG_5728.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1512" data-original-width="2016" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjE_xTJfDUPMJm-GCMywC1slcZk-npUySHqNnnP9XExQtVHSegD6IuQdMP8cWLqIPrXzzkWLgjWDyuFT4UD8utM5Uh0n_8Oq8ua9SXYzuGvaKbmI035kgkF2UthsyfGYdLRE4582SsghPTvZhlR4IW1u37-IhzTHbO_FSMTWGj7FcJtjss8vC4t83ki8zU/s320/IMG_5728.jpeg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Grand ducal palace</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYgdbzui6dtyhVYf0rWmaf0DBbTst8OrNZpwM__65vd85CRu4V1MhnahgpsG3qB26BV65F-BB5T2yN_vqE8CyPngVOrU1BGxQ6R2UwZxz05nYhZvkjzDc5_02bwLallirh6CQi9cXKF9dTcSeXXYbKS4eFmtfeGqZwcL2wX0A-AEa40qB70na-Fq01xuY/s1815/IMG_5730.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1815" data-original-width="1512" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYgdbzui6dtyhVYf0rWmaf0DBbTst8OrNZpwM__65vd85CRu4V1MhnahgpsG3qB26BV65F-BB5T2yN_vqE8CyPngVOrU1BGxQ6R2UwZxz05nYhZvkjzDc5_02bwLallirh6CQi9cXKF9dTcSeXXYbKS4eFmtfeGqZwcL2wX0A-AEa40qB70na-Fq01xuY/s320/IMG_5730.jpeg" width="267" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pretty town house</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhSFlhtJZ9Fif1LP5p5LDabOEeViaQPSTpoT5Hve1KiDBzF5-cVJvp3doz7QTeniEDtcHeOAxxOBXpI2M4mfj8b1TR22vnPoKsZpZce0gocOepmjEPokZ0dlVMZhFeQfzJtuw4uWZNvq0VoATpIOJENor_aCldhHxV_fuTQ1LOcZYtnSjc6dz87BRP5Ew/s1500/IMG_5736.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1500" data-original-width="1124" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhSFlhtJZ9Fif1LP5p5LDabOEeViaQPSTpoT5Hve1KiDBzF5-cVJvp3doz7QTeniEDtcHeOAxxOBXpI2M4mfj8b1TR22vnPoKsZpZce0gocOepmjEPokZ0dlVMZhFeQfzJtuw4uWZNvq0VoATpIOJENor_aCldhHxV_fuTQ1LOcZYtnSjc6dz87BRP5Ew/s320/IMG_5736.jpeg" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Naughty (?) sculpture in the church</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p>We’re now sitting in the van listening to the sounds of birds, cowbells and dogs barking in the distance. Tomorrow we head further north.</p>Gather No Mosshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04711767644434877711noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8268679968826447470.post-36705735294215898002024-01-21T17:04:00.003+00:002024-01-21T17:05:52.451+00:00Bumps - And Some in the Night<p> Our drive today was both gorgeous and atrocious. The road wound its way through olive groves, cork fields, eucalyptus forests, and undulating hills bright green after the recent downpours. There were giant storks nesting atop power poles, a moped rider laden with twigs for his fireplace, even a butterfly who flew in front of our windshield and waved hello with his yellow wings.</p><p><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_rRvvpxQWhyphenhyphenuL3CY3_vQYoNMM1XScf5je0cZBMadBa_SFOKY2n7rZbzQJ_HNrD6eAYT-Oq1-hVLHSRj6_nrzqImHm2KDQQIurivKDH1o8xbmGUlC5974wy1p5vGrwWZmDc5E3a2enK6bRqKlrSRUGwpGjrCzb_UbAomANI4UUehOAaMMHp4d0rLpCsQ0/s2016/IMG_5717.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1512" data-original-width="2016" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_rRvvpxQWhyphenhyphenuL3CY3_vQYoNMM1XScf5je0cZBMadBa_SFOKY2n7rZbzQJ_HNrD6eAYT-Oq1-hVLHSRj6_nrzqImHm2KDQQIurivKDH1o8xbmGUlC5974wy1p5vGrwWZmDc5E3a2enK6bRqKlrSRUGwpGjrCzb_UbAomANI4UUehOAaMMHp4d0rLpCsQ0/s320/IMG_5717.jpeg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">View from our window</td></tr></tbody></table><br /></p><p>The atrocious part? The actual road itself reminded me of some of the Australian country roads of my youth. There were cracks, holes, and undulations that mirrored the bright green hills only with extra unexpected bumps in them. There has obviously been a lot of work on the Portuguese road system over the years but not on our route today. Rocks dotted the road where they’d fallen from the cliffs along the edge and we would suddenly come upon a section of untreated surface that had no warning whatsoever.</p><p>We made it to a very, shall we say, rustic campsite in the hills behind Portomão where the temperature is about 25 degrees and we’ve been able to sit outside in short sleeves for the first time in a while.We’re hoping we’ll be safe here as we had a rather disturbing experience last night at the beach.</p><p><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMGbpq-NUdI2NEW0LlVQHZiS5ZH-YazMniReotXovLHOgDMO6TdtgZraKAYQStQV61CpztBMvoR4el2SB_iU1IDMgSYIuy00ECbKionRnff9pkA2KMMG4E-nun5_UKQtD37uyAtDm0LB4yLXUcGSVgf3QVSLwY5U4zsX3lIKxUD1v9y95Ank7uFzyE9AM/s2016/IMG_5716.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1512" data-original-width="2016" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMGbpq-NUdI2NEW0LlVQHZiS5ZH-YazMniReotXovLHOgDMO6TdtgZraKAYQStQV61CpztBMvoR4el2SB_iU1IDMgSYIuy00ECbKionRnff9pkA2KMMG4E-nun5_UKQtD37uyAtDm0LB4yLXUcGSVgf3QVSLwY5U4zsX3lIKxUD1v9y95Ank7uFzyE9AM/s320/IMG_5716.jpeg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Enjoying bread and cheese in the sun</td></tr></tbody></table><br /></p><p>Despite the area we were in being legal to camp we’d heard of people being moved on if they’d parked just a few hundred meters away so were alert to the idea of police patrolling the area. At 3AM someone was tapping on the van and shouting something in Portuguese. Immediately we were awake and presumed it was the police telling us to move. Graham turned on the lights, opened the blinds and peered out but couldn’t see who was there.</p><p>He decided it would be best for him to get out of the van and investigate (against my instructions that he was NOT to go outside and investigate). I heard voices and saw a strange man’s face at the window who looked at me and said ‘hi’- he was clearly not a policeman. Graham returned to the van unmurdered and all in one piece but not much sleep was had after that. Speaking to other van people this morning they think the guy was on drugs and the site is normally very safe. Graham has agreed he will not leave the van if someone bangs on the van and shouts at us again. </p>Gather No Mosshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04711767644434877711noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8268679968826447470.post-72524464560985322732024-01-20T15:30:00.004+00:002024-01-20T15:30:39.362+00:00From Coast to Country Then Back Again<p> We knew we had to avoid the bridges of Lisbon on our way south due to my extreme bridge phobia (gephyrobobia - don't ask me how to pronounce it) so we headed inland to Alcácer do Sal. On the way we had a night at a fabulous spot called Foz de Arelho where the Atlantic Ocean connects to the largest salt water lagoon in Europe. Our lagoon side location was perfect for watching the fishing boats and kite surfers although the rain came in again overnight and turned the place into a mud puddle in the morning.</p><p><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtUftniq75vKX8c9BqhJUU_nfpaG847uruXsr3zAINHLhxkD41T5MoCTg3dnTwPeYttoApvEoleGNG_pQlJ2iMDXyoj4RgLMl-fatOjEvTHnGowyqtHjjz88kEeiVyBrxrL4Wl-IyperQfpL4qpX08EPShv_dXb5GMSL5h6JR0nOaVxpvilR5hSxTkiEA/s2016/IMG_5713.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1512" data-original-width="2016" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtUftniq75vKX8c9BqhJUU_nfpaG847uruXsr3zAINHLhxkD41T5MoCTg3dnTwPeYttoApvEoleGNG_pQlJ2iMDXyoj4RgLMl-fatOjEvTHnGowyqtHjjz88kEeiVyBrxrL4Wl-IyperQfpL4qpX08EPShv_dXb5GMSL5h6JR0nOaVxpvilR5hSxTkiEA/s320/IMG_5713.jpeg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Where lagoon meets ocean</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVs305mMtaFeBNcclaZAOxpy4G4pj3YY8OU1bmtFLc1zfZzo5M1zCqIJ9LD5qFjEzsMQXq_ia_bhPPgEe70aj152QXyeoAz9-goU3wkuCm2E8NC7wPIdDYR95F8XqiJCjuuPdEjbisVwCeLTbmdhVRP0EqA08uujiLIvqhmflcatYgt6i43SlqNS2u8yw/s1616/DSC05539.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1616" height="214" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVs305mMtaFeBNcclaZAOxpy4G4pj3YY8OU1bmtFLc1zfZzo5M1zCqIJ9LD5qFjEzsMQXq_ia_bhPPgEe70aj152QXyeoAz9-goU3wkuCm2E8NC7wPIdDYR95F8XqiJCjuuPdEjbisVwCeLTbmdhVRP0EqA08uujiLIvqhmflcatYgt6i43SlqNS2u8yw/s320/DSC05539.jpeg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Our view as the fog came in in the morning</td></tr></tbody></table><br /></p><p>Nevertheless, we enjoyed our stay there, especially Mr Fluffy who happily consumed yet another octopus dish at Taverna Lagoa. We would definitely return in better weather to make the most of the lagoon - and the restaurant. </p><p>Back to Alcácer Do Sal - what a stunning town.</p><p><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqlhTPs1Y753B1uiv6i5B1tnOlZAANh5nqfvYGO_tzZx1vQUBY23L7jwHh8WZg0jEttD9wOL6gXmxNmYvA4lTiXEFYdUrdcAaKW-25enpYfZeWzzT2ENsFEcxCVjzN1vkAazjcSrsfbNkqNNdKx4Cehi3Kzb8SxSI8cFBuJuwFlj0IyXcej3RT8nOOpgc/s2016/IMG_5711.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1512" data-original-width="2016" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqlhTPs1Y753B1uiv6i5B1tnOlZAANh5nqfvYGO_tzZx1vQUBY23L7jwHh8WZg0jEttD9wOL6gXmxNmYvA4lTiXEFYdUrdcAaKW-25enpYfZeWzzT2ENsFEcxCVjzN1vkAazjcSrsfbNkqNNdKx4Cehi3Kzb8SxSI8cFBuJuwFlj0IyXcej3RT8nOOpgc/s320/IMG_5711.jpeg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Rice fields at sunset</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOxOWteUqvjfUSZN3OhboiMjsyc60aicZqPU6pHNMkJpChglpH2yWn3xK-mKJDsjzF0H__YSr60uEMsK7XEo8lOH2o-l7M3lSLYLZvNh8jP4VwxqRudWG3AD1IWdzLPRpM0F5QY_tdkx3skoYCS3hSIExYc7jVa-GAtzjG_TeSp-67T0Af3Xp5BXx8kOI/s1125/IMG_5707.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="842" data-original-width="1125" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOxOWteUqvjfUSZN3OhboiMjsyc60aicZqPU6pHNMkJpChglpH2yWn3xK-mKJDsjzF0H__YSr60uEMsK7XEo8lOH2o-l7M3lSLYLZvNh8jP4VwxqRudWG3AD1IWdzLPRpM0F5QY_tdkx3skoYCS3hSIExYc7jVa-GAtzjG_TeSp-67T0Af3Xp5BXx8kOI/s320/IMG_5707.jpeg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Our view over the river</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKNOjALpt_AP_bqZqjBlaOkduMcqxwKCRtYXdSgZEazpmL0w_3Z6ZdysjnyGNvRcDUQ3VVLbCtzpocsR6Lw_xcFocvF4t9yl3ixTYDTPQlKrrUOfkZNX_ohpWDev3lZG__qJ1bkqCgA5CYjbYAV2b9kM1XaAQ2rlvgJVrpQjTfl7l2vcacTG3Cg8jqT3w/s1125/IMG_5704.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="842" data-original-width="1125" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKNOjALpt_AP_bqZqjBlaOkduMcqxwKCRtYXdSgZEazpmL0w_3Z6ZdysjnyGNvRcDUQ3VVLbCtzpocsR6Lw_xcFocvF4t9yl3ixTYDTPQlKrrUOfkZNX_ohpWDev3lZG__qJ1bkqCgA5CYjbYAV2b9kM1XaAQ2rlvgJVrpQjTfl7l2vcacTG3Cg8jqT3w/s320/IMG_5704.jpeg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Morning fog over the rice fields</td></tr></tbody></table><br /> White houses, roman ruins, rice fields, views, friendly people - and a bridge with lights that change colour at night. What more could one ask for. We had driven to one of the barragems (or dams) nearby but it was muddy and boring so we went back to town. A gorgeous walk up to the <a href="https://www.cm-alcacerdosal.pt/locais/cripta-arqueologica-do-castelo/?lang=en">Crypt Arqueologica</a> ensured we had fabulous views over the town and fields and we encountered a young woman on a swing singing softly to herself which added to the atmosphere.</p><p><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTF79tAFT3ykVTxFgbUZoRMBsoDjM_SGNZHKq3-IXvxYLeDdm15XLa5fw0XEv8TkYMlGtSsYRPLLz0F_PiYYszuYmtF7nUpIY1tAiNuzTwULI-eSEDApP1f77MOyWKEr-BnruqIx9WLtz9WgjHnPBAZRy-pjj2NqtJy4zUk3CoYWhqSAiCY_SHzsgjWyg/s1125/IMG_5706.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="842" data-original-width="1125" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTF79tAFT3ykVTxFgbUZoRMBsoDjM_SGNZHKq3-IXvxYLeDdm15XLa5fw0XEv8TkYMlGtSsYRPLLz0F_PiYYszuYmtF7nUpIY1tAiNuzTwULI-eSEDApP1f77MOyWKEr-BnruqIx9WLtz9WgjHnPBAZRy-pjj2NqtJy4zUk3CoYWhqSAiCY_SHzsgjWyg/s320/IMG_5706.jpeg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We parked by this bridge</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEje8JWzYtMcv4QGXwCe3ErUnkvya5RmiZeF4fYxD5bJxYmVmV0xb2GlhBqvI_UfqumnfAEj9AiuEyXTP-qzPvMlXrWL98ZLHHXGqZyJGQRl55LGjTACqo4TuEH58w9TXV6bAOSbqqXSS0tMB9VS4SjlLcrg7A3AkvP-Cr8cgvCio24d_qzLWIXMgmdCal8/s1125/IMG_5705.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="842" data-original-width="1125" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEje8JWzYtMcv4QGXwCe3ErUnkvya5RmiZeF4fYxD5bJxYmVmV0xb2GlhBqvI_UfqumnfAEj9AiuEyXTP-qzPvMlXrWL98ZLHHXGqZyJGQRl55LGjTACqo4TuEH58w9TXV6bAOSbqqXSS0tMB9VS4SjlLcrg7A3AkvP-Cr8cgvCio24d_qzLWIXMgmdCal8/s320/IMG_5705.jpeg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Night view</td></tr></tbody></table><br /></p><p>Unfortunately, later that evening we ate out at a cafe and thought it would be a good idea to try a local dish called Migas which is bread soaked in water, mixed with coriander and other stuff, then fried. I can’t say I’m a fan although Graham managed to swallow his half. The waiter kindly took it off the bill - I get the feeling my negative reaction wasn’t an uncommon one. The Alentejo wine, however, was very delicious and very acceptably priced at 13 euros.</p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dyagBldzOkoj2pTBFWARMmUhKoM4H5fADSmKdzv3_1LkL55QSmypnBABCcjm3ooxuNbj9OUrgiiGrdYxjj-Ww' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><br /><p></p><p>We’re back on the coast now at a very groovy surfing site beach called Sines São Torpes. There are no other British people around and we’ve only seen around three or four others in total on our trip so far. Most here are young surfers from Poland, The Netherlands, Belgium and Portugal. One small transit sized van is complete with five, yes five, long-haired dachshunds and we’ve seen two other vans with cats draping themselves leisurely over the dashboards. The parking area sits between a gigantic power station and the beach - very weird - but, as parking on beaches is banned in this area, this is our best ‘legal’ bet.</p><p><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXwxvHyzqps0kRwdlqfoWrgG5RWy8ovvgD8f5-gI7UxgRvhB8wi_O3a54QNR-DqARCGpe3d8AE4ST6Sw_cor4Nwx8CyTbsnNYzd4aowFEXM1J3kgt_6crNvCOGfv4BoRg0fH8KLKyJyeX2eD2dFEEdYeD0MaPiw7Wq2dnkH2YMWvoly73tpInlMmtn-OQ/s2016/IMG_5714.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1512" data-original-width="2016" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXwxvHyzqps0kRwdlqfoWrgG5RWy8ovvgD8f5-gI7UxgRvhB8wi_O3a54QNR-DqARCGpe3d8AE4ST6Sw_cor4Nwx8CyTbsnNYzd4aowFEXM1J3kgt_6crNvCOGfv4BoRg0fH8KLKyJyeX2eD2dFEEdYeD0MaPiw7Wq2dnkH2YMWvoly73tpInlMmtn-OQ/s320/IMG_5714.jpeg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">You’ve seen a beach so here’s our power station</td></tr></tbody></table></p><p>Tomorrow we head back to inland Portugal to catch up with a friend in Silves.</p>Gather No Mosshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04711767644434877711noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8268679968826447470.post-84400485685246295602024-01-17T19:13:00.002+00:002024-01-17T19:13:17.235+00:00Aveiro <p> It’s been an interesting couple of days of fog, rain storms, sun, more rain - and getting lost. We decided to go to Aveiro which is a city of culture and is famous for its canals and its art nouveau architecture. The roads getting in and out were challenging to say the least - road blocks, diversions, spaghetti junctions and an increasingly stressed Mr Fluffy. It made the trip rather tense. </p><p>We eventually found the correct place to park - a less than salubrious area under a flyover that was a 5 minute walk into the attractive town. There is an Art Nouveau Museum but we couldn’t go in because Hugo was not allowed. There was a lot to see just walking around town as we dodged the raindrops.</p><p><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMVHICDpGVOKKwWsyf0g295Txe3y9xyaRUrPAO9GTauX5ghq3cjvdZYgJNgE1BJPqoEAE88z5_-hwghLrXp_Ns55dSVQiZCyxmEiLdT8REm1tjGgd5SOQvTLc_rk6KQxLZxiGdHsr3Ed0x7mLdaz3mBSa1tnBF-ddrX7yGmkkv5XdCSSnVWS6ze6LusrM/s1125/IMG_5672.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="842" data-original-width="1125" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMVHICDpGVOKKwWsyf0g295Txe3y9xyaRUrPAO9GTauX5ghq3cjvdZYgJNgE1BJPqoEAE88z5_-hwghLrXp_Ns55dSVQiZCyxmEiLdT8REm1tjGgd5SOQvTLc_rk6KQxLZxiGdHsr3Ed0x7mLdaz3mBSa1tnBF-ddrX7yGmkkv5XdCSSnVWS6ze6LusrM/s320/IMG_5672.jpeg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Beautifully painted boats take tourists around the canals</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6utM3Q8L8mpMgb0Fcjv1Huf6ZjpT2ty5Mb2yYK7vKamqIGi8T2TeW4LE0HJ2lmA-HJj76SJBH8O4QqL18pQ-Z_xzWadIOiI9WfN9WThLY1sCWFd-5POth2o_KxaicBaA7KZwEQ9IzPDdd4aTXTeL4XoPw7JwX-utT51RgcguS72_07R82P3F6RVo59VM/s1125/IMG_5670.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="842" data-original-width="1125" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6utM3Q8L8mpMgb0Fcjv1Huf6ZjpT2ty5Mb2yYK7vKamqIGi8T2TeW4LE0HJ2lmA-HJj76SJBH8O4QqL18pQ-Z_xzWadIOiI9WfN9WThLY1sCWFd-5POth2o_KxaicBaA7KZwEQ9IzPDdd4aTXTeL4XoPw7JwX-utT51RgcguS72_07R82P3F6RVo59VM/s320/IMG_5670.jpeg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Clouties on the friendship bridges</td></tr></tbody></table><br /></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWt3VLOhB6okohecEdBj_hU5q8fxfZMJuYOqW8o9u-CuVnpAUJBeCDGH9_bpgCTUCoY813N8Uz7lNS6i0HtiIAXmkttbt0jvhkYe-R64qQYzzNKM5CJ0WaxypIoJyPSOeFbz9SshhJN63VuXppylklOG7qHVJ39EY9aehvvz0uEyAi2z3tiozjsjDsz-g/s1639/IMG_5676.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1639" data-original-width="1197" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWt3VLOhB6okohecEdBj_hU5q8fxfZMJuYOqW8o9u-CuVnpAUJBeCDGH9_bpgCTUCoY813N8Uz7lNS6i0HtiIAXmkttbt0jvhkYe-R64qQYzzNKM5CJ0WaxypIoJyPSOeFbz9SshhJN63VuXppylklOG7qHVJ39EY9aehvvz0uEyAi2z3tiozjsjDsz-g/s320/IMG_5676.jpeg" width="234" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">One of the many Art Nouveau buildings</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcKiEx4UiBFp0ERxYif_l_vZNw6Emd9-Lyv4ZLiC3bpwlWXdtKW0wN5yzXpOoA5pLLJtVHk0maWfERiYa4xN2sSNTHh_EyBNo5ekZwke1js_QzcagGRjTwBEDByct1fuxIMsk-bhqnLMGEp28Jn1uxhIyfS5iptjoHrWYP0k-PArwSYdkvRojaorS5WiQ/s2016/IMG_5675.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1512" data-original-width="2016" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcKiEx4UiBFp0ERxYif_l_vZNw6Emd9-Lyv4ZLiC3bpwlWXdtKW0wN5yzXpOoA5pLLJtVHk0maWfERiYa4xN2sSNTHh_EyBNo5ekZwke1js_QzcagGRjTwBEDByct1fuxIMsk-bhqnLMGEp28Jn1uxhIyfS5iptjoHrWYP0k-PArwSYdkvRojaorS5WiQ/s320/IMG_5675.jpeg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Almost like Venice</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUAskMi5nHAzyfb4i7hBUQorxMA6MpO5tNCmLk33H2CrHhYSDdG4geUI1xKMwokcfCrqtHtch_Al1tcA8aO2GQvNtlHVg9_4QGNcRMcmNrgl-1Cpu33OSu8gr_BzQ21qSm2sLh1cvYwc7c6NpAJs5ogLXXaMioITkPMSYE2-i3LPLp2H3fQjHItOs9Gy4/s2016/IMG_5674.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2016" data-original-width="1373" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUAskMi5nHAzyfb4i7hBUQorxMA6MpO5tNCmLk33H2CrHhYSDdG4geUI1xKMwokcfCrqtHtch_Al1tcA8aO2GQvNtlHVg9_4QGNcRMcmNrgl-1Cpu33OSu8gr_BzQ21qSm2sLh1cvYwc7c6NpAJs5ogLXXaMioITkPMSYE2-i3LPLp2H3fQjHItOs9Gy4/s320/IMG_5674.jpeg" width="218" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Love this building</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p>We had stunning weather this morning until the predicted storm arrived rather suddenly. It absolutely chucked it down so we took refuge in a restaurant and consumed vast quantities of codfish and noodles - a local specialty. After getting lost - again - on the way out of town we made it to another beach near Figuera do Foz.</p><p>Looks like another storm is coming in. But the wine is cheap - and surprisingly pleasant.</p><p><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheRQil5Pa7IQ-jOIxNw4d9t_2e7jEnT0V58SAMUgpJ_jCitHWKI8TuL5SP0Alyg1gDD3J0OgClYEx1wu8gSpUPIROMIWxkrxATanMfy2wx5WYUIGfN78NKc9dbPhhhoivgPb5Piif4Y17nlDBGhb7wcriOZG4iF1vx94t3EaKS3_yckzev59qu9jeSc24/s2016/IMG_5678.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2016" data-original-width="1512" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheRQil5Pa7IQ-jOIxNw4d9t_2e7jEnT0V58SAMUgpJ_jCitHWKI8TuL5SP0Alyg1gDD3J0OgClYEx1wu8gSpUPIROMIWxkrxATanMfy2wx5WYUIGfN78NKc9dbPhhhoivgPb5Piif4Y17nlDBGhb7wcriOZG4iF1vx94t3EaKS3_yckzev59qu9jeSc24/s320/IMG_5678.jpeg" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Two glasses wine 2euro 20cents </td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOxPUoSMBdOr9kTHzv2hfgfNxWptW2DnelGjMEhQZ5jNPniyUM6gRoejXbadupiAzLVFSYE0NcACISE4l2aqD9Ji9ZzUb93XZGWndruVDGO5z_Qyc14vi53RD5VVhcPnuQY9dPYO1YbLFPrHXbqhPqmtg6Zg_Kc4SUsX6unbunCxNXaRlDOnyz12Tw0mc/s2016/IMG_5677.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1512" data-original-width="2016" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOxPUoSMBdOr9kTHzv2hfgfNxWptW2DnelGjMEhQZ5jNPniyUM6gRoejXbadupiAzLVFSYE0NcACISE4l2aqD9Ji9ZzUb93XZGWndruVDGO5z_Qyc14vi53RD5VVhcPnuQY9dPYO1YbLFPrHXbqhPqmtg6Zg_Kc4SUsX6unbunCxNXaRlDOnyz12Tw0mc/s320/IMG_5677.jpeg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ominous clouds</td></tr></tbody></table><br /></p>Gather No Mosshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04711767644434877711noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8268679968826447470.post-45997560038645960592024-01-15T17:28:00.003+00:002024-01-15T17:28:46.539+00:00Perusing Portugal<p> Oh, the weather outside is frightful</p><p>But the van</p><p>Inside’s delightful … etc, etc<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKQqjyyl84jn3pubV124jP7-yYS3auFSqk5-WOcLO4FPjuFyh6aLJPgwiYN8yFoQFKG7jqxLyiyzNQICp2o6AYNDn014lzvCP6v74C4CEwtsaKkNc66GnwEXYQZbvvyNzK59fVZvLFI2DJ87WKmAP7FEM1uaiN89AS6gjV7s7jZzSyzJnlByucw6YhnbY/s893/IMG_5645.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="849" data-original-width="893" height="304" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKQqjyyl84jn3pubV124jP7-yYS3auFSqk5-WOcLO4FPjuFyh6aLJPgwiYN8yFoQFKG7jqxLyiyzNQICp2o6AYNDn014lzvCP6v74C4CEwtsaKkNc66GnwEXYQZbvvyNzK59fVZvLFI2DJ87WKmAP7FEM1uaiN89AS6gjV7s7jZzSyzJnlByucw6YhnbY/s320/IMG_5645.jpeg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Wish we had this decal on our van</td></tr></tbody></table><br /></p><p>We crossed into Portugal yesterday and haven’t seen a whole lot yet as the fog has been so thick it’s difficult to see anything.<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsw1KB4NBH1csB-5pfdC6t0kdWU6jBay8_v95pckIy77YWfTnq3bzuEatsZn2P7792H3yQan3dxpeZiU-K5jv9_hnmoCWuzv0EHYUWHsMbw4y_ICnyQxDanP_8tIq4EISeZarvw4K25xeQrh9OSsqxeKj6EPoK45inmXdEQM3YOhoPmwwkJBNp1pQI30U/s1500/IMG_5647.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1500" data-original-width="1124" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsw1KB4NBH1csB-5pfdC6t0kdWU6jBay8_v95pckIy77YWfTnq3bzuEatsZn2P7792H3yQan3dxpeZiU-K5jv9_hnmoCWuzv0EHYUWHsMbw4y_ICnyQxDanP_8tIq4EISeZarvw4K25xeQrh9OSsqxeKj6EPoK45inmXdEQM3YOhoPmwwkJBNp1pQI30U/s320/IMG_5647.jpeg" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Even Hugo’s bored</td></tr></tbody></table><br /></p><p>The morning was spent doing one of the most boring things on earth when you’re travelling in a van - the washing. A couple of hours dragged by outside a Carrefour Extra in Nigrán (a lovely town by the beach not far from the border)as I watched the laundry tumble around seemingly endlessly and I almost lost the will to live. Eventually it ended and now the van smells fresh and clean instead of fusty and damp. (The towels were beginning to grow a beard …) <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjthbgeL8mWUOkLcQdIcIUPeQAR9wnCUwTC6ejSnmfOYeCx7-NAY_D1oRxoROhUxVcvGy2DutQTSE0QhdRuQ-P0r_NrTC2yIeweY9gncIsTrWLlklsY97decHTgu6ZRVuw6oV-dvyKZwBUzzkI_R_HZhuHK2nz4GeQZM2FWn-CMUKWlikETYXN198rH4Iw/s2016/IMG_5663.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1512" data-original-width="2016" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjthbgeL8mWUOkLcQdIcIUPeQAR9wnCUwTC6ejSnmfOYeCx7-NAY_D1oRxoROhUxVcvGy2DutQTSE0QhdRuQ-P0r_NrTC2yIeweY9gncIsTrWLlklsY97decHTgu6ZRVuw6oV-dvyKZwBUzzkI_R_HZhuHK2nz4GeQZM2FWn-CMUKWlikETYXN198rH4Iw/s320/IMG_5663.jpeg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Welcome to Portugal</td></tr></tbody></table><br /></p><p>We headed off along the coast and as the ‘Portugal’ sign came into view the fog seemed to get thicker. Weirdly, the temperature has stayed pretty high - around 17 degrees C. A large storm is supposed to be coming in tomorrow so that should be interesting.<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEienucyg80JYZy5bPFr0es_DNQ6QmMAUtgx2o6w74OS9XBRKX0i9Sve1sGK44p4TXqwqCncd3t1Lbr3fp0L-vRH-phhNOeYN7VU5WvDaC6Hmw5vhs4kRuOEID2ekBKViiu23cNZmfuoPu0vMWQ_f6cvhyphenhypheniUpZuFk87sREkcHN1eIzeddCOWac_W3QEsb_k/s2016/IMG_5666.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2016" data-original-width="1512" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEienucyg80JYZy5bPFr0es_DNQ6QmMAUtgx2o6w74OS9XBRKX0i9Sve1sGK44p4TXqwqCncd3t1Lbr3fp0L-vRH-phhNOeYN7VU5WvDaC6Hmw5vhs4kRuOEID2ekBKViiu23cNZmfuoPu0vMWQ_f6cvhyphenhypheniUpZuFk87sREkcHN1eIzeddCOWac_W3QEsb_k/s320/IMG_5666.jpeg" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mannequin art </td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFPi5SM00-GCtquC7jbOODaP_JHRKd98ft0eWra55KHGD4VRPg3kRD9RfFO9hOdisPpc5TMBHLan_YBjcNpsnY33TBKkM4kq8reIP4KjymW0DN47cH4wrFkTbmN_FKfVbFrKrS1SyA4vTm2RWi60i_iYNDeQ1h83gfHHyqMgLYgpT9akfnGyjaT5oq60s/s2016/IMG_5665.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2016" data-original-width="1512" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFPi5SM00-GCtquC7jbOODaP_JHRKd98ft0eWra55KHGD4VRPg3kRD9RfFO9hOdisPpc5TMBHLan_YBjcNpsnY33TBKkM4kq8reIP4KjymW0DN47cH4wrFkTbmN_FKfVbFrKrS1SyA4vTm2RWi60i_iYNDeQ1h83gfHHyqMgLYgpT9akfnGyjaT5oq60s/s320/IMG_5665.jpeg" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Church in the clouds</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxWyGuuQntO7wxciJNDx3P4Aeu_HECuthAj2g-bbWAUZU-9jvR9XsZB3-3iSHQcYDAeU6JSvr4BfuzEHrLTikwCvpxr8LoLtBffgMERc2Wuijvzw29KxcVbJ2535QyFOQ76LI5wdBRsHprcpxR91O5QnklWk1M8OBF1ZnXGBnh4pVymjC-nsBHbdJNWfI/s2016/IMG_5664.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2016" data-original-width="1512" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxWyGuuQntO7wxciJNDx3P4Aeu_HECuthAj2g-bbWAUZU-9jvR9XsZB3-3iSHQcYDAeU6JSvr4BfuzEHrLTikwCvpxr8LoLtBffgMERc2Wuijvzw29KxcVbJ2535QyFOQ76LI5wdBRsHprcpxR91O5QnklWk1M8OBF1ZnXGBnh4pVymjC-nsBHbdJNWfI/s320/IMG_5664.jpeg" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Jesus</td></tr></tbody></table><br /></p><p>We stopped overnight in the village of Vila Nova de Cerveira, a place famous for art with a square full of restaurants, a church, and a medieval castle. Graham felt like a change from seafood and ordered the house specialty of what we thought was lamb and vegetables. Once it arrived I thought it would be a good idea to translate the dish as my Portuguese is a tad rubbish. We discovered it was actually kid goat and it was very good.<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuJWM0pdZ1gGsqZAHL5UbYU7zg1uKxJH8FjFX3KXXufhfaeWaGekYEE6Bvi-YBtcipoxl6l2EOKALChn934DA6kBZUEpkIbkIxFUo4SuJXPreiTUbMRWVXvL2N4zwm3rE-v2Uj1qZA7wx_XkOmrZmessYmvf70Rd1zpBfhw4r34-bnekzslw3AO4eFFE8/s1616/DSC05518.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1616" height="214" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuJWM0pdZ1gGsqZAHL5UbYU7zg1uKxJH8FjFX3KXXufhfaeWaGekYEE6Bvi-YBtcipoxl6l2EOKALChn934DA6kBZUEpkIbkIxFUo4SuJXPreiTUbMRWVXvL2N4zwm3rE-v2Uj1qZA7wx_XkOmrZmessYmvf70Rd1zpBfhw4r34-bnekzslw3AO4eFFE8/s320/DSC05518.jpeg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">More art by the river</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbvwxG5ex9PD74elKL8x9MGsHEqJLqbeyWubV24X3ZHhZPPp6OlgL3DXnYNHc3CSPvfuYX-eEQVwZHsHeUrokmAWpVDxlPcbTAatkjxEAu_HcTLknjXvTYCIk5nVb6wPVdDP12OoaOtM2zyxxO8LPXOGnw_SHGJIx4PuzGfZlYqNGMMUN28Mg8KJ5oHqQ/s1616/DSC05514.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1616" height="214" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbvwxG5ex9PD74elKL8x9MGsHEqJLqbeyWubV24X3ZHhZPPp6OlgL3DXnYNHc3CSPvfuYX-eEQVwZHsHeUrokmAWpVDxlPcbTAatkjxEAu_HcTLknjXvTYCIk5nVb6wPVdDP12OoaOtM2zyxxO8LPXOGnw_SHGJIx4PuzGfZlYqNGMMUN28Mg8KJ5oHqQ/s320/DSC05514.jpeg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Clouds we drove through today</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><br /></p><p>Hugo enjoyed the leftovers but we’ve decided he’ll never be allowed to eat it again as, later that evening, his buttocks emitted the worst goaty aromas ever smelt in the history of doggy farts. The van was thrust back into smelling atrocious for a short time until all windows were flung open in an attempt to breathe fresh air and flush out the offending smell. Thank heavens it’s warm.</p><p><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSF_PukEi-W3U0IZV5RYS4_WBIq3QP52HHGnNy9jkto7BO06pMqHXXxL2jku3RnQw835RJiLEdS60VW_nJTZKxIZodRZp25uqePqnC8ArLXL4IR-Zpuf0UTPjAwMWHoF2-3ehcLtyma2RKRYrbaxI484r-LuMxqgZm71QtbOBLjF9LbPR7aw3jbjQkV_I/s2016/IMG_5667.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1512" data-original-width="2016" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSF_PukEi-W3U0IZV5RYS4_WBIq3QP52HHGnNy9jkto7BO06pMqHXXxL2jku3RnQw835RJiLEdS60VW_nJTZKxIZodRZp25uqePqnC8ArLXL4IR-Zpuf0UTPjAwMWHoF2-3ehcLtyma2RKRYrbaxI484r-LuMxqgZm71QtbOBLjF9LbPR7aw3jbjQkV_I/s320/IMG_5667.jpeg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Not much of a beach view</td></tr></tbody></table><br /></p><p>We’re now parked behind a bus station in Esposende. We tried the beach down the road but couldn’t see anything so we’ve come into town in the hope of finding an open restaurant. No luck so far but I spent a good hour perusing the aisles of Aldi instead. Town is probably the best place to be in case we do get the predicted storm. Despite the weird weather we are enjoying Portugal so far - the sun should be returning at the end of the week.</p>Gather No Mosshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04711767644434877711noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8268679968826447470.post-23145123744490051422024-01-12T18:27:00.000+00:002024-01-12T18:27:04.029+00:00Hill Forts and ‘Homicide’ - (Well, Not Quite)<p> We thought we’d walked into the opening scene of ‘Death In Paradise’ this morning as we were investigating the Castro de Baroña Iron Age Hill fortification and village on a beach. Graham and Hugo were playing on the sand and a man clad head to toe in a black wetsuit emerged from the waves brandishing what we thought was a speargun. Being a total chicken I suggested we leave toute suite before we became some weird victims of an aquatic serial killer but he soon overtook us on the climb back to the road and we discovered he was actually a snorkelling fisherman who had caught a large octopus which was struggling away in his bucket.</p><p><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgq9bZE9cya2pFJM2u3ZkEjxqqC6BJMb7VcwKaWHXhZMnCY58P5Tv8FHvBLDKhcpJD8gNJU5x3MDT8XYVsBsDL7qDifOeXgOo0-oNnUcYAhTqxSOOGaZcDUJSoohraCo1r51lrXRa6sfOQuB9XShPngIQMIrxlmYerqJV9R995ufyI6jQa1_LER3QEYX8M/s1616/DSC05502.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1616" height="214" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgq9bZE9cya2pFJM2u3ZkEjxqqC6BJMb7VcwKaWHXhZMnCY58P5Tv8FHvBLDKhcpJD8gNJU5x3MDT8XYVsBsDL7qDifOeXgOo0-oNnUcYAhTqxSOOGaZcDUJSoohraCo1r51lrXRa6sfOQuB9XShPngIQMIrxlmYerqJV9R995ufyI6jQa1_LER3QEYX8M/s320/DSC05502.jpeg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">You can just make out aqua man on the right<br /><br /><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfWluILK-Pu-4PzH474yvl-Z_rtdm8yRoQ320SXn24HXerlxXAqQV5R3kF9VdEH1wHAgSxsq7NcT1W6Gn5qNBzFCWjnUOM5q_21Hmm07ecFsTqC_JT0rhL81IzMczRZzJ3RNXSHx5aAkli3I-EtKuNipd4t6yGqN5zBRbbI7dy6RjlfEldVwxd2zj3c5Y/s1616/DSC05475.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1616" height="214" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfWluILK-Pu-4PzH474yvl-Z_rtdm8yRoQ320SXn24HXerlxXAqQV5R3kF9VdEH1wHAgSxsq7NcT1W6Gn5qNBzFCWjnUOM5q_21Hmm07ecFsTqC_JT0rhL81IzMczRZzJ3RNXSHx5aAkli3I-EtKuNipd4t6yGqN5zBRbbI7dy6RjlfEldVwxd2zj3c5Y/s320/DSC05475.jpeg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Distant view of hill fort </td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dw_P9WKFvZAhsd-yxi-80mRhFkh5lK6wD3PAfen3uzHpjn9kA09T0Z800QkBNMrKS9-DtyEVdPchVmBGLBa4Q' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><br /><p><br /></p><p>The hill fort was an amazing find as we knew nothing about it before we saw a write up in our camper van app. What a location! It sits above a sandy beach atop a rocky cliff and is very well preserved. A Wikipedia entry can be found <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Castro_de_Baro%C3%B1a" target="_blank">Here</a> for more information on the site.</p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgo6UGCgIxbdYBrvhS8k79Y1pREgQOnbtzxCUesXPyKD5i5Nw6i1-_NHpRei-U8n_2_SBjqtZouTDE81PQeexiKe_R-qUhiMAslg4SUjnRd_V2jjcxSzGlfn4F1o7oe4pltbtEmVHq6sd6wzpPCG0WqYFgbeh3orqUtLyu6epMts2TWWzr7I0qrdzKBkq0/s1616/DSC05495.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1616" height="214" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgo6UGCgIxbdYBrvhS8k79Y1pREgQOnbtzxCUesXPyKD5i5Nw6i1-_NHpRei-U8n_2_SBjqtZouTDE81PQeexiKe_R-qUhiMAslg4SUjnRd_V2jjcxSzGlfn4F1o7oe4pltbtEmVHq6sd6wzpPCG0WqYFgbeh3orqUtLyu6epMts2TWWzr7I0qrdzKBkq0/s320/DSC05495.jpeg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">An Iron Age house</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYJH7dXT15M1NMYNv9M8Nng3WEQaIFMSok01cTQuBbxRp4tS-Tln8Bd88VCcMIKuWryMS9vemkWwkvrwkD4Cw9hkImO9vbwN7mwwOyblyyqW3RaERNx-MDWw0ziqWBsOdemQiQ2oyPtRiu08DBkv28SzyG7GDBFxj4wuAAyUF4pVbBGwrAqg6Q47qF4Ug/s1616/DSC05501.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1616" height="214" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYJH7dXT15M1NMYNv9M8Nng3WEQaIFMSok01cTQuBbxRp4tS-Tln8Bd88VCcMIKuWryMS9vemkWwkvrwkD4Cw9hkImO9vbwN7mwwOyblyyqW3RaERNx-MDWw0ziqWBsOdemQiQ2oyPtRiu08DBkv28SzyG7GDBFxj4wuAAyUF4pVbBGwrAqg6Q47qF4Ug/s320/DSC05501.jpeg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">On his throne</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmUfh47JR8eLLxKt10reobwGLmqoxB8pNQ8wvC9qEPamoQvTv_usE6Y60rcZx2hm5VZ44FvXn4Xr1RaqsXXr3njHk2tY3FXP2EEZpZS4UmNhTmXDxP3Gv2SauHoDCrJKZsCg6hgh01KB3O7aFVpqc-qeJVDn0aTyndzlS8U_tCcx9txaUooIPyIPzhLwI/s1125/IMG_5641.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="842" data-original-width="1125" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmUfh47JR8eLLxKt10reobwGLmqoxB8pNQ8wvC9qEPamoQvTv_usE6Y60rcZx2hm5VZ44FvXn4Xr1RaqsXXr3njHk2tY3FXP2EEZpZS4UmNhTmXDxP3Gv2SauHoDCrJKZsCg6hgh01KB3O7aFVpqc-qeJVDn0aTyndzlS8U_tCcx9txaUooIPyIPzhLwI/s320/IMG_5641.jpeg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Windy hair</td></tr></tbody></table><p>We’d spent the night in Noia, a place which started life as a fishing village and has since become a tourist town mainly for Spanish people. I must say we fell in love with the place, not least because we found a fabulous restaurant, La Ferrador, but the people there were so lovely and the church was very saint-statue heavy which we always find enjoyable. A statue of Mary sported a very fetching wig.</p><p><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOq3SWR5Ur26cA0S9fL4812z-Ep2Hs_qt7jnFplVkTLaIcybrpld8iRV1klPVxjDFDcBjnDgzJAUFZo547zMiv3Ce5IXAH4RxFWNo85qO4QH-xeb0zu_DafNDMmVNtaxJLRKRBFuPcHbQm43fDOG4aww-8yHCdtzTspYLahCFa3ZkqgrXQXMBhENApAew/s1500/IMG_5639.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1500" data-original-width="1125" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOq3SWR5Ur26cA0S9fL4812z-Ep2Hs_qt7jnFplVkTLaIcybrpld8iRV1klPVxjDFDcBjnDgzJAUFZo547zMiv3Ce5IXAH4RxFWNo85qO4QH-xeb0zu_DafNDMmVNtaxJLRKRBFuPcHbQm43fDOG4aww-8yHCdtzTspYLahCFa3ZkqgrXQXMBhENApAew/s320/IMG_5639.jpeg" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The fires of hell</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMPDf7GiBDxe_G3nGar2CjnVrqw9b5dM55qTRX4QhN4ulZfHv00Y9YUtf6eyo6BeN02267Xp9LXFkeI1tPVJVSMEz8joEH1oSArgKrUh4rTS7f1qWK4aY5NyLjTARgBce0kpSpq_Euo9J4gf0xjliuEPsD6jdN4UGYq9uHGIYVPKWL62zub6RxZuIXP-s/s1500/IMG_5638.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1500" data-original-width="1124" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMPDf7GiBDxe_G3nGar2CjnVrqw9b5dM55qTRX4QhN4ulZfHv00Y9YUtf6eyo6BeN02267Xp9LXFkeI1tPVJVSMEz8joEH1oSArgKrUh4rTS7f1qWK4aY5NyLjTARgBce0kpSpq_Euo9J4gf0xjliuEPsD6jdN4UGYq9uHGIYVPKWL62zub6RxZuIXP-s/s320/IMG_5638.jpeg" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Excellent wig<br /><br /></td></tr></tbody></table>After a lunch of pulpo, not caught by our scary beach guy, in Padrón (the home of Padrón peppers but we couldn’t have any because they’re out of season) we’ve moved on to yet another beach at Villanova de Arousa (unusual name) and will be in Portugal either tomorrow or the next day depending on the weather. </p>Gather No Mosshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04711767644434877711noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8268679968826447470.post-36561309051891409292024-01-11T18:29:00.002+00:002024-01-12T17:45:50.187+00:00Finisterra Twenty Years On<p> Yesterday Graham walked up to the headland at Finisterra while I waited in the van. The reason I didn’t go with him? It was absolutely chucking it down and I preferred to stay warm and dry with just the quickest foray to the Chinese bazaar to see if I could purchase anything totally useless but mildly fun. I didn’t.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0mX1L2kj2tqnQLAOGJHUj5U3teTidlmHdxj1_bwXXrs8SlPcN9Y9XSjiYT6i_OEsVbyOb1BUNJIEuN5HR5WbbGB8M5F7bWEjBggrd2RMNblQtJ4wyM9HUezA_mIB5pNkZ9LWU0QWC41k5gHtW0LJl3ZroRpynZCIOcs9xMH4rmD23V2IKkb4iHUMwucI/s2048/IMG_5582.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="946" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0mX1L2kj2tqnQLAOGJHUj5U3teTidlmHdxj1_bwXXrs8SlPcN9Y9XSjiYT6i_OEsVbyOb1BUNJIEuN5HR5WbbGB8M5F7bWEjBggrd2RMNblQtJ4wyM9HUezA_mIB5pNkZ9LWU0QWC41k5gHtW0LJl3ZroRpynZCIOcs9xMH4rmD23V2IKkb4iHUMwucI/s320/IMG_5582.jpeg" width="148" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Graham's walk in the rain</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRJgoyKBSCgr6T5dD2Kzd8se115BeMhRVH11dzqtl-TH-bH2dGygVGlXDtx_TI0ygvN1aJdWjosLWc-W1ViXjqv1Nkeh0T6dt0cfoknafEljmHgfxTMl9NZ_PKWRgcn0-o3_zaba18n-jFyev73N5Xy9dOWgIAm0CREnE3VUZKYNHKuUxJdhNLsTssFxM/s1616/DSC05469.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1616" height="214" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRJgoyKBSCgr6T5dD2Kzd8se115BeMhRVH11dzqtl-TH-bH2dGygVGlXDtx_TI0ygvN1aJdWjosLWc-W1ViXjqv1Nkeh0T6dt0cfoknafEljmHgfxTMl9NZ_PKWRgcn0-o3_zaba18n-jFyev73N5Xy9dOWgIAm0CREnE3VUZKYNHKuUxJdhNLsTssFxM/s320/DSC05469.jpeg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A sunnier day to be there with Hugo</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p></p><p>He returned in usual drowned rat style with a few pictures and lots of memories of when he walked there 20 years ago. It was a tradition for those who completed the pilgrimage to burn their shoes on the edge of the cliff. This has been stopped for hygiene reasons but there now sits a small statue of a boot at the very edge which was surrounded by several discarded (but unburnt) walking shoes.</p><p><br /></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3TXZGQfjVypxiHaSQSdCcTGxYQTkRgblWslCDWNwziDOl8oLaRd3P4NYcUtCWyfljGuusqZGs0GiTc3Erm1FIxD8v6Ke2_EFW-6d3z6BeRk_mUbtYr3FrT_HJ_l6v-38HrrZKbcH99eiGoCVGWlWbHTVcmDTTiIVvGxpCiZZx1X9n3PkxdUxIH4UW94k/s1616/DSC05467.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1616" height="214" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3TXZGQfjVypxiHaSQSdCcTGxYQTkRgblWslCDWNwziDOl8oLaRd3P4NYcUtCWyfljGuusqZGs0GiTc3Erm1FIxD8v6Ke2_EFW-6d3z6BeRk_mUbtYr3FrT_HJ_l6v-38HrrZKbcH99eiGoCVGWlWbHTVcmDTTiIVvGxpCiZZx1X9n3PkxdUxIH4UW94k/s320/DSC05467.jpeg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Happy and haggard</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjppcAfUZ8ArB0iU7GMG7aNrNFnQ5cSagsnpqoKxvi_fyuftFDAXzZQfy8JQQNnMBh9TWTPlcOWFoNoT2e-vclrcnenGoESvbPCG_2hC-0jNyZlVoYC03iLqyMyUCYPqnHTy_3zyBB71P-8PAd5khHx28WkPCWQGPp68FfEvmKLb_vFtxJsQRh065siMRE/s1616/DSC05466.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1616" height="214" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjppcAfUZ8ArB0iU7GMG7aNrNFnQ5cSagsnpqoKxvi_fyuftFDAXzZQfy8JQQNnMBh9TWTPlcOWFoNoT2e-vclrcnenGoESvbPCG_2hC-0jNyZlVoYC03iLqyMyUCYPqnHTy_3zyBB71P-8PAd5khHx28WkPCWQGPp68FfEvmKLb_vFtxJsQRh065siMRE/s320/DSC05466.jpeg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">There is a bird here - really</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p></p><p>We returned this morning by van and the weather was glorious. A few small birds bobbed around between the worn out shoes and a couple of peregrinos (pilgrims) who looked happy but haggard sat by the crucifix at the end of the walk.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7d8w5nlMHkNxiWqxAQvcvxU1riOjqEphFfHbPOrv-tguAynxPtsGw09cpoeAm-lBgSGvFsWeJjRuPodvECFtoPmjlfQ2BJZyqoHjfFESHzE_8n96PM8hQbCndwBRyB7K5ogwiPn8vn3EOPEA3FRmNdgJMEg4RL3q0smtHssPchDD2svn0LPIvF41vRPg/s1500/IMG_5580.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1500" data-original-width="1124" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7d8w5nlMHkNxiWqxAQvcvxU1riOjqEphFfHbPOrv-tguAynxPtsGw09cpoeAm-lBgSGvFsWeJjRuPodvECFtoPmjlfQ2BJZyqoHjfFESHzE_8n96PM8hQbCndwBRyB7K5ogwiPn8vn3EOPEA3FRmNdgJMEg4RL3q0smtHssPchDD2svn0LPIvF41vRPg/s320/IMG_5580.jpeg" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The soggy view</td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><p><br /></p>We’ve now moved on to Noia and consumed some rather gorgeous fish for lunch at Ferrador Restaurant. The van is, once again, parked by a body of water and we may have one more night in Spain before we head in to Portugal.<br /><p></p>Gather No Mosshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04711767644434877711noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8268679968826447470.post-35673712116326210912024-01-09T17:54:00.003+00:002024-01-09T17:54:46.152+00:00The End of the World - for the Romans Anyway<p> Twenty years ago Graham walked the Camino de Santiago de Compostela. From St Jean Pied de Port to Santiago is about 780 km but this was not far enough for him. He continued on to Finisterra (named by the Romans as they thought it was the very end of the earth) and then to the village of Muxia where a large Sanctuary to the Virgin of the Barca sits on the edge of the Atlantic Ocean. That’s around an extra 100 Kms.<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQvTmquZg4mYt5kfJE3qtNbK-LRXZvewC0_hFmyZo7rXau8vlNrEw7IcRP5EE_RKYAvVJvkOW_kWSGwQtSywj_gw0BBK_lS64I6X4g5xhy8g9sBb2bA9-cxdTXjvGlKnIQpIK4kVSF2woH6vUgqwmR3qYC3EGNtEQHAVvp1eY-LOmQZz4R2GFErGo8ZPw/s1616/DSC05452.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1616" height="214" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQvTmquZg4mYt5kfJE3qtNbK-LRXZvewC0_hFmyZo7rXau8vlNrEw7IcRP5EE_RKYAvVJvkOW_kWSGwQtSywj_gw0BBK_lS64I6X4g5xhy8g9sBb2bA9-cxdTXjvGlKnIQpIK4kVSF2woH6vUgqwmR3qYC3EGNtEQHAVvp1eY-LOmQZz4R2GFErGo8ZPw/s320/DSC05452.jpeg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Always likes to coordinate his clothes with his walking signs</td></tr></tbody></table><br /></p><p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAXDlk-8atV_G72QfN7ZZov3WYJcXMzWFnJaBh11GsiffdgBwGmCdk4qOtV6BqEV5TMotU8PYYTUppqBzfeQEjaOcabzQqzZamIyLj49bolHQsGSygSZFpNi6Zb0-dXngDj_sfTmb38F17du3eLAKW6iamwd087lFQvOwd7QaW9cRkHn-SF9daQtvYYiU/s1616/DSC05456.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1616" height="214" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAXDlk-8atV_G72QfN7ZZov3WYJcXMzWFnJaBh11GsiffdgBwGmCdk4qOtV6BqEV5TMotU8PYYTUppqBzfeQEjaOcabzQqzZamIyLj49bolHQsGSygSZFpNi6Zb0-dXngDj_sfTmb38F17du3eLAKW6iamwd087lFQvOwd7QaW9cRkHn-SF9daQtvYYiU/s320/DSC05456.jpeg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The colour of the water cannot be captured well enough in these photos</td></tr></tbody></table><br />Yesterday we drove to Muxia (pronounced Moo-SHE-a) to revisit where Graham had finally finished his walk. After an amazing lunch of arroz de mariscos (rice and seafood) at the restaurant Lonxa D’Alvaro (which we both agreed is probably the best meal we’ve had so far on this trip) we drove up to the sanctuary and spent the night overlooking the lighthouse and a very wild ocean. This coast is known as the ‘Costa del Morte’ or ‘Coast of Death’ as so many ships have gone down in this area. </p><p><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghXmom9zOargs29kbHLmxdPMxnzT1TFCak-nb3X5zm18qCjG1FtRBZ4IGwHnlhH8VNtypUuzAz66JalW5t_ffKf_df59u2fveeZRUT5YN7r3JndojHlXhzSt9AmEeKrsLouDlniGlKqh3FUT14VoXp8UsWNZyws7N3VXqsRFz-0ML0a6Cp98cdq0Lsux8/s1616/DSC05458.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1616" height="214" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghXmom9zOargs29kbHLmxdPMxnzT1TFCak-nb3X5zm18qCjG1FtRBZ4IGwHnlhH8VNtypUuzAz66JalW5t_ffKf_df59u2fveeZRUT5YN7r3JndojHlXhzSt9AmEeKrsLouDlniGlKqh3FUT14VoXp8UsWNZyws7N3VXqsRFz-0ML0a6Cp98cdq0Lsux8/s320/DSC05458.jpeg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Looking at the steeple and some art</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrNCXauEXhLFHeX1Y_sJfYP_N9XZhViLHL6meDC2KSVojgKb1yevM8JZfgp82AES24XsvJPqbaGp26SjKcFi9_Wp_5JskFL8crTM5QmGTbna63HUYhVXNKigZqod65ncpS8Ln6hk0u9xk9igoeG6Sx7D8zjc7Rf3OPWrF5weDvaRzhGEUPlEZb7HfmvXM/s1616/DSC05454.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1616" height="214" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrNCXauEXhLFHeX1Y_sJfYP_N9XZhViLHL6meDC2KSVojgKb1yevM8JZfgp82AES24XsvJPqbaGp26SjKcFi9_Wp_5JskFL8crTM5QmGTbna63HUYhVXNKigZqod65ncpS8Ln6hk0u9xk9igoeG6Sx7D8zjc7Rf3OPWrF5weDvaRzhGEUPlEZb7HfmvXM/s320/DSC05454.jpeg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Sanctuary of the Virgin</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiujWxiSx26AwulxTJsLDKrPlEik3-ZeiVVjejGIHvsT67ifeMzT9fR3aARBy0ISmOdHQX8A07STsAcDnfMs94kQJIs-cUmTOylzBRWm2H_TWr0yq4ve4GOm1mp-6iWbgFjBpvQRldufPZO0FdD8OcpF5cJLGZLlzO_Wm_NnQWRHIEUwWfW03ItJvTXE0M/s1616/DSC05435.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1616" height="214" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiujWxiSx26AwulxTJsLDKrPlEik3-ZeiVVjejGIHvsT67ifeMzT9fR3aARBy0ISmOdHQX8A07STsAcDnfMs94kQJIs-cUmTOylzBRWm2H_TWr0yq4ve4GOm1mp-6iWbgFjBpvQRldufPZO0FdD8OcpF5cJLGZLlzO_Wm_NnQWRHIEUwWfW03ItJvTXE0M/s320/DSC05435.jpeg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cadris stone for healing the back</td></tr></tbody></table><br /></p><p>Local folklore states that the Virgin Mary sailed to this area in a stone boat to hang out with St James and parts of the boat are littered in front of the church. If one walks under the stone sail, known as the cadris stone, nine times then your back pain will be healed. I had a go as did Graham so we shall wait and see if it works.<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEmTEeS5b0MJwEUcvyq6mDo0dkFtuTDG4YNHQpirvyCqDbWNNkTbNfiZnOB2lS7JR8C8b8-CL3ln8WtyYM8br4n1cYGeYUihorT3Lwy8QjFG3Ya2F3TS6tf1Y8QKIVNUiyQyTqjhIKwd0vqZjA1lmIyobyRc11zBRrYRT1SNus4ESHVTqrIjODQGq7OgQ/s1616/DSC05418.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1616" height="214" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEmTEeS5b0MJwEUcvyq6mDo0dkFtuTDG4YNHQpirvyCqDbWNNkTbNfiZnOB2lS7JR8C8b8-CL3ln8WtyYM8br4n1cYGeYUihorT3Lwy8QjFG3Ya2F3TS6tf1Y8QKIVNUiyQyTqjhIKwd0vqZjA1lmIyobyRc11zBRrYRT1SNus4ESHVTqrIjODQGq7OgQ/s320/DSC05418.jpeg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The morning by lighthouse</td></tr></tbody></table><br />We’re now in Finisterra but it has been very wet today so I’ll take some photos tomorrow.<br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxYp1piNDvx5YzkTpoXTHcaOQ-geI6erOZO7K70hMXttck31Yx7oungCq7wEGZQ-HK6hfWcrHtTTFDHBpNHlD_9LGzRE2p1oN7mXtr0utUFW-3TRjDFarnwdJBesdYgun7zlb-LHYN6FPOqsjWgK7dqJhXtu7D-_j2jUf6yu_Bjo0ebfqQzbWYwRgADqU/s1616/DSC05411.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1616" height="214" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxYp1piNDvx5YzkTpoXTHcaOQ-geI6erOZO7K70hMXttck31Yx7oungCq7wEGZQ-HK6hfWcrHtTTFDHBpNHlD_9LGzRE2p1oN7mXtr0utUFW-3TRjDFarnwdJBesdYgun7zlb-LHYN6FPOqsjWgK7dqJhXtu7D-_j2jUf6yu_Bjo0ebfqQzbWYwRgADqU/s320/DSC05411.jpeg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Stunning sky at Muxia<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /></p>Gather No Mosshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04711767644434877711noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8268679968826447470.post-47346606501852198212024-01-07T15:52:00.002+00:002024-01-07T15:52:10.678+00:00Disco Fever?<p> The colours of our last two days have been green, blue, and white. Green for the endless eucalypt forests that line the roads, blue for the ‘azul’ skies and the sea, and white for the mist over the water that we woke up to at last night’s location, Obrigueira. It is a town that hosts a world/folk music festival each year and sports a very attractive statue of a Galician piper in the town square carpark.</p><p><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEsWjNGuikRvsoJFoors5yaKcV3mbAhX228FarDuO60XwMeqUEBmbSIsutdJZlVQwVft3ELg_Sdtguk-v_R4ecY81NFuAPx0F2QXN1DTKsxP4rLzrFQScx_9g4Vin28hQ2uHuwZ-0mh9ZmcMnQU7qsQ6NV81xzCp3TJU7sZrqZcfCcnjWH0jRB4ERtQqY/s2048/IMG_5499.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="998" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEsWjNGuikRvsoJFoors5yaKcV3mbAhX228FarDuO60XwMeqUEBmbSIsutdJZlVQwVft3ELg_Sdtguk-v_R4ecY81NFuAPx0F2QXN1DTKsxP4rLzrFQScx_9g4Vin28hQ2uHuwZ-0mh9ZmcMnQU7qsQ6NV81xzCp3TJU7sZrqZcfCcnjWH0jRB4ERtQqY/s320/IMG_5499.jpeg" width="156" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">So far</td></tr></tbody></table><br /></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjc-UtHxPR7kaHM3n9TcCnX27yMUu_dcBuA1JBmn8JxAQrcT4YkWaRkIzxNUTYB8CIOkR1ECFC-QIjiLscWxxcXJCwcR9dWPrEAqG9Kg-lYrCqMlfF1ECBYKVXaBIbah2kDXhuv5hKS7zrDX0DuwThoKYUAxlQkMzf7rFKwmx2P82XK00pZVPcdehNE8EA/s1500/IMG_5503.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1500" data-original-width="1124" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjc-UtHxPR7kaHM3n9TcCnX27yMUu_dcBuA1JBmn8JxAQrcT4YkWaRkIzxNUTYB8CIOkR1ECFC-QIjiLscWxxcXJCwcR9dWPrEAqG9Kg-lYrCqMlfF1ECBYKVXaBIbah2kDXhuv5hKS7zrDX0DuwThoKYUAxlQkMzf7rFKwmx2P82XK00pZVPcdehNE8EA/s320/IMG_5503.jpeg" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Piper by sea</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p>Obrigueira seemed like such a quiet, civilised town. Mountains reflected in the sea, lone seabirds wading along the waterfront, children clutching their lollipop gifts from the three kings on this their epiphany festival. However - at midnight last night I was wishing I had gone to bed in a lime Green Lycra body-hugging disco frock as my horizontal dance steps to the booming music that went on until 230am may have felt more authentic. If only we had had some soothing folk music instead of Elton John’s latest dance mix (which I now have as an ear worm, by the way) and other full on dance anthems.</p><p><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyhzUQFOaIdgWAZmwpk741juK7_KZUMSDYZRdRaDUuhOgr3fqX8jDzcS1AkylxWFtrkgIG_dnUUmXQ_jcxC19Ld5ax3xuFns3AmGNPV_T1zAJbSoSiJgj5JPA5mq_pwCfO4JGKAkzuuPTNaB2QMZXI62tpf99SRwtDehsm4PsMBS4GckYgOGpuB8MGpd4/s1616/DSC05387.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1616" height="214" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyhzUQFOaIdgWAZmwpk741juK7_KZUMSDYZRdRaDUuhOgr3fqX8jDzcS1AkylxWFtrkgIG_dnUUmXQ_jcxC19Ld5ax3xuFns3AmGNPV_T1zAJbSoSiJgj5JPA5mq_pwCfO4JGKAkzuuPTNaB2QMZXI62tpf99SRwtDehsm4PsMBS4GckYgOGpuB8MGpd4/s320/DSC05387.jpeg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A peaceful scene</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXYCEyJp0cHB9Jnp9dNb18mC32my36aGi7_GALHvlq2FfX9uArOW75qw7h0mgyvpP4KXku82RVCOsT8TvCfSFY74L0o_DNvjv8Fxpew5GkwVet_yq32wU-dNNu6WlCFb3eIvkFZxxe2atshnd_J2_yZlMDykl9XRhS5zlhs0kLGCSYDZ8noDNeXHyodTU/s1616/DSC05384.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1616" height="214" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXYCEyJp0cHB9Jnp9dNb18mC32my36aGi7_GALHvlq2FfX9uArOW75qw7h0mgyvpP4KXku82RVCOsT8TvCfSFY74L0o_DNvjv8Fxpew5GkwVet_yq32wU-dNNu6WlCFb3eIvkFZxxe2atshnd_J2_yZlMDykl9XRhS5zlhs0kLGCSYDZ8noDNeXHyodTU/s320/DSC05384.jpeg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td></tr></tbody></table><br /></p><p>This morning we couldn’t work out if it was a fiesta from the town centre or just a chap in a car with an extremely healthy sound system but we made it through the night and woke to a deceptively peaceful scene as though nothing had gone on. Maybe we’d been dreaming.</p><p><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzMSz_klkbMgdNQAAgevOYztHEUCPJ6my6F5_swF09S5Ojhs3CruyuXrOcvJSChg91pCjV8tuutNaWMuUXff0qMTg8KHmzd_oWrUhERZktFh3uPvj99KfYSqnM7FNwNKlkeK3s7JaOFTOVdFtRzkAw0qow5JNADOcJwbTgkMyuOeC44hux6xtTFQj-TB8/s1125/IMG_5520.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="809" data-original-width="1125" height="230" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzMSz_klkbMgdNQAAgevOYztHEUCPJ6my6F5_swF09S5Ojhs3CruyuXrOcvJSChg91pCjV8tuutNaWMuUXff0qMTg8KHmzd_oWrUhERZktFh3uPvj99KfYSqnM7FNwNKlkeK3s7JaOFTOVdFtRzkAw0qow5JNADOcJwbTgkMyuOeC44hux6xtTFQj-TB8/s320/IMG_5520.jpeg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Morning view</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0VUSjMuBxuMpkmAR3N49EQAo5wLgxPLlSdIKSRzzvPRYfB8vfBRKMM2zGLIQpSdRmUoLHgrxEEHgc5RjBAXMNVG4YRVS8fJ_LEhy3DwkP_-pE4xptQyMCFGc1qaDPptCuIq301CS5FZMo-7rIDA041TKgUH5wIlUmqzCXpNFCo0eVc5ZuHGPy_s9PvV8/s1500/IMG_5519.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1500" data-original-width="1124" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0VUSjMuBxuMpkmAR3N49EQAo5wLgxPLlSdIKSRzzvPRYfB8vfBRKMM2zGLIQpSdRmUoLHgrxEEHgc5RjBAXMNVG4YRVS8fJ_LEhy3DwkP_-pE4xptQyMCFGc1qaDPptCuIq301CS5FZMo-7rIDA041TKgUH5wIlUmqzCXpNFCo0eVc5ZuHGPy_s9PvV8/s320/IMG_5519.jpeg" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">All by myself<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /></td></tr></tbody></table>By the way, we did discover the world’s most - different - Spar shop as we walked around town.</p><p><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQMqw9SYptMyVWo5XIOqQ0CpvxCWb7T5U6W_3BY49Zl3lFsz9DBhMnfzFc66UbswqJEezP6Ix_jor-2M5O6SNSQZll0tD4MrLIBcyJFm15NOQkDmKeQj_F_hJtBMGqo3VsudE9KAcr3167x57nm6arFX4859ULE8WzLZw7HKoXNXyEyx-o6tJ-Lf-J5vg/s1616/DSC05394.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1616" height="214" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQMqw9SYptMyVWo5XIOqQ0CpvxCWb7T5U6W_3BY49Zl3lFsz9DBhMnfzFc66UbswqJEezP6Ix_jor-2M5O6SNSQZll0tD4MrLIBcyJFm15NOQkDmKeQj_F_hJtBMGqo3VsudE9KAcr3167x57nm6arFX4859ULE8WzLZw7HKoXNXyEyx-o6tJ-Lf-J5vg/s320/DSC05394.jpeg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Unlike any other Spar shop I’ve seen</td></tr></tbody></table><br /></p><p>As we drove out of the town the mist cleared and we had bright blue skies all the way to Betanzos where we are currently parked. We had great hopes for a Sunday lunch of tapas and perhaps Mr Fluffy’s favourite, pulpo, but it was not to be. To use a cliche, ‘cafes, cafes everywhere and not a bite to eat’. The Epiphany holiday weekend strikes again. There were dozens of cafes in the square but,’Lo Siento’, they weren’t serving food today. Of course, after going back to the van for some cheese and biscuits, we returned to the town centre for a glass of wine in the sun to find many cafes in the back streets serving raciones and tapas. Sigh. We did find many Camino signs so Graham was happy as it’s 20 years this year since he walked the Camino de Santiago and we’ll be heading to Muxia tomorrow, the place where he actually finished the pilgrimage walk.</p><p> <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTg52itkUMjlCjGlyipxyBuKiuESxTpxHu0PqQAtQuNSiEcLDGRrdog3mj2yBG__Usk_dlHRE9OESU2GqD1jrcwH8jyTsFkQupJUqc0XQn8SIQzrn2obT6OonmXNYQU40N3ldokZcdEZTIJ8yfx4k3mAfqbX0_HFiS4ChtAMZ69VVYrO380hyuFS277Sg/s1616/DSC05407.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1616" height="214" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTg52itkUMjlCjGlyipxyBuKiuESxTpxHu0PqQAtQuNSiEcLDGRrdog3mj2yBG__Usk_dlHRE9OESU2GqD1jrcwH8jyTsFkQupJUqc0XQn8SIQzrn2obT6OonmXNYQU40N3ldokZcdEZTIJ8yfx4k3mAfqbX0_HFiS4ChtAMZ69VVYrO380hyuFS277Sg/s320/DSC05407.jpeg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Parked by the river</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCtzgCMz0MkUaiYN1wc-LoTJBvXsuQs1Qs1_InulGJEt0UKOs8Fuv2pmkOHoARDSkaazMndw1T6WHKut2bbTbmBWOewO8wwgv3kXgx8AhMUWx5s-ABpuNDYVm6yabkYhmPT4t3g5h6kxMORpfERyNSmWPOD97WHMFMZhTFs3cJg2B9wCohH63hsUJm0KA/s1616/DSC05406.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1616" height="214" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCtzgCMz0MkUaiYN1wc-LoTJBvXsuQs1Qs1_InulGJEt0UKOs8Fuv2pmkOHoARDSkaazMndw1T6WHKut2bbTbmBWOewO8wwgv3kXgx8AhMUWx5s-ABpuNDYVm6yabkYhmPT4t3g5h6kxMORpfERyNSmWPOD97WHMFMZhTFs3cJg2B9wCohH63hsUJm0KA/s320/DSC05406.jpeg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Love laundry on a balcony</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBVZOWM5fBPYdVhwDpsCkrtZi6xLMYhDmovKOkR4JWYkvSJfNfu9vkWSckilAQGR_9_s7rFAmgCtm3FlHvOZwOqvwzIHVd7qL7NQwPNOX5P-dUZo9LrDurabiZzJphcIFMcnDQcSiPpJsBmppqMG0gpolJLXaHnxJlpwBAm1QQUnrfGcHraHu0EJxUxDo/s1010/DSC05399.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1010" data-original-width="779" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBVZOWM5fBPYdVhwDpsCkrtZi6xLMYhDmovKOkR4JWYkvSJfNfu9vkWSckilAQGR_9_s7rFAmgCtm3FlHvOZwOqvwzIHVd7qL7NQwPNOX5P-dUZo9LrDurabiZzJphcIFMcnDQcSiPpJsBmppqMG0gpolJLXaHnxJlpwBAm1QQUnrfGcHraHu0EJxUxDo/s320/DSC05399.jpeg" width="247" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">On the Camino Inglese</td></tr></tbody></table><br /></p><p>It seems unlikely that we’ll go hungry, however. Due to my poor translation skills we managed to order several thousand churros instead of the two we required and we’ve (by ‘we’ I mean Graham) have been working our way through them ever since.</p><p><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYt9HU3G_uZ95pmyIdM39yV-CFmToJ3tK1xpphGxByvmZZQAlBypTzu167RuWLg6gm0gtqicHZvY8l9Es9S8JSeGGttTg1wFWKDL-vGW40lqDczZBiRcbUREQdWpw4oI65igL1nWIsZ-fZVa-44-SGCJirPSOHZ5_fNlu-ap2cyHT36v7QRN_0VeNW3dg/s1500/IMG_5523.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1500" data-original-width="1124" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYt9HU3G_uZ95pmyIdM39yV-CFmToJ3tK1xpphGxByvmZZQAlBypTzu167RuWLg6gm0gtqicHZvY8l9Es9S8JSeGGttTg1wFWKDL-vGW40lqDczZBiRcbUREQdWpw4oI65igL1nWIsZ-fZVa-44-SGCJirPSOHZ5_fNlu-ap2cyHT36v7QRN_0VeNW3dg/s320/IMG_5523.jpeg" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Yes, I did have one too</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisGYA1E6ig0fZ_696ub1R4ZaQ38hL8AHzMWXGvZ3xRZlvcRmZKVzuu_OiN9i7_-BY5ZmGcC7sFoCs_MfpjEin9yCHLEinLV6I8NTORHTsfOfxh6q_lylheMgHZsUZ86GwKhVoRVwnQRT3iYDlYIab1xKWbOPqhzPIDJ_twV14weqn0Tta34GLVzxfZlno/s2016/IMG_5521.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1512" data-original-width="2016" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisGYA1E6ig0fZ_696ub1R4ZaQ38hL8AHzMWXGvZ3xRZlvcRmZKVzuu_OiN9i7_-BY5ZmGcC7sFoCs_MfpjEin9yCHLEinLV6I8NTORHTsfOfxh6q_lylheMgHZsUZ86GwKhVoRVwnQRT3iYDlYIab1xKWbOPqhzPIDJ_twV14weqn0Tta34GLVzxfZlno/s320/IMG_5521.jpeg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A plethora of churros<br /></td></tr></tbody></table></p>Gather No Mosshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04711767644434877711noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8268679968826447470.post-8318264454488921542024-01-05T16:51:00.004+00:002024-01-07T15:12:43.416+00:00Wet, Wet, Wet<p> Today we’ve run the gamut of the weather from wet to wetter. I can almost hear my British friends playing their tiny violins as, I believe, the UK has been in a pretty bad state of flooding since we’ve been away. We’ve been lucky so far. The colour of our drive to our current location at San Cibrao in Galicia was grey with just a hint of more grey. There was rain, hail, then more rain.</p><p>Our location is lovely - by yet another beach.</p><p><br /></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvGontrTDJLxFOu2cke5cF7hyphenhyphenZPHCq17yLqr7Pq-KCxU28gxBiVopxaIPQicCb35wccqEJ2zB10RZKI3l4jukaAUzgHcnbf1cwIsqiig2yq36olkrR1WWj8wyLapDek0LY7h0qedDine7RGqkY1M5MP1y1dEsL3ZJbK8ppIB1WvvfgWCH3Edq0kzcQPe4/s2016/IMG_5465.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1512" data-original-width="2016" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvGontrTDJLxFOu2cke5cF7hyphenhyphenZPHCq17yLqr7Pq-KCxU28gxBiVopxaIPQicCb35wccqEJ2zB10RZKI3l4jukaAUzgHcnbf1cwIsqiig2yq36olkrR1WWj8wyLapDek0LY7h0qedDine7RGqkY1M5MP1y1dEsL3ZJbK8ppIB1WvvfgWCH3Edq0kzcQPe4/s320/IMG_5465.jpeg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Beach view from the window on arrival</td></tr></tbody></table><br />We’ve decided the theme for our trip is the coastal route of the Camino de Santiago which we seem to have been following for some time. We haven’t seen many pilgrims so far but that may just be the time of year. It would be a stunning walk and Mr Fluffy is being sorely tempted. He’s just returned from getting drenched on a walk up to the light house which, hopefully, might put him off.<p></p><p><br /></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaPBjtd2YR3a2SN0ynZ79bOAyCVUr2HW_KBqC0cfUMQNn-r_5_zvncCBF2P9BIvVZeNRaHQBOh5nJju39ELdhWFvyccjZuVEpyCAXnGnfFFY3vbgsiY6impR-Vl8PMes44XaWDhmd_bh0X59cwrc6hnqp1XPZ9EtLrmNtNObn7gxIJoTvTuPZ6SA745EI/s2016/IMG_5464.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2016" data-original-width="1512" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaPBjtd2YR3a2SN0ynZ79bOAyCVUr2HW_KBqC0cfUMQNn-r_5_zvncCBF2P9BIvVZeNRaHQBOh5nJju39ELdhWFvyccjZuVEpyCAXnGnfFFY3vbgsiY6impR-Vl8PMes44XaWDhmd_bh0X59cwrc6hnqp1XPZ9EtLrmNtNObn7gxIJoTvTuPZ6SA745EI/s320/IMG_5464.jpeg" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mr Soggy returns</td></tr></tbody></table><br /> I wisely stayed in the van.<p></p><p> But he did get some good shots.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxtKbiskTFAj6P58BoT-s165viRRq9Bhxr9Pgbs_npPoBKA127-dpdPU6RPwbtQ65ruAZ7NI-CX8rKTsTL7dPKo2YIsKfELd2_DucXXQITCnVx5F3m-OmeGw6ZHRKXRes7tbr5aNxIBasCKmCeFeXrrvU6FJW34ra70pxLLQ2dFIAY99qafqLrXB1M9rw/s1125/IMG_5466.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="842" data-original-width="1125" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxtKbiskTFAj6P58BoT-s165viRRq9Bhxr9Pgbs_npPoBKA127-dpdPU6RPwbtQ65ruAZ7NI-CX8rKTsTL7dPKo2YIsKfELd2_DucXXQITCnVx5F3m-OmeGw6ZHRKXRes7tbr5aNxIBasCKmCeFeXrrvU6FJW34ra70pxLLQ2dFIAY99qafqLrXB1M9rw/s320/IMG_5466.jpeg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">All alone</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnYpjmtdk-IRUKeJ-8CZGXBNqlbhFs4KnqQ-6JaYPvBRzfXvEtyilCZ_h4uSIz8n8uG5p5BnvhubBmPvdwR5mxLFYBi8m3me2anHGSoC6EAdIZm4bq9_Ei6gmHdlFu-kNUOLWPygW0QQDAwk_iksAaeuEeEW1AIgENTyD0nUfMj2wIsTZ0FURbrfXTMKY/s1125/IMG_5468.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="842" data-original-width="1125" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnYpjmtdk-IRUKeJ-8CZGXBNqlbhFs4KnqQ-6JaYPvBRzfXvEtyilCZ_h4uSIz8n8uG5p5BnvhubBmPvdwR5mxLFYBi8m3me2anHGSoC6EAdIZm4bq9_Ei6gmHdlFu-kNUOLWPygW0QQDAwk_iksAaeuEeEW1AIgENTyD0nUfMj2wIsTZ0FURbrfXTMKY/s320/IMG_5468.jpeg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Not sure what this is a ruin of…</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVEsYmK863VdqE76WSbWRg8jRedpFAZZaXICoMGJE3WZoEe5PCCaS4ydB2y4QekWqz9uYIDDqg6UbrGpD2yr3dKjJXFk-zUmxZeU-UG9KlWHp5qoSRy14m7vQr-p3dQ02ZCnDanZJQ5nUx2Sct0F0k-2YnYBzRZnvqgrYn-ssQLB-xRkfd2sfQxns4DSY/s1500/IMG_5469.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1500" data-original-width="1125" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVEsYmK863VdqE76WSbWRg8jRedpFAZZaXICoMGJE3WZoEe5PCCaS4ydB2y4QekWqz9uYIDDqg6UbrGpD2yr3dKjJXFk-zUmxZeU-UG9KlWHp5qoSRy14m7vQr-p3dQ02ZCnDanZJQ5nUx2Sct0F0k-2YnYBzRZnvqgrYn-ssQLB-xRkfd2sfQxns4DSY/s320/IMG_5469.jpeg" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lighthouse reached and a hint of blue sky</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p>Hoping for more blue skies tomorrow as we work our way along the Galician coast.</p><p><br /></p>Gather No Mosshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04711767644434877711noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8268679968826447470.post-33475499103564048332024-01-04T18:16:00.004+00:002024-01-04T18:16:59.126+00:00Lake to Sea<p> Yesterday - a day of lake, ribs, and barking dogs. Overo has a perfectly functional Aire near a lake that’s surrounded by eucalypts. I was reminded of Australia with every nasal inspiration (aka sniff). The lake was large and sported the occasional canoeist but was strangely un photogenic - hence my lack of photos. And, by the way, if you like going to sleep to the constant sound of large dogs barking, then Overo is the place for you.</p><p><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUOheyfVyEGjbl2UrdojbuIxqCowpUfcDNKVNWaSQ_vXRBQpILk0Aqch6hroSw_0WT3mr-uTku5XjljgoioZj9KFvP6v1J93NhPM8eFpoGC45C40H1-iYkDEbZLpZuWvj1p63O9DGmxu1jk4_GzVoFHCpb6dvEcZ4ervsNZ5DjLed_EZ-PwbNzfAkWdqo/s2016/IMG_5457.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2016" data-original-width="1512" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUOheyfVyEGjbl2UrdojbuIxqCowpUfcDNKVNWaSQ_vXRBQpILk0Aqch6hroSw_0WT3mr-uTku5XjljgoioZj9KFvP6v1J93NhPM8eFpoGC45C40H1-iYkDEbZLpZuWvj1p63O9DGmxu1jk4_GzVoFHCpb6dvEcZ4ervsNZ5DjLed_EZ-PwbNzfAkWdqo/s320/IMG_5457.jpeg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1mwNMMH3pJb_P3ucyaHE0NHXX8v-EtX-_Q7mf-r-4N115sGa2uSQ_IbzF_cWouQzM3pmNsS2xLhEAgKBiNvlbvxWS59_DswMQLl80ZjEB9n0-uRpso78qKgkVEPbKslT0CuyMTOdjjp6FV1sM_-cDMv6zhhSPzl9SXxYxPDBf8JtuUGb7taQAZYXRrv4/s2016/IMG_5458.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1512" data-original-width="2016" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1mwNMMH3pJb_P3ucyaHE0NHXX8v-EtX-_Q7mf-r-4N115sGa2uSQ_IbzF_cWouQzM3pmNsS2xLhEAgKBiNvlbvxWS59_DswMQLl80ZjEB9n0-uRpso78qKgkVEPbKslT0CuyMTOdjjp6FV1sM_-cDMv6zhhSPzl9SXxYxPDBf8JtuUGb7taQAZYXRrv4/s320/IMG_5458.jpeg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Aromatic eucalypts and outrageous ribs<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /></td></tr></tbody></table>What was photogenic was the size of the ribs Graham ordered for his lunch. I’ve never seen anything so huge. Today’s lunch of pimientos del padron , in the much more attractive town of Cudillero, was more to my taste. We’re parked in the harbour of this fishing village surrounded by boats and lobster pots. The houses are built high up into the hills that surrounds the town - the tourist info states that the houses hang from the clouds - very poetic. <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjI9M-Nk9XCSWKQWcJaHZJs66tj1vLQS0r9DEjyRhZc0-nvdrkj8GvDGygMQpSLh3Q01qhotPhJw2EQFz8xRXwrMj61lCOPBs-YfYTEv9e8MPVf9KGnohpXAENJB1GWbVzez8clWJMGvznZgXtDzWU1qlX_QQGXt8x0Ujyo4LbN5y43wiw-Ycj2quIKzXc/s1500/IMG_5455.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1500" data-original-width="1124" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjI9M-Nk9XCSWKQWcJaHZJs66tj1vLQS0r9DEjyRhZc0-nvdrkj8GvDGygMQpSLh3Q01qhotPhJw2EQFz8xRXwrMj61lCOPBs-YfYTEv9e8MPVf9KGnohpXAENJB1GWbVzez8clWJMGvznZgXtDzWU1qlX_QQGXt8x0Ujyo4LbN5y43wiw-Ycj2quIKzXc/s320/IMG_5455.jpeg" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Close to the edge</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBaWoSMSSQ4YN5F8UflvciQCVN2HulwsdSIwzEdx2mnyqCwPLaLCEkEKyfTaqlZmKqn5t6s3K3RhPPi_jT7ENQJERCA_6gYdGYKQnPbKNnOeKdONyNyiK9DZCUWw9fGpyoFftH77xW6kDYjkM_hTKYbHMD7iilGDiCdJxUFE8Etosh7z7NpDndlsGUUJQ/s1500/IMG_5454.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1500" data-original-width="1124" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBaWoSMSSQ4YN5F8UflvciQCVN2HulwsdSIwzEdx2mnyqCwPLaLCEkEKyfTaqlZmKqn5t6s3K3RhPPi_jT7ENQJERCA_6gYdGYKQnPbKNnOeKdONyNyiK9DZCUWw9fGpyoFftH77xW6kDYjkM_hTKYbHMD7iilGDiCdJxUFE8Etosh7z7NpDndlsGUUJQ/s320/IMG_5454.jpeg" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I love a padron pepper</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUFFSyMMQiNgUHwlKWrTc_CT5DG7WKNsU8ahPrFgErO12J6M6XbNUyVAA238jpotUmzfyXQeBvZc9hjdbnh1rgWNoLwtlcswoRPosjCnalx1-XSQWjaa2Vo_eGgUEmLQDS9v1DZOikSbShAXjY5LaH8xdk8qZrp5GJrpAZoe5vEVJRBOUKw3KaHjUvNvw/s1616/DSC05370.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1616" height="214" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUFFSyMMQiNgUHwlKWrTc_CT5DG7WKNsU8ahPrFgErO12J6M6XbNUyVAA238jpotUmzfyXQeBvZc9hjdbnh1rgWNoLwtlcswoRPosjCnalx1-XSQWjaa2Vo_eGgUEmLQDS9v1DZOikSbShAXjY5LaH8xdk8qZrp5GJrpAZoe5vEVJRBOUKw3KaHjUvNvw/s320/DSC05370.jpeg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Our view with the village in the background<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /></p><p><br /></p>Gather No Mosshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04711767644434877711noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8268679968826447470.post-16625951270701447832024-01-02T16:00:00.004+00:002024-01-02T16:00:41.608+00:00Sunny to Soggy<p> As I sit here in my undies surrounded by the smell of wet dog and despair, I think back to better times of blue skies, sunshine and warmth - well, it was yesterday actually and I know, I’m being dramatic. My jeans are making an indigo pattern on the bathroom floor as the rain drips from the hem. Graham is worried the down on his expensive walking jacket will never be the same again.</p><p>This morning, after a quiet night by the beach, we arrived in the Aire at RibadeSella which can only be described as a glorified quarry complete with a 45 minute walk into town to get food. (The info said it was 15 minutes to walk so i don't know what they were on when they gave those instructions.) The walk, while excessively long, was attractive with yet another gorgeous beach and lovely houses to check out along the way.<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOb6hS0Wfk6dIyk5wntyQc4at3W7uvx73RdAo7OdExhVm7GyNhhTPF1cOtXFzhnFeDfF1ZZtzXWc67_HqZkgaOFood5dT46a9YUQE45MT9pZNG-dyke9uXKmaKlZ-uph_7GPZYc9aLIaIUNXuWxGlKwiEoEGWQAoqPQ9z8qwytKaQGPXDhTpwPwCGIL4M/s1125/IMG_5446.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="842" data-original-width="1125" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOb6hS0Wfk6dIyk5wntyQc4at3W7uvx73RdAo7OdExhVm7GyNhhTPF1cOtXFzhnFeDfF1ZZtzXWc67_HqZkgaOFood5dT46a9YUQE45MT9pZNG-dyke9uXKmaKlZ-uph_7GPZYc9aLIaIUNXuWxGlKwiEoEGWQAoqPQ9z8qwytKaQGPXDhTpwPwCGIL4M/s320/IMG_5446.jpeg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hugo enjoys the walk</td></tr></tbody></table><br /></p><p>Most restaurants were closed but we found one open by the harbour. When I ordered the ‘wok with gambas’ I expected something with a noodle involved. The noodle element in this case turned out to be baby eels with three prawns and a couple of fried eggs. Mr Fluffy was happier with his pulpo gallego (octopus) and ended up eating my left overs. Of course, after lunch, as we strolled around town, everything had just closed so we had to entertain ourselves with window shopping only.<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiV3A-lHA9YkCO4egf5gTSKGRTkcDplO8xL5Rw5kAyI_YGx3vGoPmt8d2Muc_fOqfJw7RxIgUxgtGl2cBRmuvg1CkmhvprVvE2B9DpdnH-9Whz3PfNi2Rg-kUMAR0cIj6ghWfjpIqod90UkLTglWPB5Aph3AX4ZBIpSHG7XrJ6b1i4k5zFHPNHMKq-fIls/s1500/IMG_5448.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1500" data-original-width="1124" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiV3A-lHA9YkCO4egf5gTSKGRTkcDplO8xL5Rw5kAyI_YGx3vGoPmt8d2Muc_fOqfJw7RxIgUxgtGl2cBRmuvg1CkmhvprVvE2B9DpdnH-9Whz3PfNi2Rg-kUMAR0cIj6ghWfjpIqod90UkLTglWPB5Aph3AX4ZBIpSHG7XrJ6b1i4k5zFHPNHMKq-fIls/s320/IMG_5448.jpeg" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Eel noodles</td></tr></tbody></table><br /></p><p>All was well weather wise on our walk in so we decided to have a wine on the beach front as we walked back, as one does. This is where it all went a tad wrong. As we sat sipping our vinos tintos the skies opened so we had to neck the wine and we got totalmente drenched on the remaining 30minute walk back to Dickie.<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBz2ADWCTJLaSLpjEIovil8lcJaL3Hry2s7SgOJXMRlFIpc6UXDkMvrXaOsYzr2iZi6LEqHygxlM1DGtvhD81sw3G9ZSTPYY5TIEtCzPlv7kVZPDJRdp12gwwsFbxXTEtsWYL7Vffl1ZrRT2vm-YPRZIB-oLHALS4QABbwafIyc0ICK32skCKvuwYHJ2Y/s2040/IMG_5449.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1530" data-original-width="2040" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBz2ADWCTJLaSLpjEIovil8lcJaL3Hry2s7SgOJXMRlFIpc6UXDkMvrXaOsYzr2iZi6LEqHygxlM1DGtvhD81sw3G9ZSTPYY5TIEtCzPlv7kVZPDJRdp12gwwsFbxXTEtsWYL7Vffl1ZrRT2vm-YPRZIB-oLHALS4QABbwafIyc0ICK32skCKvuwYHJ2Y/s320/IMG_5449.jpeg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Just before the deluge </td></tr></tbody></table><br /></p><p><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGhS0QK81Z-cIBEjV04Z2gq64K_lBpz9XE5VSfftIJjNGFCWMqjZqT5PIepkpA10ILwdtxXVGvc2QsXIwk0m0Ei5fz5IUAz1wEQAHHAIlzQyqworLHjUUqqfFzYjPSD71Zkz5FiyC9KzxU87Q7VuU921FMsUNf5GrS1yazLIYwuov55LYUIGgJ0-Tkpf8/s1125/IMG_5447.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="842" data-original-width="1125" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGhS0QK81Z-cIBEjV04Z2gq64K_lBpz9XE5VSfftIJjNGFCWMqjZqT5PIepkpA10ILwdtxXVGvc2QsXIwk0m0Ei5fz5IUAz1wEQAHHAIlzQyqworLHjUUqqfFzYjPSD71Zkz5FiyC9KzxU87Q7VuU921FMsUNf5GrS1yazLIYwuov55LYUIGgJ0-Tkpf8/s320/IMG_5447.jpeg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Loving these railings </td></tr></tbody></table><br /></p><p>And so now I sit, wearing only my jumper and socks (and undies, of course) waiting for the clothes to dry and tapping away at this blog as the rain pours on the roof. It does feel good to be safe in the van even if it is in a disused quarry. I would take a photo of the but it’s now raining too much to go out.</p>Gather No Mosshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04711767644434877711noreply@blogger.com0