The poor workers who lay these pathways and roadways....tiny block by tiny block....in the direct sun and intense heat...
Had a very relaxing last day...sauntered down to breakfast....chillaxed....went for one last walk on the beach. Ending up running into the German hiker and her friend...after hugs we chatted for a bit... they will leave tomorrow for the last 20 km of their 6 day hike.....hiking in ankle deep sand...no shade.... no amenities.....just the ocean and the sand....hmmmmm
In Portugal, marble is so abundant and affordable that it is treated more like "fancy concrete" than a rare luxury. We see it on windowsills, door thresholds, park benches....
Today we even noticed the grocery store is closed from 2:00-4:00 for siesta...
Stopped for beer at a local bar... about a dozen old guys drinking their inexpensive beer $1.20 for a mini beer/$2 for a pint....chatting...watching sports....siesta time.
The old boys sitting in the shade...playing cards...chatting....drinking coffee...enjoying their company....unsure where the ladies are?
Last stop at the market for water and snacks...hot dogs.....
Its pretty hot now, about 34 degrees....only thing left to do was enjoy a glass of chilled red wine in the shade by the pool...
So pleased with my choice in changing plans and playing out the last days here. More kitties!!!
Portugese facts...almost all homes have electric shades on the outside of the windows... this is for cooling in the summer, they hold heat in the winter, security and privacy as Portuguese culture values a high degree of domestic privacy.
This place is one of the safest towns in Portugal, but you still have to be aware of pick pockets and petty theft.
The population is 5,600 in off season and swells to 55,000 in the summer due to tourists, hikers, as well as farm workers.
About 45 % of the population here is not Portugese but a mixture of Brazilian and an ever increasing Indian, Angola, Pakistan and Ukrainian.
We were feeling a little lazy but thought we should go for a walk...maybe an appie... not sure, so off we went....we passed by many places and then actually stopped and looked back and decided to go to this little restaurant tucked away in a corner..... and who is there but the German lady, Ruth, and her friend, who we first met at the top of the stairs from the ferry, then on a walk way off the beaten path at the beach and then again at the restaurant....we ended up chatting over wine for several hours.....looks like we may be hosting friends from Germany soon! An amazing end to an amazing vacation...
Obrigado Portugal for a wonderful time in your country!
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