RAINING IN LISBON

Estremoz a few days ago. Hotel down behind the pool

There isn't a lot to say about the last couple of days after leaving Estremoz. Portalegre was very small with a castle that had been modified somewhat with a vast modern wood and glass structure. I could't take a picture that would do it justice. On Sunday, when I left there it was like a ghost town and was exactly the same situation when I arrived in Castelo Branco. It was a disaster from the start as I found the hostel closed, forcing me to spend a night in an overpriced seedy hotel in the main street. Couldn't see anything charming about this jumble of concrete, and as far as I saw, not much of the old town left. So without even a moment's thought I decided to head off back to Lisbon ASAP. A 10 am bus bus saw me back here by 12.30 today (Monday). Its a good hostel and a third of the cost of the 'hotel' last night.
But going back to Estremoz, there was the Saturday antiques market, for which the weather couldn't have been better.

Estremoz market

A bench full of good old Alentejo boys at the market

A guard on sentry duty at the barracks looking as butch as he can.

a German who makes a living from antique markets

castle at Portalegre

some extremely steep ones in Portalegre

The rain has been relentless in Lisbon since I arrived 7 hours ago. But after the freezing cold I left behind in Castelo Branco its a welcome relief to actually feel warm. Dreading what awaits me in Pilsen on Wednesday. D