EVORA

Mertola from the bridge

Two days ago I left Mertola and now in Evora. Try as I may, I couldn't manage to find a wifi connection in Beja yesterday but now back in civilization with a room next to the reception lounge in the Old Evora Hostel. Lets go back now to Mertola where I stayed at Hotel Rita http://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/Hotel_Review-g1068892-d1793149-Reviews-Hospedaria_Rita_Mertola-Mertola_Alentejo.html.

Leaving Mertola was a little difficult as it had given me a perfect day. Here I used a different bus company to get to Beja. From St Antonio it was with http://www.rede-expressos.pt which seemed more luxurious, complete with wifi, but I failed to get a connection during the trip. From Mertola the bus company was http://www.rodalentejo.pt which appears to be the main transport in Alentejo, the name of this part of Portugal. The simple country folk of this area are the butts of lots of Portuguese jokes apparently. 

the plain from Beja

Beja is one of those places I could have missed without any regrets. Had to stay in a characterless youth hostel on the outskirts of the small historical centre. Standing on the edge of a large agricultural plain, which was looking quite green, I wondered what it would look like in the middle of summer. The land turns a pale yellow under the scorching sun, often swelteringly hot at 40 degrees. However, the bus trip was pleasant, stopping off at several tiny villages along the way with a few tantalizing glimpses of sail less windmills, tilting perhaps, straight out of Don Quixote. 

heading to a village

the castle at Beja

view from castle 

As I have said, old Beja is a small place and it took little over an hour to see almost all the places of interest.

inside the castle walls

marble spiral staircase in the castle

the museum at Beja

Beja

Leaving Beja this morning was another of those early starts but made easy due to the close proximity of the bus station and the hostel. Hopefully all my travel plans go as easy as they have so far. Lots to see in Evora and one of the first sights was this ruin of a Roman temple. 

I have booked in here (http://oldevorahostel.blogspot.com/) for two nights so more tomorrow. D

BLUE SKY AND SUNSHINE IN TAVIRA

The train trip down to Tavira went according to plan yesterday leaving a foggy cold Lisbon behind for a few weeks. It was without doubt a miserable place to be in such conditions but there was one day when I took a train up the coast to Cascais, which was still a bit too cool for my liking, but at least I could see the clouds in the blue sky. 

Cascais station from the roof of the Hypermarket.

Building by Cascais fishing harbour

Fishermen bringing in their morning catch

Cascais is a typical little seaside village with the usual selection of souvenir shops, coffee bars and restaurants for the regular flow of tourists from Lisbon. Its not many kilometers south of Sintra where I went last October. The old part by the harbour is great to wander with narrow streets and pleasant buildings. The style is different but it reminded me of the fishing villages along the coast of Cornwall in SW Britain. 

Cascais town hall

Chapel

Not much to say about Tavira yet except the weather suits me perfectly. My friends, Nigel and Christine live in a super place with a village shop just up the road. Big shops done at Lidl down in the town. What, no Tesco! I think I can survive without it. 

I live under the roof and sun myself on the porch at the front

Almond trees are in blossom

What more could I want! D