Monday 25th January- Wednesday 27th January

Monday 25th January

Today we headed out of Lisbon across one of the long bridges over the estuary, then out down the coast. Came across a small bay below Costa da Caprica, just huts and surf shacks, it was nice little spot.

Then decided to head away from the coast and back into the country and to a town called Evora. The deeper into the country we went the landscape became more a mix of wild west meets olive groves. There were huge fenced fields and ranch entrances with grazing herds of cattle, also fields of olive and cork trees. It was a lovely drive in the sun through the countryside.

In Evora we headed straight for the tourist office, to get some information on the town and any walks around the surrounding area. They weren’t very helpful and said there were no walks. Although before we left, we did find a leaflet or two on area’s to walk. I don’t think the Portuguese are big on walking!
We decided to head out and follow a roman aqueduct that runs out of the town and into the hills. We had a small leaflet and a map, marking some car parks along the way. Each one we drove to though, turned out they weren’t really car parks. Just a small space for one car to pull up and get out for a walk, must be the huge demand for walks. So we ditched the aqueduct idea and decided to head just out of Evora to an ancient stone circle, on a hill. We drove up a very holey dirt track for a good few miles, before coming out right next to the stone circle on the hill.

It was a lovely area and on some of the stones you could still see ancient carvings. We were going to park up there for the night, but as it was very windy and we were on top of a hill exposed, we instead decided against it and head back down to Evora.

Tuesday 26th January

Went to look around Evora’s Chapel Of Bones (Capela dos Ossos). A very strange place indeed and as the name suggests the chapel is built from bones. The ghoulish interior was just skulls and bones, but worth a look.

Then after we headed for some internet and found the area we were at before we came to Evora, just below it was a coastal natural park. So we headed back to the coast! As it was late in the day, we planned to stop on the way at a lake we had seen on the map. We ended up taking some lovely small roads to see the countryside. It was now getting dusk and we found ourselves on a long small road in the middle of nowhere, not exactly sure how far the lake was. Despite this we found a spot to park up over looking the fields and cattle with their bells.

Again parked up with another new garden outside. The shutter goes down and the screen goes up, and we could be anywhere. No view of outside, just inside and our now home. A van containing all we really require. As were in a small place we have started little routines of daily tasks, seems to be always something to do. Also we have found our link to the English language, as a lot of the time we manage to pick up Radio 4, on 198LW. The signal is not always good, but we have become addicted. Apart from the fact every time we settle down and turn it on it’s always the same time as the Archers! Can’t say I’m a fan of the programme.

Wednesday 27th January[i]

Found the lake below Alvito, and after a cycle around chose a place to stay. As there were still strong winds a few options weren’t right. So we settled on a spot on a little bit of land that came into the lake. By Lorna’s directing me up the dirt track weaving through the trees, we stopped with the lake on both sides and settled down for the night.