May 29 Now for some photos

Friday: So, here we are, back at the Internet place. For some reason, today it is open in the morning. It seems that they offer classes here, so when they do, they are closed. But at least this time we are not rushing against the clock. Yesterday´s blog entry was done entirely in Portuguese since I didn´t have time to figure out how to change Google and Blogspot to English.

I did not add a note yesterday about how truly relaxed we both are. It is so nice to live without an agenda and to have so much time in one place. While we have a list of day trips to do, we have plenty of time to do it. There is so much in this one area (Oeste) it could keep us busy the whole time. Just in little Obidos there is still so much to see -around every cobblestoned turn, there is something new to marvel at.

The place we rented is ideal. The good news is that it is clean, conveniently located, very comfortable and modern. The bad news is that at some time on Tuesday, the local gas company removed the incorrect gas meter, the one to our townhouse, so we have had no hot water. The property manager has been valient in her efforts to get the gas company out to correct the error, but admits that they operate on Portuguese time. The owner has called from England, most apologetic. We are hoping they will come out today. The silver lining is we have been promised by her that we´ll be compensated for the inconvenience. So we are making do! But all else is quite perfect about the place - still a happy customer of Homeaway.com (and it´s British affiliate).

So, here we go with some pictures:~

First, let me introduce you to Obidos: while the city was already here, the castle was rebuilt in 1148. The King "gave" the village and castle to his wife as a wedding present in 1282 and the walls were then built in the 14th century.

We are just outside the walls, and just walk up steep cobblestone steps to enter through this archway.

Once inside the archway, more steep steps up to the primary street, filled with cafes, shops, bars, and restaurants. And, just like every other place we have been so far, gelato!

There are also streets of houses, all with charming entrances and flowerboxes, here are a few typical ones. This is not a curved lense photo, that is the way the streets are in this hillside village.

The village is surrounded by a wall that you can walk on, with wonderful views of the village and surrounding area.

Just to punctuate how relaxed we are, here is a bit of the beach... This is Nazare, viewed from the cliff area above, called Sitio. We spent the afternoon on the beach - it is before the season and a weekday, so can only imagine what it is like during the summer, but for now very few people in spite of the wonderful weather. There is a tram going up from the beach to Sitio, but it was under repair so we took the short drive up.

Big waves, cold water!

Proving that we really are here...and don´t we look relaxed!

Flowers are everywhere, and many similar to what we have in California, which makes sense because the climate seems very familiar. Wildflowers grow in the walls of Obidos...Bougenvilla (sp?) climb everywhere,

Flowerboxes enhance everything, even the views.

We are in Portugal, so tile is also EVERYWHERE! Streetsigns on the sides of buildings (in Tomar), at the entrance to houses (in Sitio),

over the main entrance to Obidos....




and at the Convent de Cristo (Tomar), just to point out a few...








Well, since this computer is VERY slow at uploading photos, I will sign off for now! Adeus!

Lisa (and Jim, who is now next door having his expresso and formulating his thoughts for his next entry...)