The Best of Portugal Day 6
The Best of Portugal
Day 6 - September 8, 2002 - Evora to Viseu
We woke up this morning early (6:30) and went to the fourth floor for breakfast. Mom had nothing and I had the usual bread, butter, cheese and jelly with coffee and real orange juice.
We got in the bus at 8 AM and were on our way. Many people are complaining about the AC but the tour guide told everyone that if they were cold they could bring sweaters and jackets. Well, today was cloudy and as the day progressed we had severe rain storms. I was in a polo shirt and shorts and had not packed a jacket, umbrella and had a thin rain suit.
First we drove to the small town of Castelo de Vide, with time to wander through the narrow alleys and explore the Jewish quarter. We had temperatures in the mid 50s and then it began to rain. We climbed up to the castle at the top of the town and it was great, with the view and the photo shots. Most people climbed so we were pleased with that. Bathrooms are another interesting thing in that they are very public and primitive - hole in the ground for the men and women. No seat.
We stopped at Castelo Branco for lunch. This will be the highlight of the trip. Most restaurants were closed so about 30 of us went to a little coffee shop in the city center park. We had one and half hour for lunch. We were the fourth in line and when I saw that the two girls could not understand English, I stepped up and began to translate. Then one girl just gave me the order pad, told me to take all the orders and she would cook.
After an hour and 15 minutes, I had everyone's order taken care of - and Mom and I were the only that had not been served. As the orders came up, I would take them and give them to people. Soup was last so some people ate all their meals and then got their soups. We then had to help people pay for their meals. So I had 10 minutes to eat and then get to the bus. When we walked on to the bus, we got a big round of applause and everyone is still talking about it. At dinner tonight the group bought me a nice bottle of red wine.
We then left, traveled over some mountains, the highest in Portugal, and then we went to the home of Pedro Alvares Cabral, who in 1500 discovered Brasil.
We crossed the Valley of the River Tagus towards the Serra da Estrela mountains and Belmonte. Before we got there it began to rain like mad and I was the only person to get out of the bus to take pictures of his statue. We then went to the the old Roman Tower (Centum Cellas) before we continued via Guarda to Viseu, in the region of the famous Dao vineyards.
We got to the Hotel Melia Confort Grão Vasco, very nice hotel, helped with the luggage and then changed to take a walk. We went and explored the old town before the buffet dinner at our hotel tonight. The walk was nice, we saw the old architecture of the churches, the old Roman walls and interesting building.
Friends we met the first day, Tom and Sue from San Diego, invited us to their room and give me a scotch. We talked for about an hour and then we went to dinner. Our dinner was confusing because of three tour groups in the hotel. It was OK but could have been better organized. I got Mom another cork for her collection. She must have close to 50 now.
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