Tues 14 Nov 6° Tui - Arcos de Valdevez

Happy Anniversary John and Lesley.

Clocks back one hour as we go into Portugal they are same as UK.

Sunny again but surprised how cold it was outside...yeah got a wifi signal. Tony went to the local shop for fresh bread before we head on our way to Portugal.

5 mins a very short drive and as you round the bend, there is the old Border crossing post into Portugal.

 

Into Portugal on a cobbled roadway, lots of grapevines right along the roadside, very pretty with their autumn colours, seem to use the vines as a border around their grass fields, not a vineyard for mass production. Lots of fruit trees a very lush productive northern area of Portugal . Then  up we go again, winding our way up yet another mountain but good road and very pretty .

Then a long cobbled roadway that led to large long parking area beside a grass and boardwalk along the river, very pretty. We were going to just have lunch but decided to stay overnight and have a look in the town.

We walked in after lunch and found the Post Office, Closed till 2pm so walked on to the square and had coffee in the warm sun while we waited. Overdressed as cold this morning now it's 17°......

A very helpful English speaking clerk in the Post Office, Correios,   explained that the motorway down to Porto A3, Lisbon A1 and A2 to the Algarve had Toll booths so you can pay as you go, but the one down the west coast and along the Algarve coast had no booths and needed the Toll Card, non refundable but valid for 12 months. If use all the value just go to another PO the next day and buy another one and the extra will be taken off the new card. We bought a €20 and had to txt the code and numberplate  to register us, so if we do get on by mistake or intentionally we are covered.

Bought some fresh vegetables,  Brussels,  yumm and walked back along the river, asked in Tourist Office about the statues of jousting Knights and horses with no legs, she said the sculpture thought that as they fought by the river and fog would have hidden their legs that he wouldn't give them legs?  ummmmmm or well bit of a story to tell anyway.

Bar on the river near Bessie of the way back so stopped for a beer, no Tapas just sandwiches....so just had our beer and enjoyed the warm late afternoon rays of the sun as it started to set.  

Pork steak, cauliflower,  Brussels in cheese sauce for dinner.