This is our last day sailing. It was nice to be able to take our time this morning. We had breakfast, started packing, went through two locks (one 109 feet and one 72 feet), and attended a cooking lesson. Chef Nuno Ribeiro demonstrated making Pasteis de Nata —the puff pastry cups filled with custard and baked. After lunch we got on the bus and drove to Castelo Rodrigo which is another old walled village. This one specialized in almond products (almonds which were salted, sugared, with chocolate, with five spice, etc. plus almond liqueurs, etc). They also sold cork products—trivets, coasters, coin purses, purses, jewelry, etc. (We had a program about cork yesterday. Cork is important to Portugal, but one has to be patient. After a tree is planted, it is 25 years before the first harvest of its bark, followed by 9 years before the next harvest.). The village was steep. A walking tour was offered. N and I walked the first half. Chuck preservered and walked the whole route. Maria drove carefully along the route back to the bus. Once again there were steep drop offs and beautiful vistas. The landscape was more rugged with large rock outcropping, many more olive trees, fewer vineyards, lots of rocks walls and terraces, and a few sheep. We bid Maria farewell. Tomorrow we will have a Spanish bus and driver.
When we were In Porto, we saw a group of young people dressed in black each wearing a big black woolen cape. We were told that traditionally university students dressed in black —kind of a rite of passage. Some even prided themselves on never washing/cleaning the cape. They were referred to as ‘the stinky ones.’ One evening some male students called a “TUNA” group (no connection to fish) entertained. There were eight of them, playing an accordion, guitar, etc., and singing. They were cute and certainly not stinky.
Another night a group (male and female) played instruments and sang Faldo—melancholy music. Chuck compares it to American Blues only a different style.
Today the weather was clear and sunny, but a little cool. Before we came, we studied the temps here with envy. Once we got here, the weather has been cooler than home. But dry is good!
When we were In Porto, we saw a group of young people dressed in black each wearing a big black woolen cape. We were told that traditionally university students dressed in black —kind of a rite of passage. Some even prided themselves on never washing/cleaning the cape. They were referred to as ‘the stinky ones.’ One evening some male students called a “TUNA” group (no connection to fish) entertained. There were eight of them, playing an accordion, guitar, etc., and singing. They were cute and certainly not stinky.
Another night a group (male and female) played instruments and sang Faldo—melancholy music. Chuck compares it to American Blues only a different style.
Today the weather was clear and sunny, but a little cool. Before we came, we studied the temps here with envy. Once we got here, the weather has been cooler than home. But dry is good!
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