It was a strange night. I was tossing and turning and as I did, got wrapped in the bedding and fell out of bed. Before you say anything, no alcohol was not involved. I have a nice arm bruise to show for it.
Britt and Wil were up and into work early so that they would be free to come to the Freixianda market. While we waited for Britt and Wil to get ready, John and i set off to explore some of the local roads on foot.
This market was quite a big affair, with lots of different sections. We placed
our order for a charcoal cooked peri peri chicken and went off to scout the market.
A loud voice boomed over the hubbub of market noises and neighbours catching up.
Britt translated …”Get your bras here” there were two enormous bra stalls,
apparently specializing in larger sizes. Johnny observed that some were big enough
to use as shopping baskets.
While Wil
went off to check out the fish stalls, Britt led us through the second hand
goods to the gardening stall. Four strong and healthy roses were purchased
after much consideration, for the bed that had yesterday been cleared next to
the shed. Several ground covering daisies were also bought to fill in the bed
outside the back veranda.
Wil did not
like the look of the fish today so instead he bought a huge leg of lamb to be
cooked over the open fire for tonight’s dinner. On the way to the car we
returned to the chicken stall and picked up the chicken. It was cooked to
perfection.
We had to
get back to the Adega pretty quickly as Wil had a conference call to take at
11. No sooner were we out of the car but Britt was dragging out the spades and
putting in the roses. I was set to work making the chicken and rolls into a
lunch picnic.
It was a
quick turn around as the main plan of the day was to get to Tomar to see the aqueduct
and the fortified monastery. The aqueduct was built to carry water from the
springs in four villages across the landscape to the monastery. We climbed up the
wall and could see the open trough disappearing into the distance. It was
possible to walk the top of the aqueduct for about 6Km but as there was no
handrail, and the temperature climbing to 30 degrees, we left that for hardier souls.
Tomar was a
lovely city set next to a river. Overlooking the city, perched high on a hill
was the gargantuan monastery that was first built for the knight templars, but
then taken over by another group. We climbed up through the garden to the orangery
where we had our picnic of chicken rolls and watermelon, under an enormous
plane tree before setting off to explore the building.
The monastery
was enormous and its architectural merit was recognized by the government
launching a huge restoration program. We were met at the entrance by a lute player in historical dress. The colossal dormitories and kitchens,
the carved spiral stairs and ceilings were all amazing, but the worship chapel
was staggering. A central carved altar soared up several stories and was richly
decorated with statues, paintings and tiles. Honestly exhausted by the exercise
and the heat I was determined to press on. This was not a tour I was willing to
forgo.
By the time
we got back to the car there was nothing left in my tank and I just curled up
on the back seat while Johnny and Britt went into the shopping centre for
supplies.
It was all
go today and with only a half hour stop at the Adega to pick up Wil we headed
off to Britt’s and Wil’s close friends, Pat and Steph. We had been invited over
for afternoon tea. Change of plans. Wil had to stay back for a work call and
join us later, arriving by that nifty motorbike he sometimes rides.
It was a
short drive to Step’s and Pat’s home. We passed George, the guys that delivers firewood to the Adega. he was rumbling along the road in his enormous tractor, pulling an equally enormous trailer and bobbing about in the middle of it was his whitehaired mother. Not a sight you see every day. Steph and pat's house was called the House of Oranges and
true to its name was surrounded by orange trees. Talk about bad luck, Pat had
developed a condition that prevented him from eating his beloved oranges. We
sat outside in a lovely half covered area, having tea and cakes. We had taken
cakes with us but Steph had made a lovely orange and almond cake for us that
morning. The boys talked repairs that
needed to be undertaken to the pool stairs, as Pat is also the go to guy for
upkeep on the Adega. The rest of us had a delightful chat. Britt and Wil are so
lucky to have come across such pleasant and helpful people.
About an
hour or so later it was time to set off for home as the fire had to be stoked
and the lamb cooked. It looked like we might be eating at 9 or 10 o’clock
tonight. The open fireplace in the yard was almost of medieval proportions and
above it, will had hung a camp stove. In a cast iron pot set into the coals,
the potatoes would be roasted.
The apple doesn't fall too far from the tree. Instead of putting the feet up and downing a beer, while I was blogging, Britt enlisted Johnny in hacking out the massive thorned aloe that was taking over the garden bed closest to the house.. Needless to say, they got it out and sat there bleeding and exhausted as they watched the sunset tonight.
Dinner was fantastic. The lamb was so flavoursome, and we had it with bravas potatoes and a salad. when we left Steph and Pat's they had sent us on our way with all the left over cakes. so it was a sweet end to the day.
Tomorrow will begin by digging out the roots of the aloe. Lets hope it doesn't end in tears and bloodshed. Goodnight.
