Retirement with 2020 and COVID vision

People in white vans occasionally knock on doors asking if your roof would appreciate a clean.....gets rid of all that nasty green stuff!
If they get the job the roof often leaks afterwards as the pressure washer has a habit of making lots of little holes in the waterproof felt.
But, don't worry, they will be back soon and offer a complete roof job....at a sensible price, of course!

PS. Thought it was just a UK/Irish thing!
I think these guys are giving roofing masterclasses in Piódão.
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I said, " Try the White Port " ..
I didn't say ," Enjoy the White Port ", Steve. The sweet is a sticky, pudding wine, best fired down, as cold as possible. The dry, is much rarer , more expensive, but superb on a hot day, poured into a frosted schooner glass.

Just wait until you have to try the Fig liquor.. Figo and the real firewater.. Medronho.. They are an acquired taste..

Enjoy your travels.
Medronha....whoever thought of using that horrible fruit in a drink? Just go for the straight Agua Dente.....it's a cure for everything, also cleans barrels, starts bbq, stops mosquito bites itching....probably cures Covid too:oops:
 
After 21 years on the Algarve, I can now tell the difference between not too bad Medronho and not too good Medronho.
By the 3rd tot.. ...
It doesn't matter, any more..!
 
Paul’s suggestion Monsanto was in our sights. Parked at Relvo as advised.
Good nearly flat car park with toilets and water tap.
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We think Monsanto is the distant hilltop village. This picnic table looks too good to leave behind 😈.
Nice walk up to the village which has some unusual architecture.
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Can’t decide if I prefer slate or stone for the roof. I think the masterclass roofers from Piódão came to sort this out.
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What building regulations 🤡.
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4 x 4 Portuguese style.
The castle above the village is quite a pull in the heat.
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Time for a thirst quencher.
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We passed on this.
Back down in time for home cooked meat and potato pie and mushy peas. With thanks to Paul for gravy advise.A07F9E5D-2B12-4570-8791-EBD2C9F2183C.jpeg
 
Onward to Ivanha a Velha. An old Roman settlement.
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This Roman bridge has been waiting 1600 years for the tide to rise.
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And a bullring. I don’t think the Romans would approve of killing bulls instead of people.
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Good crop of prickly pears this year. It makes you want to sing ‘Bare Necessities’.
Later we moved on to a free lakeside aire at Vila Velha de Rodao. Surrounded by Portuguese.
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May stay a couple of days???????
 
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If you're heading south, might suggest a visit to Monsaraz, in the Alentejo wine region. Just beside the huge reservoir. Created about 12 years ago, the Inland sea has altered the climate.
Old Moorish towns Vila Viçosa, Mourao, Moura, Borba... and grimly, historic Minas do San Domingo.., ( Rotherham in the 1890s ), all have Moho provision. You can swim in the lake at Minas.
 
A couple of days by the lake was really peaceful.
Another place on our list was Marvão.
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A really well preserved walled town with a castle. I managed to walk the walls in the late afternoon.
Whilst we were down by the lake yesterday a UK motorhome pulled alongside. The couple were residents of Portugal living in the west Algarve on their 6 hectare property for the last 20 years. They were from Yorkshire and had come north to escape the heat and crowds. We chatted for quite some time and they confirmed the police were handing out €400 fines for wildcamping on beaches and car parks along the Algarve. They also recommended a swimming spot a few miles north.
So here we are at Praia Fluvial De Cardigos.
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River fed lido with cafe, toilets, picnic/barbecue facilities and overnight parking all free. All the usual things you get in the UK. Their appear to be a lot of the ‘beautiful people’ here. Shame I’ll change the look but here goes.
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Going to be a warm night.
If you leave the fridge door open does it work like air con .... 🥵
 
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Yorkshire people...?
They were probably attracted to you by the bottle of Endos..
Have you checked that it's still there.?
Keep those pix coming.
 
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Yorkshire people...?
They were probably attracted to you by the bottle of Endos..
Have you checked that it's still there.?
Keep those pix coming.
We were telling them about the meat n tayter pie experiment.
Same reaction as you....’you avn’t got endos have you?’
‘Bet you’ve got Marmite as well’
We don’t keep money in our motorhome safe...👀
 
Down from the wilderness and over to the coast again. We headed for Nazaré to see if any world class surfers were training for the big event in November. The clouds were so bad we couldn’t see the beach.
Onward to Óbidos for a bit of exercise.
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A superb Roman aqueduct spread
across the landscape right up to the city walls.
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A scary 1 hour walk on the parapets sharpens your nerves.
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Nice Barbecue.
Shirl said she’d take a few pics inside the walls.
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Looks more like shopping to me.

Now this is how you want the view from your garden to look like.
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On to Peniche for the night and more domestic chores.
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May be on to Lisboa tomorrow??????
 
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On a music aire in Lisboa for couple of nights.
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Looks likes a hippy commune/building site but they’ve got a stage in the restaurant marquee so could be interesting.
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The graffiti is a bit eye catching 👀
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Managed to unload the bike, takes me back to Route 66.
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After the second restaurant meal of out trip we were thrilled to have a five piece live band. Jazz funk and Latin rhythms were really appreciated after being starved of music for so long. Couldn’t understand a word they spoke or sung but it didn’t matter.
Whats not to like about a five string bass played to perfection combined with dual percussionists playing a step ladder. WOW
Off to see Lisboa tomorrow and another 14 piece band to watch at night.
 
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I am impressed you went on the Obidos walls! I went a little way and couldn't face it.....very scarey. Also quite busy that day as managed to coincide our visit with the chocolate festival!
 
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Jealous..
Nuff said.
Just watch out for pickpockets around the Cais do Sodre, station and docksides.. They're waiting for the unwary.
There's a well dressed guy , speaks many languages, asks you for 2 Euros, to give him enough money to make up the train fare home , having just had his pocket picked..
He puts on a good show.
Must do the vintage train ride.
Topless bus is good value too.
 
A quick bus ride into Lisbon to ride the Santa Justa lift and a stroll round the Bairro Alto district. Massive city and very hot.

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Portugese troupe playing viva espanha....
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Even the animals wear make......so back to the best aire of the trip.. Fabrica Braço de Prata.
What a strange place. We wandered freely around the onsite mansion which housed the indoor music venues(6), toilets, showers and about 1/2 million books.
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Even the toilets had books.
The evening entertainment was again 1st class.
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The show finished on a lunatic rendition of the "Money Heist" theme Chow Chow Chow which the Portugese like the rest of the world enjoy a cult following. A great great night in the suburbs. The big cities can wait for now we are off to Evora.
 
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The route out of Lisboa south is quite spectacular as we cross the 17km Vasco de Game bridge.
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Onward to Evora and a convenient free aire with services just outside the city walls.
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We decided to chill in the heat and walk around after dark for a change.
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Early next morning the tourist bit in Cappella dos Ossos. Talk about skeletons in the cupboard....
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Talking of old bones, maybe one of Pauls suggestions next, Monsaraz ???
 
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