Galegos - Day 2

It was our last full day in Portugal, and we made the most of it. This area we are in is quite unspoilt and seemingly unaffected by mass tourism. After talking with our hosts Ken and Carol it is obvious that it is for two reasons, lack of knowledge and perceived remoteness from a gateway airport. Apparently we are the first InnTravel customers to drive from England. While people will seek exotic long haul destinations, it is easy to miss interesting places that are more on our doorstep. Certainly we have been tremendously impressed with what we have seen and experienced in Portugal. Above all we have been the subject of great hospitality and courtesy, all the more impressive considering our limited abilities with the Portuguese language.

Tonight was a case in point; we were recommended a local restaurant, which from the outside resembled a small bar. We were shown through to a small restaurant that had probably seven or eight tables, with ubiquitous television playing football in the corner. The food was great, simple local cooking that Marion and myself shared. We had cooked prawns to start, followed by pork and chestnuts. Everything was packed with flavours, usually provided by a very robust sauce. By the end of the evening we felt that we had had a real treat. In its own way this was as much a culinary experience as the high-end restaurants that we had dined at on Saturday and Sunday. We were both agreed that for dining this was one of the best holidays that we have been on, and we still have Casa Macial to look forward to on Sunday. Next week will be quite an anti-climax when we arrive home.

In the morning after a relaxed breakfast we visited the neighbouring town of Castel de Vide.

Again this was a fortified frontier town dominated by a castle on the highest point. It was easy to walk round the castle and climb the tower from where I could observe the town and the surrounding countryside.

To me the interesting thing about the castle was the way in which the town’s houses merged seamlessly into the walls, and you could really get a sense of how town and castle co-existed and were probably dependent on each other. After a pleasant stroll around the town and lunch, we moved onto some stunning Roman remains.

These were the ruins of the Roman town of Ammaia an out post of the Roman Empire dating from the first century AD. Excavations have revealed a town of some size, probably with two thousand inhabitants with a forum, temple, baths and town gates. What was fantastic was the artefacts that have been found exhibited in the neighbouring building. The sumptuous gold coins can be seen from the photo, however there were complete pots and glassware, largely unblemished.

It was possible to read the inscription and markings on these. Remarkable considering how long ago these had been buried. The site was huge, and it was possible to wander around without restriction, a very Portuguese characteristic. It was not difficult to gain an impression ofvthe town.

So tomorrow we will be moving back to Spain, and it will be a sad farewell to Portugal.