Slightly creepy chapel bent on reminding us all of where we are heading.  Perfect for Gord's Birthday!August 24, 2015Ruth:We now have only a few more days before we return to Lisbon and are spending two of these in Évora. The historic center of Évora is... Read More

August 21, 2015Gordon:  I had a flat tire early in the trip, and more recently a slow leak had developed, presumably from the patch.  When I picked up a thorn of frightening length in the same tire I therefore replaced the tube.  I have been... Read More

August 19, 2015Gordon:  The village of Monsanto, where we are staying tonight, was voted "the most Portuguese village" in 1938.  However, as Ruth commented "How can it be the most Portuguese village when it is unlike any other place we have been in the country?"... Read More

August 18, 2015Ruth: We are now in hill town country as we head south along the border between Portugal and Spain. On our ride between Vila Nova de Foz Coa and Almeida we saw four Castelo or fortified towns. When planning our routes we try... Read More

August 16, 2015Gord: We are staying two nights in Vila Nova de Foz Côa, which would have been of no interest to us or the many other tourists here prior to 1991.  At that time a dam was proposed for the Côa river just above... Read More

August 15, 2015Today was one of the most spectacular rides yet. We coasted down into the Douro river valley for 21 km through terraced vineyards, almond and olive orchards. This is the upper Alto Douro, above the demarcated growing area for port wine and off... Read More