We arose to a driving rainstorm and wind. It is very cloudy here on the mountaintop of the retreat and we - especially the driver - hope it clears as we descend to the valley. There are few of us in the Grand Hotel, so it must be the slow season as the hotel is very comfortable and the employees accomodating and congenial. Breakfast was quite a spread of continental type goodies. Coffee could be made to onés taste from thermoses of coffee and hot water. How soothing to the soul to sit by the large windows and drink coffee while watching the rain. We would recommend this place to anyone or a group. Looking around the room before we leave, I wonder how long ago it was that any of us had a telephone bench in our homes?
Peggy and Fannette loaded the car in a driving (ha - cuse the pun) rain. There was some confusion of the credit cards, but it worked out. A young lady who works at the hotel and speaks English was charming to visit with.
[Before we go on - the bloggist (person typing the blog) is using a Portugese keyboard so excuse any typos.]
After descending the mountain, we drove to Porto, Portugal in a rainstorm - the superhighway was under construction in some areas. However, these efficient roadways make traveling from one place to another easier than navigating through small towns. The tolls do add up, though. As we whizzed through the large city of Porto, we passed by a huge, modern stadium, partially covered with the field open to the sky. A stop at the highway rest stop refreshed us - tea, ice cream, dulces. Saw a nice looking couple who were traveling by motorcycle - decided that was not for us especially in this downpour. Because of the intense rain today, we skipped several stops at Guiamares and Coimbra. We opted to drive straight to Nazare on the coast, hoping for a break in the weather. This part of Portugal seems to be rugged country. The whole area we have traveled in northwest Spain and Portugal makes for a greater appreciation of the strenous efforts of the part of downed military in WWII, being assisted by locals to get to Lisbon and back to Allied territory.
As we bypassed Fiqueira da Faz the rain slacked and the sky lightened - is the sun trying to come out? Nope! Rain increased again. We wondered what grows in the flat, water-filled fields below us - rice, maybe? Turning off the toll road, we crossed some hills, then descended down the sea to Nazare. A wonderous sight introduced us to the sea - white capped Atlantic Ocean crashing into the cliffs to the north, but settling down the beach in front of town. Nazare is small with very narrow streets that are hard to navigate - and it is still raining. We unloaded the car at the Hotel Mar Bravo - wet and windy, wild coastline - reminds me of northern California or Oregon, in a way. Although we are off-season, the coastal town appears crowded, especially considering the weather. Our rooms are sparse, but functional - opposite ends of the spectrum from where we housed in elegance last night. A regular seacoast place. A funicular (ascender) goes up the cliff through a tunnel to the upper part of the town. Those folks must have a stupendous view. We are on the 2nd (3rd) and 3rd (4th) floors in corner rooms with fantastic views of the coast. We ate lunch at our hotel, not in the inside dining room, but in an enclosed cabana just outside the hotel next to the street. By the look of the number of buses we have seen, Nazare seems to be a great destination for senior citizens. Of course, the seafood would be a big draw. Peggy and Clarita had cod, Fannette had pork with clams, and Shirley had one of the best steaks she has eaten on the Iberian Peninsula (or so she has said after every steak eaten here - catfish seems impossible to find). After lunch, we did some Internet exchanges, read, napped, and gazed out the window hoping against hope the rain would stop.
Tomorrow wé are planning some excursions whether it rains or not!
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