WE LEFT VILA NOVA DA FOZ COA SOON AFTER BREAKFAST, AND JUST BEFORE A GROUP OF BIKERS, AND HEADED TOWARDS MONSANTO. EVEN THE MAIN HIGHWAYS IN THIS REGION GOES UP AND DOWN, A LOT! WE STOPPED AT BELMONTE, SINCE IT WAS ALONG THE WAY, AND ALSO HAD ITS OWN CASTLE, PLUS ONE OF THE LARGEST JEWISH COMMUNITIES FROM NEAR MEDIEVAL TIMES. WE CLIMBED A LITTLE UP INTO TOWN AND FOUND A PARKING SPOT PRETTY CLOSE TO THE CASTLE, ALTHOUGH STILL BELOW IT A BIT. WE WOUND OUR WAY UP TO IT AND ENTERED THE MAIN PORTAL TO DISCOVER TWO THINGS. FIRST OF ALL, THERE WAS NO ENTRY FEE, AND SECONDLY, APPARENTLY THEY WERE SETTING UP FOR A FESTIVAL, POSSIBLY ANOTHER MEDIEVAL ONE. UNFORTUNATELY, THEY WERE JUST STARTING TO SET UP, SO THE FESTIVAL WAS EITHER GOING
... read more
