The Great Outdoors

Those who know me are familliar with my "changing plans" life style so don't be surprised of todays news.

I know which date it is, but I have no idea which day is today.
It was yesterday morning that I woke up in Guarda in that terrible posada where I felt like I'm sleeping in a basement. Washed, changed, went to have breakfast. I guy asks me if he can sit with me. Sure, why not. Start talking and end up in the one place where I really wanted to go in the whole area but had much problems finding a bus. I was so sad about it that I already settled for a whole day in Guarda, probably bored to death. It is the beautiful area of Serra da Estrela - the Nature!

So, this guy, let's call him Carlos, lives in the Açores. Do you know where that is? It's so far, that it's not even in my guidebook of Portugal! He has a car and an old man we met on the way decided that we are married. Ok, whatever. We drove on the highway back through Covilhã (where I had to change trains but had to take the cab instead, remember?) and turned right in to the mountains to a village named Manteigas (which means something like butter) and started walking to a camping site which is full of white trees, in slovene named breza. Originaly the walk should have taken us 2h one way. That's what the lady in the tourist office said. But no... we took a wilde way over the river. Literally. Jumping/climbing on the rocks. It was fun!!! Remember every time you went to the seaside with your family and your parents wouldn't let you do it? We did it for an hour! And later realised we only came about 1/4 of the way... walked some more... It's incredibly peaceful there. Wait till you see the photos! We walked some more...in the sun (i'm a bit red:D) and finally cought a ride till the finish. We drove in a small car with only one seat but since Carlos is smaller than me (hehe:p) we hade space. It was crowded, but still ok. I took some photos, rest a bit and back! This time a mini wan would pick us up and drive us all the way down where we went up the river again for some swiming. The water was cold, but it was perfect! Noone, but a farmer with a few goats which I could swear were looking at us in surprise.

On the way back I decided to be brave and try a specialty (or maybe they just have too many?) - snails. The small ones, as a first step and because they are supposed to taste better. I was half relived to find out that they don't serve them in the place where we stopped, so instead we had the typical reagional cheese, ham and olives, while sitting in the shade, some wind... Oh, the beautiful life!

We headed back when it was time for us to each go our seperate way. Until... Untill I told him how much I hate the pousada and how not attracted I am by Guarda and the thought of staying there for another night. Untill he told me where he is going - practically on my way with a slight "turn" a.k.a. a stop at the ocean. The whole situation was screaming for a change of plans so I went with him. He was in a hurry to meat some family who would in the end host me (portuguese hospitality has no limits) so I had 15' to pack all the clothes I was drying in the room. Of course they were still wet, but that's a minor thing. This is how I ended up in Aveiro! We met the family, had some dinner, went for a midnight coffee (of course!) and a walk by the ocean. Btw: the coffee isn't good, but as well has absolutely no effect on me. It would make me sleepy, not awake. On avarage I have 2-3 coffees per day.

Next morning, which is today, We got up, had an one hour breakfast (it's a great ritual!:D) and left to see some more family (which I wisely avoided, hehe) and visit the town - Aveiro. Carlos took me to the beach where I picked up quite a few shells (I would take more, but ran out of hands), then we went to the center to see a big lighthous (closed at the time, unfortunately) and walk in the old part. We were also very touristy and took (please, don't kill me or deny me of your friendship!) a boat ride on the river! Can you imagine? Me. There.

ok, it wasn't bad, just not so interesting. I expected more cannals, but the houses are great! With all the tiles and the ones at the beach which are painted in stripes. They look like they came out of a cartoon. Great!

Then it was time to leave and go our different for real. Carlos took me to Viseu, where I had a very annoying moment because I got very tired (sorry..), but I had a really good two days with him and managed to convince him to visit me in Slovenia. It wasn't so hard:p (with the help of my magic book...)

Tomorrow I'll head to Bragança which is all the way up in the North-East. I plan to visit another national park, but am not yet sure which, because there are two. One is more impressive, the other is closer. Who knows what happens!

Now I'm off to finally search through Viseu and maybe get some souvenirs. They had some great imitations of typical boats in Aveiro, but were much too expencive and unpractical to carry around... Too bad, I'd love to have them.

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