Lamego Portugal

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We were booked into a family Hotel in Lamego. The Tom Tom took us to the middle of town. We asked a Lady where the Hotel would be and a whole lot of people came out, that we made clear no Portugese made no difference she just continued. But the way she waved her hands towards the mountains,it did not look that well. A man dressed in suit and tie was watching and told in English he knew. He was with two cars with a lot of women with one girl dressed in a long cream dress. It looked like a first Communien. He argued with the women folk went in one car and told us to follow him. He went out of town up the mountain, through hobble stone lanes, with stone walls on each side. The car was screaming with alarm sounds to be to close to walls, with Liz joining in. On top he stopped at an old farm house and pointed there it is. And there was the car with all the other females. How lovely was that. We stopped short with going to our knees but thanked all of them much much much. The house was modernised but looked like ford Knox. With a lovely garden around it and even a swimming pool. An old Lady let us in and showed the room. We tried to settle in but were not at ease. We tried the T.V, but that did not work. That made us try the free internet and our feelings were waranted. That did not work either. They advertised these things that all not working we did not stay. They understood and refunded the deposit. We found another Hotel that had parking, internet and was close to town. Lovely place with great people running it. Later we will explore the city. As a start we climbed the six hundred steps to the Baroque church in honour of the Virgin Mary. It is lined with statues, fountains and blue tiled Azulejos. On the 8th of September some Pilgrims do those steps on their knees. The 13th century Castle is being restored. We found an interesting place where we eat. Smoked hams are hanging from the ceilings. Food is fabulous and cheap. Dinner with a bottle of good wine $30. Some Archeologists were digging and found coins and graveyard remains that are dating back from before the Roman times. Tomorrow we will continue our travel in Portugal. Bye for now Liz & Allan.

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