Monchique and area

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GPS can sure take you off the beaten track sometimes!! We started off today's adventure heading to a small mountain village (it is not the Alps, thankfully) called Monchique. Well, the GPS took us the most DIRECT route and not knowing the local roads, we crossed over a small bridge and the road became a cross between a garbage dump and a minefield of gigantic axle-breaking potholes and uncovered manholes! We eventually found a place to turn around and made it back to the real road unscathed.....

So, on to the real adventure.....we arrived in Monchique which was a lovely village. There was an old Cathedral and cobblestone roads throughout. The roads were single lane with 24 inch sidewalks so the cars came pretty close! We sampled the pastries nada (a traditional Portuguese pastry - kinda like a custard tart with a brulee top). Another truck carrying cork drove by so fast that a chunk of cork fell off. Nigel dodged a few cars and managed to grab the chunk of cork (it was like watching frogger - quite hilarious!)

After walking the entire village and seeing all the lookout points, we drove to the Caldas de Monchique which is a natural spring that flows down the mountainside. We got up close to a cork tree with a big number 3 on it. That must have something to do with when it was "uncorked" last. Then back into Monchique to walk around the "Festival of Medronho" which is a celebration of the spirit made from the Medronho fruit. Nigel and Russell also drove to Foia which is very close by and very high up (which is why Lori stayed in Monchique with Rachel) where they got a view all the way to Portimao and the Atlantic Ocean.

We ended the day with dinner at Rouxinol Restaurant and enjoyed Chicken Piri Piri (hot hot hot) and shrimp crepes. Delicious!



Scroll down for more photos.

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Photos

Orange tree
Our first orange sighting.

Outdoor oven
Everyone in the Caldas do Monchique village shares the same outside bread brick oven.

Cork
Recently harvested cork tree.

Robin Hood
Russell shot 10 arrows and nearly got a bullseye.

Lori 'lantic
Lori framed by a Yucca plant at the Atlantic ocean. Near downtown Portimao.

The view from dinner
Ate dinner on the patio at Rouxinol half-way up the mountain side. Gorgeous views, great temperature with no humidity. I had Piri Piri Chicken - hot!!!

Pierced Rock
Sandstone rock worn through by Atlantic waves.

Caught one!
The largest fishing pole I have ever seen.

Rock hole
Posing in the pierced rock.

Cliffs at Portimao
Sandstone cliffs. Sunset. Gorgeous.

Cliffside
The view from Monchique.

On your marks, get set, go
Raced up these never-ending flight of steps, in the hot sun. Russell beat me (Nigel).

Mural
Local artist's work.

Church
Very old church in Monchique.

Giant Yucca
We have one in our backyard that grows 3 feet. This one was 25-20 feet. Yikes.

Comments

[Elke]

Beautiful scenery
Looks lovely with beautiful blue skies. I love those Portugese egg tarts with the brulee top! I'll bet you're loving the warm weather - not quite like Scotland is it? :)

[NigelR]

Tarts etc
Yes the tarts are awesome. It is VERY differrent to Scotland. We don't really have to check the weather to plan our days. It is always sunny and warm. But not humid which makes Nigel very happy. Thnaks for your messages!

[Leigh]

Mural
I can't believe that mural has a picture of a kid that looks just like Russell in it. Amazing!