High Fives!

Yes, there were congratulations and high fives all around as we pulled into the Timeless Charm Hotel in Evora.  Aside from the driveway at the convent (I walked up the same part that I had not dared to ride down yesterday afternoon), it was quite an easy ride today and short -- only 24 km.  The countryside is predominantly in farms, the most unusual feature being the huge rock piles around the base of the olive trees.  I guess centuries of clearing the fields have resulted in these unique farms.  The serious ploughing was being done with a tracked bulldozer!

Evora has been declared a Unesco World Heritage centre.  There are many churches, a serious aqueduct, a medieval wall all around, narrow cobble streets, and lots of little souvenir shops focused on cork products.  The main design motif for Portugal is the rooster.  There is a legend about a pilgrim wrongly accused of a crime and about to be killed.  He declares that if he is innocent, then the chicken dinner of the judge should stand up and crow and of course, it does.

We had one local activity before our final dinner together -- it was a wine tour and tasting at a local vineyard owned and run by a foundation whose mission is to promote sustainability and interest in Evora.  May of the things I have seen before -- French Oak barrels, videos of production etc., but never before have I done aroma analysis.  There were liquids to simulate five different grapes, you stuck a little strip of paper in each and then smelled it.  Quite remarkable differences and preferences.  Afterwards, we tried some of their wines and olive oils --also a unique experience.  And by the time we had finished there, it started to rain.

It rained all evening and is scheduled to rain all day tomorrow.  We have been incredibly lucky with the weather and I am very glad that I will not be trying to navigate a narrow road tire on wet cobbles tomorrow morning. Some of our group fly out tomorrow and have an early date for the airport.  I have one more evening in Lisbon and so do not need to be in the first transport.

Art asked me what I found most surprising and I had to admit that it was my ability to climb.  I don't like it any more than before this trip, but I can do it and it doesn't ruin my enjoyment of the ride!