Tuesday, July 27, 2004 10:30 pm Sousel, Portugal
Ah – nous sommes tout seul. Funny how any other language pops into your head when in a foreign country – even if inappropriate!
We have left the boys with M&GL for 3 nights and we are now in Sousel in a Pousada (3 nights for the price of 2). Very ‘americanish’ – soaps & TV & room style wise, but also very Portuguese. We chose a modern rather than historic Pousada. We wanted the pool and comforts.
They only had a double room available – no king suites. Not too unreasonable at 113E per night – so a total of 226E for 3 nights.
We went to Estoril for dinner – very nice. First we had 2 cerveza each at a local bar (total 3.80(+tip a bit more). Then we found our restaurant from the guide book. They (an older lady) cooked on the BBQ out front. We both had soup – I gazpacho which was very different than spanish style. VERY tasty with onion, tomato, pepper, cucumber and sausage in a clear broth – not tomato. Michael had asparagus soup- not a cream soup and also very tasty. We both had lamb. One grilled and one slow cooked and both were very yummy. We also both had dessert – queguois (cheesecake) and one honey & nut cake. Again excellent. We had a carafe of house wine and coffees for a total bill of 29E – wonderful.
We will have to revisit Estromel to see the sites tomorrow or the next day – seemed to be lots to see.
earlier in the day…
The boys played in the pool all morning. We rose late and arranged the days. M&GL left some stuff in F.daF. so they need to arrange courier / pickup – hope it works out okay. G. was trying to arrange a complicated trip for their ‘alone’ excursion. M. wanted to keep it simple and stay
closer; hopefully she can convince him. We also arranged with Jane to stay 4 days in Sintra for the 4 of us (P/K/M&I) with friends of hers – Diane & Carlos. It is B&B style 10 minutes outside of Sintra. Since we still have the car it should work out fine. M&GL plan on staying in Lisboa. We hope to meet them some time – we can take the train into L. from Sintra (or Cascais or Estoril).
The drive here from Monsaraz was very interesting. We passed marble mines which are incredible. SO much marble!
Oh yes…. I forgot to mention the forest fires yesterday. we passed severl still smoldering and saw the remnants of more. Very destructive. At the restaurant tonight everyone was glued to the news of the ongoing fires – some seem to be set by arsonists and several towns have been evacuated. The forests in Acc…? near Lisboa are severely on fire. All over there are more and more fires.
Mike is enjoying the soccer / football and also the tennis has been on TV from Toronto! Agassi was playing – can’t believe he is still playing!
Well you can tell by my handwriting that I am tired. Off to sleep – Bon Noite!
10:45
Olive groves around here are massive – as far as the eye can see with a very unique smell. Also some cork trees along the edges. They are cleared of bark below ~ 6 ft and some are painted with clay.
We passed lots of very nice potter especially near Rugeinos de Monsaraz – will have to buy some.