Hunting Season Has Opened

In all the years I have been coming here my one dream has been to “stumble on” a wild boar whilst hiking!!!  Have I seen a boar here outside of restaurant menus?  That would be a resounding NOPE.  So today, my official wild boar hunting season has started!  Armed with my camera and one of my hiking poles (for protection) I headed into the mountains for my first hike of the trip and my first official “spot a boar”.

It was a warm but cloudy day, the skies a little gray and the threat of rain in the not too distant future.  I ended up being a little overdressed, especially with the demanding uphill climb, yet enjoyed each moment of the hike.

The mountain path was peppered with olives, medronho and carob pods.  The colour at times was astounding with the various fruits intermingled on the ground and with those still clinging to the trees.  I’ve long since learned that photos never pay them justice so I decided to simply enjoy seeing them myself……..other than one clump

It was incredibly quiet in the mountain today.  Frequently you can hear cars off in the distance but not today.  The birds were plentiful and one magpie, they can be so elusive to the camera lens, was fairly curious and followed me for quite some distance flitting in and out of the branches and grumbling about my presence.  I found myself stopping from time to time just to close my eyes and breath in the moment.  Loved every moment.

When I arrived at the top of the mountain trail I suddenly remembered that a couple of folks had asked me to include a few photos of the views and so…..I took these next three standing in one spot……they should overlap but my camera doesn’t have a panoramic function but you can use your imagination.

That is Faro off in the distance…..just before you fall in the Atlantic!

Once I’m up the top, the going down on the other side of the mountain is a small roughly paved mountain road, I think it might be paved as there is one house at the very top….a driveway if you will!  All along both sides of this road is ancient farmland and forest.  It was probably at one time lush and impeccably cultivated.  Today it is left to Mother Nature for the most part and consequently, falling in on itself in places.  To my eye, it’s still quite beautiful and having the various fruit-bearing trees lining it, almost as if lined with Christmas trees.

A once functioning outer building to a farmer.

This gnarled old fig tree, which looked to be dying, was covered in plum sized figs. It has to be last years crop ,and the first ones I’ve seen on a tree this trip.

A close-up of some of the figs. Very hard in texture but I’ll be keeping my eyes on them.

This bush is quite lovely. Looks like jasmine but is scentless.

IN the middle of nowhere, a hollyhock!!!

A once functioning water wheel. Tucked tightly in the middle of an abandoned orange orchard.

I am always happy that I love walking so much.  You get to see things from such a different perspective and it’s free!!  I was gone from home about and hour and a half and once back we got ourselves organized to head off to the square for lunch.  I had preordered todays prato do dia…….not one of Marc’s favourites….he opted to order off the menu.

Fabulous cuttle fish!

Thick tender portions of succulent cuttlefish in a flavourful sauce of onions, tomatos, parsley and goodness knows what else.

Marc ordered cordon bleu.

And today, Marc’s first dessert since arriving here over a week ago.  He chose well, a sweet potato roll….

Sprinkled with sweetly scented cinnamon

Look at that happy happy face.

I think he groaned with pleasure after each mouthful!

The rain continued to hover somewhere off in the distance and we knew it was only a matter of time before it reached us.  With full bellies we headed back to our warm and cozy quinta, we both had projects we were working on and figured we would head back to the square for another visit and an afternoon drink around 17h00 or so.

Saw this tucked away in the back of a garden.

Part of the pousada.

I looked up and this was my perspective as I walked home.

Today was “come to work in pajamas! These are some of the women who work at the day care centre near by. Arriving at Ana’s for a bica.

And here is Elsa in her pajama top….she tells us it was a Christmas present from last year and this is the first time she’s worn it.

Sipping tea, a warm fire burning in the woodstove, they both made it difficult to head off for our 17h00 rendezvous but, we look forward to seeing Ana and Simão as by this time they are usually not busy and they can join us in an aperitif and a visit.  We look forward to it.

Bundled up in the event it rained before we headed home…..which in fact, it did!

The boys enjoying each others company and a good gab peppered with a belly laugh or two.

Marc is clearly very unhappy with being here!!!!!

A glass of Macieira Macieira.jpeg Manufacturer Pernod Ricard Country of origin Bombarral, Portugal Introduced 1885 Macieira which is a Portuguese brandy. Warmed me up instantly!!

A great visit, always a laugh or two then with a borrowed umbrella……the five minutes or so walk to home and the warmth of the woodstove………a fabulous meal and a good vino.  We have zero complaints……and to boot……..a present from Simão….something he has given us for the last three years of being here…..his amazing home made piri piri sauce. Obrigado Simão.