Our First Portuguese Movie Theatre

Today, Thursday, is our first rainy day.  We don’t mind that for several reason.  Number one reason was, we were wanting to go and see  Monstros Fantásticos: Os Crimes de Grindelwald…Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald.  A rainy day would make that possible as frankly, I refuse to be inside on the days it is not possible to be outside.  Number two, we love the green and colour of the countryside and this lovely rain will make that happen for us and finally……..Number 3…….the car was full of mud!!!!   LOL

We totally enjoyed the film and both of us surprised and delighted with the fact that they have in intermission to go and do “whatever” for 10 minutes!!  How civilized.  For me it meant simply sitting back and thinking about what I had seen to that point.  For Marc, an opportunity to go and purchase popcorn!!

Now, safely tucked away at home, lovely fire in the woodstove, hot tea beside us and music to make our toes tap.  Life is wonderful as always.

Yesterday we opted to simply hang out at home, do laundry, enjoy a walk around the village, lunch in the square and a quick jaunt to the grocery.

I’ve always loved this particular view. We pass it daily on our way to the square for lunch and today it called out to be photographed. This is the mountain area just slightly north of Estoi, towards Sao Bras de Alportel.

These two rooftop buddies had much to say to us as we walked past.

Marc is a good sport and poses for me whenever I ask!!! Of course the shot you see is not necessarily the pose he initially makes!!

This datura has looked perkier but, it’s still beautiful.

Loved this bumper sticker on the back of a truck.

An impromptu market on the side of the road.

I spotted this lovely poinsettia in full bloom.

I arrived at the square for lunch a bit before Marc.  We had, as usual, pre-ordered and Elsa, seeing that I was alone…..decided I needed a tiny morsel or so to “hold me over” till Marc arrived……yes, a kabob of six french fries!!!!

Lunch was delicious…….a traditional pork and beans dish for me……pizza for Marc

Beans with pork.

I can’t describe how fabulous these flavours are. The meat has been marinated and is cooked, almost to a crisp, with flavourful chorizo. The beans, tender and in my case, with a few drops of Simão’s fiery homemade piripiri…..WOW!!

Thinly sliced ham with the crust baked to perfection.

The restaurant is not that busy right now, in fact the entire village is very quiet………the Prato do Dia is sold out each day however as many of the locals do “take away”, they preorder, come and pick it up then head home to eat.  I suspect it would be impossible to prepare such wonderful meals at home in the portion size they require as well as for price.  On days like this, even Ana get’s a break from time to time.

Like me, she too must have been a cat or a lizard in a previous life!

We ended our evening with being invited for a lovely visit with our neighbours/friends Harald and Bela.  Great and fun conversation, good wine, all kinds of marvelous munchies and a warming fire.  The fact that we could literally walk there in our slippers, well that simply added to the fun!!!