A HISTORIC BELVEDERE OVER A FERTILE WETLAND...

Last week, I got on a train that, rolling through vast and green plains stretching to the horizon - often flooded by the river Tagus -, took me to the city of Santarém.  

From the popular Jardim das Portas do Sol (The Sun Gate Park) – that is encircled by the city’s medieval walls, I could afford magnificent views of the district’s plains and river.

The city is home to several churches, most of them of Gothic style, which makes Portuguese people call it the capital city of Gothic style in Portugal.

The photo below pictures the so-called  Torre das Cabaças (Bottle Gourds Tower). Its name has to do with the eight calabashes (now replaced by ceramic pots) at the top of the tower used to make the sound of the bell louder and be heard  in the villages nearby. For a long time, popular opinion has considered them to represent the empty heads of the councillors who had been responsible for ordering the construction of such a crude, clumsy-looking tower...

Some of you who know me for many years already, won't be surprised with the collage below. I love markets: colourful places with a variety of produces, with nice blends of scents, making them be something like an edible and perfumed patchwork...

I wouldn't tell a lie if I said that I hadn't seen many foreign tourists but Portuguese, only. If I had counted the former, the fingers of one of my hands would have been sufficient...

Hope you give me the pleasure of being guided by me through the city...

~~ Enjoy the weekend  ~~

~~ Thanks for stopping by ~~

INLAND PORTUGAL #4 AND LAST - AROUCA GEOPARK, SCHIST HAMLET, PAIVA PATHWAY

With half of its area classified by the Natura 2000 Network, the whole Arouca Geopark is a place of choice for nature tourism, with river beaches and traditional villages that are worth exploring. So, I did it as much as I could. 
Most of the time, I felt as if I were diving into the Past while living the Present days. I saw the enigmatic rock delivering stones, I wondered through the Paradinha typical hamlet and its surrounding area where local materials were used for the buildings, I had moments of relaxation when I accepted the invitation from the river beach, not to mention a short stay at Arouca town where I had the opportunity to enjoy its typical U-shaped sweet morcels.   

Geopark - The only chapel I saw - Baroque-style, XVII century

 Paradinha, born in the mountain and leaning against it. The Paiva river and the natural mountain landscape creates a special framework to this hamlet with its small farming terraced fields and its beach.

Arouca - Main square and typical sweet morsels (you will require a bowl filled with boiling water in which to place the morsels for a few minutes. Then, they are ready to be enjoyed).

And now, the last but not the least reference: Paiva boardwalk around the mountain, inaugurated last July. The entire 8.0 km (4.9 miles) walkway with its zig zag of steps leading up to the top of the hill,  enables visitors to enjoy parts of the countryside that were only previously accessible by boat.

I had wonderful days of walking, of photography, of time offline and of trail after trail, town after town, river after river, trees after trees,  the Past and the Present living together ...

I can't help but putting an end to this set of posts by quoting the British academic and travel writer Robert Macfarlane...

For some time now it has seemed to me that the two questions we should ask of any strong landscape are these: firstly, what do I know when I am in this place that I can know nowhere else? And then, vainly, what does this place know of me that I cannot know of myself?

RELATED POSTS:
INLAND PORTUGAL #1
INLAND PORTUGAL #2
INLAND PORTUGAL #3

~~ Thanks for accompanying me ~~

~~ Enjoy the rest of this week ~~

INLAND PORTUGAL #3 ~ VOUGA ECOTRAIL, PARADELA

Although the weather was not at its best, I really enjoyed my walk along the Vouga Ecotrail that follows to the north always parallel to the river Vouga and to a roadway. The starting point is marked by a tiny chapel. This, as told me by the man you see not very clearly, had been erected at his own expense... the fulfilment of a promise!!! 

Despite my fear of heights, looking down the road didn't cause me any vertigo. All the way, I felt very safe as the trail was very wide and the pavement was good even for all those who like biking or are fond of skating...

It passed through tunnels and a monumental bridge that is a symbol of the region. In terms of geology, the prevailing stone was schist.

Reaching the former railway station of Paradela - at which trains don't stop anymore - nowadays turned into a tea-room, and enjoy a small tart filled with custard and berries, was like a balm after my physical effort.

 The valley of the Vouga river provides nice landscapes. Furthermore, the fertile soil enables the growing of fruit trees and the cultivation of myrtus bushes. 

~~ THANKS FOR JOINING ME ~~

~~ HAVE A NICE DAY ~~

OFF TO THE CITY OF SETUBAL

Setubal is a pleasant city to wander around in and admire the very scenic small old streets in the old part of it. That's what I did yesterday... 

The railway station                                   The Main square

The Town Hall

The market 

My eyes were particularly attracted by the balconies and some of the streets that were decorated with the purpose of becoming appealing to consumers, I wonder those decorations will make consumers loosen the strings of their purses... At least, they were colourful...

 

Running off the square in several directions are a labyrinth of small streets with boutiques, shops and small cafés; here and there the streets open up to squares with a small church or monument.

~~ Have a great start of the week ~~

-- Thanks for stopping by ~~

INLAND PORTUGAL #2 - CAIMA RIVER, UL RIVER THEME PARK AND CABREIA PARK

I was a bit shocked as my eyes set on the pollution of Caima River that I remember well was very clean at my childhood times. In the area, there are several industrial units that manufacture a wide range of products from moulds and footwear to springs and cooking wares. Pity to see that industrialists don't care about environment.

The same happened with the Ul river waters. Despite the interesting Mills Theme Park, something like a living museum of bread making and grain milling, activities in the area that date back to the XIX century, I was so disgusted that the waters were also polluted...

However, I forgot for a while my feeling as I looked at the traditional sweet bread with cinnamon, a unique cultural heritage... 

I think most of you, like me, are fond of stories with a happy end. The day had a great one as I reached Cabreia Park. 

The area is criss-crossed with streams on which water-mills are dotted throughout the landscape.

A delicious dinner was perfect to make me prepared to enjoy the following day...

Would you like to view further images from the slideshow below? 

~~ Enjoy every minute of the weekend ~~

~~ Thank you| ~~