HOW ABOUT JOINING ME???

I always find something new to explore as easily as I turn the corner... Today, I have turned another one and drove up to the mountain at the foot of which I have been on a long long stay so as to avoid the bad condition of the pandemia, in Lisbon.  

The weather was fine, yet already cold. How about joining me? Don't fear my driving on a mountain road, despite it often curves right others left, with the lanes not wide enough. Let's set off...

I presume you feel like having a stop and take rest for a while...

The sun hasn't set, yet. Let's end our driving by going to a bio market that is held every thursday in the afternoon.

Thanks for joining me! 

ANOTHER DAY, ANOTHER WALK...

I like living by the foot of a mountain. It gives me many opportunities to walk to different locations while I breathe unpolluted atmosphere and get acquainted with rural people who always show me that by having a simple life they can feel happy.

Under the current circumstances and though confinement is implemented all over the country, the measures in a small town like the one I have been living, are not so austere as if I had been in Lisbon. This fact, along with a co-operative weather, allows me to go for a longer walk. This happened some days ago.

As I saw a dog that was quietly resting and didn't bark at me, I walked a few meters farther and reached a multi-purpose structure that was half a henhouse and a pigeon one. The farmer was very proud of his pigeons, particularly of the French Mondain breed ones.  

I was shy to ask what those letters on the left side stood for... Perhaps the initials of the farmer's full name... 

I left the place, the air of which was a blend of lavender and pine flavours...

I went ahead with my walk and was glad to see old-style extraction of resin, something that I hadn't seen for ages...

On the way back home, I walked through a village that in the past was well-known for the activity of its villagers.

~~ Thanks for stopping by ~~

CURIOSITY DIDN'T KILL THE CAT....

Very often I walk for the sake of walking and, sometimes, by a mere chance, I find unexpected and interesting places. This happened a few weeks ago. I saw an open gate. I was curious to see what I would find if I walked upwards the pathway.

As I was getting close to a house, I realised that was a farmhouse. An old man was standing quietly. He waved friendly at me as if he had met me before. No noise coming from inside the house but chicken were clucking happily in the yard. 

I apologised for my intrusion and he smiled. 'Ok', I thought, I was not disturbing him. I explained that I always enjoy visiting farms and factories. Hearing my words, he smiled broadly and told me he would be pleased to take me around his farm. As we were walking, he added he had lived in Canada for over 40 years and since he had returned back to his birthplace he had been making his living by rearing cows either for meat or dairy. 

All the time he spoke cheerfully. He looked happy with his simple life, surrounded by flowers, poultry, cows and three dogs...

Curiosity didn't kill the cat...

~~Thanks for stopping by ~~

~~ Have a Covid19-free weekend ~~

A VILLAGE THAT SEEMS TO HAVE STOPPED IN TIME...

Having heard about shelter in place to be ordered by the authorities some day during the week - actually, it is compulsory since the day before yesterday - on last Monday, I decided to take the car, drive all the day long and visit mountain villages that you don't find in travel guides. In fact, I would say that they are Portuguese pearls.

Cabeça village was the most interesting of all. In spite of the difficult access on a steep and narrow road off the main one, I reached it safely. 

As a curiosity, Cabeça was the first village in Portugal to have wireless internet in 2007 and, from 2013 on it has got a new life as Christmas Village. Local community has engaged in the task of developing décor by using only natural elements, agricultural and forest surplus, as well as wool. 

Remains from last Xmas season

Due to the isolation - no pharmacy, no cash dispensers, no school, only one modest café - population is quite old and cats or dogs are their companions.

I happened to talk to one villager who was coming from a farm where she had got feed for poultry. Look at her face... even living under such circumstances, she has a happy face...

Colourful blooms were seen here and there. They seemed to give a touch of youth to the aged population

Housing clearly shows the characteristics of the shale and granite area that Cabeça is...

I presume that religion has a special role in the daily life of the population. During my walk throughout the village I saw several Roman Catholic signs. A door exhibiting a very simple cross drew my attention. I was told by a passer-by that the owner believed that by having it so, his home would be protected from the evil eye!!!

May you all have a Covid19-free weekend...

~~ Thanks for stopping by ~~

VILLAGERS DESCENDED FROM THE MOUNTAIN.....

On Saturday, villagers descended from their mountain places down to the city. They came along with the Three Wise Men, sprinkling a festive cheer in the main square. Other than cheer they warmed people's hearts, minimising the low temperature that characterised that afternoon.

 The kid was enjoying the typical sweet for the festive season

On the way back home, I stopped to smell a rose and set my eyes on the door below...

Then, I waved farewell to the steep city... 

~~Thanks for stopping by ~~