Sunday June 14
We left our Airbnb apartment in the historic centre of Porto
at 9:45 and went by taxi to the collect the hire car. We loved the views from
the apartment and its central location. It was great for two couples, spacious,
two bedrooms, two bathrooms, big living area and kitchen.
After we collected the car we drove through the newer part
of Porto and spotted the beach and decide to have a coffee next to the Atlantic
Ocean.
We stopped and were “assisted” with parking by an entrepreneurial chap
(gypsy?) who told us not to buy a parking ticket and seemed to be looking after
the cars parked in his street, or waiting until the owners were out of sight
before stealing the car and /or stealing the contents. Anyway, we had our most
precious belongings and valuables with us, and found a swish new café right on
the beach and had coffee and pastel de nata –the Portuguese custard tart. What a
delicious delight! Our car was still intact, as were its contents, so our gypsy
minder was tipped a euro, which made him laugh and off we drove to our next
destination.
The drive to our next location was trouble free. We stopped
for lunch at a town named Guarda, originally settled in the 11th or
12th century to defend Portugal against the Moors and Spanish, hence
the name. The town has a Gothic Cathedral with an amazing 6 metre carved
altar piece.
On we drove over the mountains to Belmonte, where were
booked into a pousada.
Pousadas are old monasteries and convents which have
been set up by the government for classy accommodation. Convento de Belmonte is
set high on a mountain, overlooking a lush valley. The clouds roll in and out
and over and we cannot stop being enthralled by the views. Our room is
luxurious, with our own balcony with an uninterrupted view to the next
mountain.
There is evidence of the original monastery and the original
chapel is a lovely sitting room, with the sacristy now operating as a bar (Dick
thinks this place is the best place he has ever stayed at: in the country, high
up with amazing views from 2nd storey personal balcony, lots of
different living areas, courtyards, atriums, sitting rooms and dining areas..
the list goes on)
The rooms are named after the monks: we are in Frei Havier and Michael and Karol are in Frei Valentin.
We had the best dinner of our lives this evening. Cherries
are in season in Portugal, and we had the cherry degustation menu, with wines
from the local winery, 5 kms down the road.
Cherry gazpacho.
Cod with cherry risotto.
Cherry sorbet, palate cleanser.
Duck with cherry jus.
Cherry clafoutis for dessert.
Each course was fabulous, delicious, tasted sensational. And
it was not too much cherry. This chef is a genius.
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