Vinha Verde 5 October

IMG 3243 Dawn on the 5th of October IMG 3244 We head south today to Porto, taking in the sights along the way IMG 3246 Back in Portugal at Ponte Lima, the first task was to gather up about horse chestnuts! IMG 3247 They are so round and shiny!
IMG 3248 And they are just lying around on the ground... IMG 3249 FOR FREE!! IMG 3250 Like the treatment of the corner, plus of course the clean Virgin IMG 3252 Detail
IMG 3253 The place made me think of a chess set IMG 3254 We were looking for info about the white wine of this region, vinho verde. IMG 3256 This interpretative center had received WAY too much EU money! IMG 3258 They created interpretative tools that resembled cell phones
IMG 3259 I used the Word Lens program to decipher the displays IMG 3260 After the Center we wandered through the town IMG 3261 Do all churches have these arched entry ways? IMG 3262 Am I just realizing this for the first time?
IMG 3263 A very nice town center IMG 3265 Not sure quite what the bull is doing here IMG 3267 The Ponte LIma IMG 3268 Crenellations
IMG 3269 Now here are marrons, chestnuts that one can eat! IMG 3270 Tilework IMG 3271 Local bronze people IMG 3272 and the market!
IMG 3273 Yup, gotta see the market! IMG 3274 but it ended quickly! IMG 3275 A very old olive tree and another antique telephone IMG 3276 Suddenly we have been transported to Andalusia! The public restrooms!
IMG 3277 With a minimum of information we headed up valley to (try to) find some wineries. IMG 3278 This is the mossiest fountain I have ever seen! IMG 3280 It is in an estate with this remarkable trompe d'oeil painting IMG 3281 Looking back down the deserted driveway
IMG 3283 WE looked and looked but found no one around. IMG 3284 We explored places with arguably public access IMG 3285 Did we once have a poster like this in California? IMG 3286 The gate through which drove - it was wide open
IMG 3288 Christine awaits IMG 3289 Note the stone posts! IMG 3290 Beautiful bunches IMG 3291 Nobody to home...
IMG 3293 Hewn granite posts, no trouble with dry root here! IMG 3295 Next stop... IMG 3296 Probably once a big church property... IMG 3297 but now the ag school
IMG 3298 with a church appended of course IMG 3299 Greens and yellows IMG 3302 Follow the line IMG 3303 Church
IMG 3305 Yes, it was a church property.. IMG 3306 Another day, another church IMG 3308 Then we moved on to a main city in the area, Braga. IMG 3309 These stunning gardens hide a veritable underground street system, which was not in our GPS!
IMG 3310 We kept popping up in distant place, and it would need to "recalculate" IMG 3311 We parked (it was a holiday) and wandered around the city center IMG 3313 Antoher colorful garden IMG 3315 Eye candy
IMG 3316 continued IMG 3317 in close IMG 3318 Pedestrian areas IMG 3320 Then onward across the rolling and very populated countryside to the canyon of the Tuoro River and the communal caca zone
IMG 3322 Hills above the river IMG 3323 and the river below IMG 3324 Hills, fire scars and wind turbines across the river IMG 3326 Madame stretches her legs
IMG 3328 Terraces across the river IMG 3329 One can cruise on the Tuoro IMG 3331 This place burns a lot IMG 3332 more evidence of fire
IMG 3333 The tower on the wall in Bragança IMG 3335 Erin and I enjoying a glass of wine