Discovering Portugal from the inside

As Thomas mentioned yesterday, we are now back onboard l'Olonnois after three beautiful days discovering Portugal from the inside. It was actually very nice to exchange l'Olonnois for a small Golf car and a tent... well, for a little while of course! We left l'Olonnois in the very safe harbor of Nazare, under the supervision of the charming English couple in charge of the marina: Mike and Sally. And off we went! As said, it was pleasant to forget for three days the wind forecasts, the list of things that need to be done, the dishes with cold water, the cooking in a very small kitchen...

As we started our trip over "Central Portugal" on saturday, the weather was warm and sunny. Not a cloud in the sky, just a perfect day for being a tourist! We began with the small city of Obidos, a fantastic fortified village from the XII century, located some 30 km south from Nazare. Traditionally, the small city was "offered" by the king to the new queen at their wedding; a piece of jewellery indeed! We headed afterwards to the peninsula of Baleal and had a long walk on the  beach that goes around the peninsula. "Neverending" but crowded with surfers, windsurfers and kitesurfers, this beach is anything but boring! To finish the day, we visited the abbey of Alcobaca, simply splendid! It is a monastery from the XII century, that accommodated more than 500 persons in its prosperous days. The church that is 106 meters high is the highest in the country. Indeed very impressive!

Azulejos, at the main entrance of Obidos

Obidos

Peninsula of Baleal

Surfers near Baleal

The monastery of Alcobaca

Nice kitchen...

Cloister in Alcobaca

Alcobaca

On sunday, we started with the monastery of Batalha. Definitely as beautiful as the one of Alcobaca! We also had a delicious "mille-feuilles" in a cafe to celebrate my birthday... hummm!!! We went then to the pilgrimage city of Fatima. We had the chance to arrive just for the last quarter of the mass and to see the incredible amount of Christians gathered there to celebrate their faith. In its way, quite inmpressive as well! We headed afterwards towards Tomar and visited the castle built by the Templars in the middle of the XII century. Being both starving, we had to shorten the end of the visit and we sat in a small restaurant where we were served the house specialty for Thomas (chicken with Porto wine) and "baccalhau" for me. Delicious even if not particularly light! Towards the end of the day, we drove to Coimbra and settled the tent in a big camping relatively close to the city. A small walk in the center and "dodo"!

Batalha, from outside

Batalha, from inside

The gargoylz'!

Fatima and its pilgrims

Tomar

Tomar

Tomar

Tomar

On monday, we woke up earlier and had breakfast in town. Cafe, fresh orange juice and portuguese pastry... there is worse to start a day :-) Coimbra is an interesting city with one of the oldest european university, many churches and museums and a medieval town center. We spent there the whole day. A highlight of the day is the (too short, maximum 20 min.) visit of the fascinating old library of the university. To preserve the air quality and therefore the integrity of the manuscripts kept in the room, a maximum 40 persons is allowed inside at the same time. The door is open every 20 minutes and everybody must out before the next group comes in.

"Vintage" classroom in the university of Coimbra

The old cathedral seen from the university

The old cathedral of Coimbra

University of Coimbra, seen from the river.

As for the near future, we are planning to sail towards Madeira tomorrow.
A bientot!