Saturday 21 September: Monseraz

 We drive off on small roads through the Alentejan countryside and small villages with whitewashed houses with blue framed windows. It definitely feels more like Portugal than Spain. Only about half an hour and we climb up towards Monseraz perched up on the hill. There is plenty of parking and it doesn’t feel too crowded as we wonder the cobbled streets lined with whitewashed houses and surrounded by a medieval fortress wall. There are photo opportunities at every corner and 360 views of the flat countryside and enormous artificial lake on all sides. Our guide book recommends a restaurant on the edge of time but we arrive to find it fully booked! We’re very disappointed but infact find a lovely spot by following our nose to the source of a delicious smell and get a table on a terrace outside with a great view. Delicious slow cooked lamb for Simon and pig’s cheek for me. With salad and a glass of Vino Blanco. Best meal so far! Then on to a small village which is allegedly the pottery centre of the area. However most are closed and the few that are open are not full of temptation! Back to our peaceful adults only (not naturist) campsite in the olive groves. It’s cooler tonight and we may have to eat our bread and cheese in the van. Or dig out the jumpers from the bottom of our bags! We’ve decided to stay another day here and have a quieter day tomorrow before heading to the coast.












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