Sunday 22 September: walking in the Alentejo

 After breakfast we cycle off in walking gear and leave the bikes at the nearby village about 3 miles away. We the follow the marked track for the PR6 route which starts rather inauspiciously through a farmyard with a lot of well hung bulls on either side behind a fence and even worse the stiff carcass of a large cow lying on its side. After that the scenery improves and we walk through the rural outback with hay bales, olive trees, cork and holm oak trees. We see some cork trees with the bark removed labelled 20. We presume 2020 as we gather it takes 7 years for the cork bark to regrow. So clever. Dusty landscapes, the odd rustic dwelling and one hermitage. A quick picnic overlooking the lake and then a cycle home to relax by the pool for a few hours. Tinned beans and rice for supper. Washed down with some local wine. It’s been a lovely relaxing and authentic stay here. We’re heading to the coast for some seafood tomorrow. 








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