Hello,
We have finally arrived in Portugal, and so far it has been consistently sunny, fabulous. Yesterday we went to Viana do Castelo, a very beautiful large town in the north of Portugal. The Santa Luzia Sanctuary (temple) is on a huge hill overlooking the whole town. To climb to the top the public scale a narrow staircase of 158 steps, through wich we reached the dome. Then to get to the tiny viewpoint at the very top of the temple there is a spiral stone staircase that is shoulder width and very steep steps. Obviously the portugese saw no need for any safety things, let alone a banister. They tried with a traffic light system for the spiral section however one end was not working. The views were beautiful and only a few people could actually fit at the very top so it was not a battle to see anything. Good for people of lesser height like myself.
The shops are not very tempting, which is good for a spendy trousers like me, and increasingly Zach. So instead we are compensating by food shopping, the excitement. Buying bread always leads to other, naturally necessary, purchases. So far Zach has cooked once, and it was very good, though due to our lazy washing up attitude supper is generally simple. I have just been told off for saying z has only cooked once, ok, only cooked once all by himself. He has been an occasional assitant!
Today in Povoa de Varzim. Reasonable place, though more tourist ridden that other places we have been, or perhaps it is just more obvious. Also less attractive than the standard seen so far. Although i am appalled with the spanish standard of houses, they are falling down, or half built. Portugal is better in that respect.
Probably will be on beaches this afternoon and tomorrow, i am on my last book so sister bringing a fresh supply will be a welcome relief. We will be going into Porto and Braga early next week then heading back up to Spain for a serious surf hunt. At the moment it is 1ft if z is lucky. Not good for either of us...Though Pam you should be pleased to hear your son has avidly read a good book by an intelligent author in the guise of it being a crime novel. I am most impressed.
Hope all are wonderful at home. It feels like we are hardly far away at all as we can contact you so easily. Take care, will write soon.
Sarah and Zach
xxx
