Canto da Ribeira de Baixo
We had our first camper visit! The corner of our street named ‘Corner of lower part of Ribeira’ was ready! Rob and his wife didn’t need anything for a camper space. They did need to wash their clothes, so that is what we did despite the first rain fall. They had a nice ‘take-away’ rack to dry all inside the house.
Luckily the camper van was not that big, because the tractor of our neighbor Luis, has to pass there. Our house is the only house in this street. They specially assigned the street name to us. But we do have a neighbor, Luis, with his terrain where he plants vegetables next to our house. He comes by with his tractor once in a while.
Rheims-Portugal-Spain
The trip of them started in The Netherlands, where they left all behind. Not all, their new camping stuff they carried in their new camper van. They first went to Rheims, so their trip started well with special drinks.
Coimbra
Visiting Coimbra was a must of course. They loved the historical city. They first went to the old and new cathedral, and the university. And then it was difficult to find a restaurant that was still open for lunch. But the huge restaurant Bacalhau, is open all day, and they had the typical Portuguese dried fish. They had to go to CTT to pay for their toll. That was kind of difficult. First all is closed, and then it is hard to understand the procedure. People who live here, and had to pay afterwards, without buying a electronic card on forehand, know this probably. At least they will not have a fine, like we had last year.
Tomar
After two nights at Casa da Lima, Jaap-Willem adviced them to visit Tomar, the Templars city with the Templars Castle. A huge monastery where pilgrims could rest and where they could exchange their money into modern ‘traveler cheques’. The Templars defended the pilgrims on their pilgrimage to the Holy Land. They were the first setting up a banking system, so that pilgrims didn’t have to walk with lots of money. There were lots of thieves back then. Also there is a long aquaduct that brought water to the monastery. Very nice to see this one too. You have to drive a bit further to have a look to this amazing aquaduct.
Alcobaça and Batalha
Since the rain season just started, it is quite nice to visit the monastery Alcobaça and the monument Batalha. But the latter has an extra part with huge beautiful pillars, where they stopped and left it without roof, so the rain falls down there. Hope it is dry when you are visiting Batalha!
Bom caminho Rob and Ineke!
