May 26th Monsaraz

Today, we cut into Portugal, aiming for the hilltop walled town of Monsaraz. We lunched just outside a village named Oliva de la Frontiera, with a donkey for company, and watched a man cutting hay with a scythe, so this is the start of rural Portugal.

We arrived at Monsaraz , and parked up in the carpark below the city walls designated for campervans, where we planned to rough camp. Because of its position on the border with Spain, Monsaraz has always played an important in the border wars over the centuries, and was also a Muslim stronghold for awhile when the Moors conquered Spain and Portugal. As a small castellated medieval village, it didn’t take long to get round, and we walked most of the walls surrounding the village.
Back at the van, we had a long chat with an English couple, and shared our travellers tales.

Then visited a local vineyard and bought a bottle of wine to sample. In the evening, we walked round Monsaraz again, and had a nice meal in a local restaurant. We then came across a local male voice choir singing in a recently renovated chapel (still neat piles of plaster and a wheelbarrow). This seemed quite an important event, as they were dressed in their traditional uniform and were making a video. They allowed me to video some of their performance, so a treat awaits those interested when we get home.

Back to the van to sit out with a few drinks, and in the company of a new cat and friendly dog. Two other vans were camping overnight, so we felt quite safe.