Professor Sharon

Ginja cherries that is!  This day was one of my favorites of this trip with Odysseys.

The day began with packing and loading onto the bus.  Our end goal of the day was Porto, but on the way we would visit the towns of Obidos and Navaree.

Less than an hour outside from Lisbon we stopped at the walled city of Obidos.  Unfortunately, like so many sites, it is no longer a town where people live, but a tourist stop with bus parking and bathrooms and souvenir stands outside the gorgeous stone gates and walls.  We did ask an employee as we peeked into what turned out to be a garden for a restaurant about if folks lived in the town, and she said that everyone lived outside the walls now.  While we’re glad to have visited it, it is sad that tourism has interrupted a centuries old way of life.

Obidos – a gift of the kings.

“Once the wedding present of a queen, the preserved medieval town of Óbidos lying 100 km north of Lisbon is without doubt one of Portugal’s most classic walled settlements. Walking the ramparts, visitors can enjoy views of windmills, vineyards and surrounding farmlands. In the residential area below, narrow cobblestone streets are lined with whitewashed houses sporting terracotta roofs. The shops are piled high with local handicrafts, while in spring the town is ablaze with geraniums, morning glories and bougainvillaea.”

It was a gorgeous day and we headed right for the ramparts!  We ended up walking about halfway around the town as there was no way down except go back to the way up; and why do that?

On the ramparts – notice no edge….

Another look at the ramparts

After this, the tour went onto Nazaree – where the world surfing record was set, and where we did something more simple and ate a wonderful “sardinias assadas (grilled sardines) for lunch.  By the end of the day we were in Porto in a beautiful pousada (hotel).

We climbed down the “staircase” and through some of the town, finding our way to a cafe where we tried the local liquor called Ginja made from Ginja cherries.  It was a short size drink served in a chocolate cup – yum!  And it wasn’t even 11 in the morning – nice!

Ginja drink in chocolate cups

After Obidos we were back on the bus, had a stop in Nazaree where we had terrific saradinias assadas (grilled sardines) for lunch.  By the evening we were in Porto at our Pousada.

Here’s a few more pictures of the day:

An interesting museum in Obidos – we think it was a famous fashion/stage designer.

A lovely street view of Obidos