Virtual holiday - day 6. wednesday



Today is a mooching day! After the usual hearty breakfast with gallons of coffee we boarded the hotel minibus down to the sea front and wandered, first of all through the shopping area to the Cathedral.  It is the ideal day for ducking and diving in and out of places because the weather is warm but with the chance of rain - even thunderstorms. Not what I would term a cathedral on the scale of York, Canterbury, Lincoln, or Salisbury it is more like an overgrown parish church, but the interior is so ornate! Built in the 15th century, the painted ceiling, the pictures - all so Romanesque! But it is what one would expect in a devout Catholic country.The cathedral’s altarpiece is of significant historical, architectural and artistic value, and was ordered to be created by King Manuel I in 1510-1515. The altarpiece features a Gothic canopy that comprises gilt woodwork, sculptures and oil paintings. This piece is considered so valuable due to the intricate, and highly technical quality of execution, as well as the fact that it is the only Manueline altarpiece that remains entirely in its place of origin. (The last couple of sentences were cribbed from the internet just so you don't get the idea that I carry extraneous bits of info in my head!)  Anyway we poodled round, lit a candle for our dearly remembered granddaughter Clemmie and then decided it was time for coffee!

 We found a restaurant which had tables inside and outside, so we opted to sit outside so that we could do some people watching while we sample a piece of cake and coffee. And then it was time to move on again - fortunately it had not rained! It was then a bit of a trek to the flower market which was wonderful. Flowers such as the birds of paradise had such vibrant colours - perhaps with global warming we shall be able to grow them here in the future - or perhaps I shouldn't be hoping for that! Anyway Micky (as is her wont brought some seeds and we shall see what joy she has with her very green finger and the warmth of the greenhouse. All this walking about had made us very hungry, so we headed back to the harbour area where we found a restaurant overlooking the harbour, we opted to sit outside and while perusing the menu the chef came over with a tray with two fish - one bright red which had been caught that day, and offered them to us for some exorbitant price, but as there are four of us we decide to go for it and he took them away and barbecued them and yes, they were delicious - worth every overcharged euro!


And so, we returned by taxi to the hotel for a swim, a poolside read, snooze, and then the usual offices. (i.e. the bar and the restaurant) for the evening meal. Another great day with the realisation that tomorrow will be our last full day. Gosh! A week goes so quickly!


Coming soon: A virtual pilgrimage to the Holy Land




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