Favourite Spots

Favourite Spot is Jake's suggestion for this week's Sunday Post but I couldn't choose just one favourite spot, so here are three:

My favourite corner of the garden

I love having breakfast or tea with this view before me or lying on a sun lounger under the orange tree.

 My favourite beach

This is a great spot to swim and sunbathe or to go for a relaxing walk at low tide.

The Aveiro Lagoon

This is the view from the coffee shop I like to stop at when I'm up north. I have to confess that I have better photos of the lagoon but I can't find them at the moment. This one was taken around Easter on a cloudy day.

To join in the challenge or see other bloggers' entries,  visit Jake's Sunday Post.

Before... and after... pics

No, I'm not going to post pictures of me/a celeb before and after my/our diet/liposuction/facelift or whatever. You know me better than that!

It's about structures which were part of the landscape in northern Portugal at a time when many families worked in agriculture.

Now you usually see them in ruins but before farmers used them to store and let the corn/maize cobs dry, safely out of the reach of rodents. Both sets of my grandparents had one and in their area they are known as "canastros". They fell into disrepair because now no one grows maize in my family. Fortunately my cousin decided to restore the one he inherited and here are the pics.

Before...

... and after...

I think it looks fantastic, don't you?

People

Playing a pauper

For those of a sensitive nature, let me reassure you - this guy's sores aren't real. It's all make-up and he's an "actor" playing a beggar at the Medieval Journey.

He looks so much like the real thing that a visitor stopped to have a chat and congratulate him.

This is my response to Jake's Sunday post challenge: People.

You'll find lots more entries if you click on the Water Dragon below.

Activities galore at the Medieval Journey

As I said in a previous post, there were many activities for visitors in 20 different areas: at the castle, along the way to the castle, at the bottom of the hill, by the stream and along some of the city streets. 

Here are some photos to give you an idea of some of the things you could do.

 

• You could watch strange contraptions go by...

 

•  You could go for rides...

• You could see the exhibits...

• You could visit the many stalls...

 

   Below is the Moroccan 

   section (always crowded).

 

• You could try you hand at making paper in the old-fashioned way at the "Paper Museum".

 

• You could try to hit the target using a bow and arrow.

 
 

• You could try scaling the castle walls.

 
 

• You could try using this bridge (children)...

        

     ...or this one (adults).

Hunger and thirst would be sure to hit everyone at some time, so there was an enormous food "court"...

Suggestive, isn't it?

• You could also visit the many cafes along the streets...

 

• You could dress up as king or queen and have your picture taken on a "royal set".

 
 

• And you could even have your palm read by "gypsies" at the "Pond of Spells"!

I really recommend you visit the official site (it's in Portuguese, Spanish and English) because it is fantastic - it has so much that I haven't even mentioned!

Related posts:

Medieval Journey - Procession

Top Medieval Journey in Portugal - to the castle!

Autumn

Autumn is the theme for Jake's Sunday post challenge. Although it's mid-September and I live in the northern hemisphere, in the Algarve people are still enjoying magnificent beach weather. The only sign that autumn is on its way is that the sun is setting earlier.

The photos I found for this post were taken about fifteen years ago at the beginning of September when I visited Celorico de Basto in northern Portugal.

Now it's time to visit all the other blogs that have joined Jake's challenge. Won't you come along, too?