As we wrap up our latest house sit here in the Portuguese countryside, it’s been another fascinating couple of weeks — complete with a few days of sunshine (finally!), unexpected local traditions, and even a full-blown power outage.
We’re now into our third week staying at this lovely property. Ann and Geoff, the homeowners, popped back briefly before heading off again, giving us the chance to attend a local event with them — the annual Vinho auction in aid of the village church. It’s the kind of community gathering that reminds you how deeply rooted traditions still run in rural Portugal.
In this region, it’s still customary for the local women to keep vigil beside the deceased the night before a funeral. The auction, held to raise funds for the church, brought everyone together in a way that was both respectful and festive. The variety of items up for bidding was as unpredictable as it was entertaining — wine, spirits, eggs, sausages, home-baked cakes, and even a live rabbit made their way across the auctioneer’s table. What made it more fun was the twist: if you didn’t want to keep your item, you could donate it back, and the auction would roll on.
One of the most surreal moments had to be grabbing a drink from the temporary bar set up in the village morgue — now that’s a first! The day wrapped up with a hearty BBQ, fresh pizzas, and a dessert spread that would put most bakeries to shame. There’s something incredibly heartwarming about seeing a small village come together like this — everyone knowing each other, everyone chipping in.
Just as we were settling back into the rhythm of daily life, the unexpected struck. Around 11am the next day, we realised the washing machine had suddenly stopped. At first, we thought it was a fuse or tripped switch, but it quickly became clear that the entire area had lost power — and not just for a few minutes. The blackout lasted a full 12 hours.
With only patchy mobile data and no Wi-Fi, we had little idea what had caused the outage or how long it would last. We took the old-school route and filled the time with dog walks and a jigsaw puzzle. It was oddly peaceful. But as daylight faded, the mood shifted — lighting candles, rummaging for torches, and trying to manage four dogs in a sprawling house suddenly felt more like an adventure survival game than a peaceful retreat.
Eventually, we decamped to our trusty motorhome, which thankfully runs on gas and has its own lighting and charging setup. From there, we watched the countryside fall into silence, save for the faint hum of a generator in the distance. Moments like these are reminders of just how much we rely on electricity — not just for comfort, but for basic necessities like water from the pump or staying connected with the outside world.
And just like that, the power is restored and the next day brought sunshine and celebration. It’s Labour Day here in Portugal, and we made our way into Coja to witness the annual Tractor Run — a delightfully eccentric parade of local tractors, many decorated for the occasion, rumbling through the village streets. A local band added music to the mix, and the whole town turned out to cheer them on.
It’s been few weeks of contrasts — from lively community events to unexpected quiet, from rustic tradition to modern dependence — and all of it wrapped in the charm of this peaceful Portuguese valley.
This is the best photo of Molly, Dora, Giota and Patch but considering all four are rescue dogs they are quite picky when it comes to there taste buds so feeding time is interesting sorting who wants what
Some of the locals taking their seats ready for the Vinho Church Auction
When clearing the ground around Schist house the gardeners come across a large snake even they are surprised thankfully for me its long gone before I find out
Annual Labour Day Tractor run from Vila cova
With no power or internet signal we turn to a Jigsaw puzzle to keep us entertained
We take a drive across the Serra do Açor mountains to find the village of Piódão one of Portugal’s most enchanting historical villages.
Its distinctive schist houses with blue-painted doors and windows cascade down the hillside in a natural amphitheatre, earning it the nickname “the nativity village.”
It’s finally a bright day so we make the most of the weather and go for a coffee in Coja