Well, somehow, we’ve blinked and it’s already been two weeks since we returned to house sit and time is moving fast.
The house is just above the village of Vinhó which is situated in the parish of Vila Cova de Alva, and located right in the heart of the Serra do Açor mountain range.
The weather keeps us on our toes: one minute the days are bright and Instagram-worthy skies, the next it’s pouring again. I keep optimistically telling myself the rain is keeping the snakes asleep. I haven’t seen one yet, and I plan to keep it that way. Let them stay in their snaky little beds a bit longer.
In a bold move, I decided to shake things up with a haircut and end up with a full-on colour change. Let’s say, the new me could probably sneak past my passport photo without raising suspicion, and I get slightly confused every time I catch my reflection.
The dog walks continue to be a daily highlight. Molly, Dora, and Giota take their plodding very seriously—there is no rushing them. However, Patch, the elusive fourth dog, is still walking too, just… from a distance. Always nearby. Never too close.
Now, let’s talk about two other experiences we have had in the last two weeks – a quick trip to CTT ( post office ) turned into a full-blown cultural lesson: apparently, in Portugal, you’re expected to write the address on the envelope landscape-style—not portrait, as if it really matters but it does here, the cashier finally agrees to send it this time so lesson learnt no envelope must lie on its side like, What’s next?
And with John’s persistent cough having him sound like a one-man coughing orchestra, we spend the morning at the Arganil Hospital emergency department. The diagnosis? Some form of Bronchitis where the doctor informs John that I haven’t been looking after him properly- shame I didn’t get to see the doctor to explain if John hadn’t been a stubborn ass this would have been resolved sooner but what would I know. Anyway, we left with a prescription that seemed more like an ancient scroll—half medicine, half mystery.
Honestly, at this point I’m not entirely sure what hurts more—John’s lungs or his wallet for the amount he had to shell out for this magical “cough cure.” Either way, John’s wallet is feeling more breathy than his chest.
Until next time
Our time here always ways sees us calling into Urtigal for lunch
It’s a rainy day so the view down to Vinho isn’t clear
In the old Portuguese village of São João de Areias the old traditional way of doing the laundry still continues to this day scrubbing the clothes by hand on ribbed stone surfaces, using soap made from natural ingredients, and rinsing everything in the flowing water then wheeled back home in a wheelbarrow to go through the mangle
While we’re at the garage wrestling with the motorhome’s airbags, John’s already planning his next midlife crisis.
Coffee stop at Tuxe in Coja
Quiet day in Coja square
We stop for drinks and cake after walking to the village of São João de Areias
As ever, another excellent write and photos. Now do tell what may the full hair colour change is? Or even a pic ???? Coja square looks lovely and so do the cakes ????
Thank you. For the hair colour just think Ed Sheeran ginger not the blond I’m
used to but several bottles of purple shampoo and toners later it’s finally changing colour, lets just say it wasn’t what I asked for!! Coja is a lovely village definitely worth a visit x
If I can work out how to send a photo I will