Silver tops still wandering

We said goodbye to Vale-de-Prazeres. Sneaks up on you does this place! It seemed very different to us as we left than it did when we arrived. Think we may have fallen a little bit in love with this area.

It was an absolute delight to meet up wih Dee the rescue dog whose antics have been regailed to me by his adoring owners, our hosts. He is apparently half dog, half goat. He eats everything and anything. Behaviour sadly from his troubled past, along with his bonky front leg. He is adorable and is plainly loved to bits. That says a lot about his humans. Not easy to give a dog a loving home when they have their own particular ‘ways’. This boy did so well for himself. His big happy expression tells all. So what if a fence had to be constucted to deter his wanderings, worth every bit of time effort and expense.

Porto did redeem itself after the journey. Stroppy hip was still sleeping off the double dose of Tramadol so I took full advantage and went walking around the city.

We took a walk along the banks of the Douro.

We were refused a ride in an old tram along the front on account of Mrs. Russell. What mischief they thought she might get up to is anybodies guess. She was, as ever, not peturbed at all. The Mister was quite disappointed though.

Consoled with a lovely lunch and cocktail in the sunshine.

Very pleased we had this lovely day in the sunshine! Our next stop was planned as a quiet couple of days in a beach front hotel overlooking the sea with the mountains as a backdrop. But as ever, not quite gone to plan! The weather continues to confound us.

There are truly mountains beyond there. The clouds came all the way down to the sea to say ‘hi’. They stayed there to compare their H2O composition with the sea, so we decided on an imprompu visit to Santiago-de Compostella.

A few years ago, one of my ‘most loved ones’ came here to do some of the famous walking pilgrimage done by so many. It was quite an emotional experience to see walker after tired walker arriving into the square in front of the famous cathedral on completion of their spiritual and physical journeying. Humbling and thought provoking.

Even with the clouds swirling around the towers, it was still an amazing sight. I loved this experience and the atmosphere. The joy of so many was infectous and the memories I gate crashed will remain with me.

We lunched. Oh yes we did! Learning all the time. No way we were going to wait for the kitchens to strike up a burner at eight o’ clock to russel up a meal in our local vicinity. Besides, rumour has it there is a football match requiring the Misters’ undivided attention. We pledged to chat again to the lovely couple we met at breakfast from the Netherlands, come what may tomorrow morning.

Mrs Russell wanted ice cream. She was disappointed! Soon got over this after a good long walk through a park.

Scary!!

We are hugging the coast to Gijon tomorrow. I have a sneaky feeling that I won’t be feeling the sand between my toes or be needing my Factor 30. Adios.