Tuesday, 9 October 2007
Another travel day as we go from Coalhos to Terena along our customary secondary roads.
Lunch: After packing up at Quinta de Coalhos this morning, we headed to Constância for lunch at Remédia d’Alma where we first ate in April. The owner, Carlos, is a very nice man who has great taste in music and runs a very nice restaurant. The “befores” are very tasty here. We particularly enjoy an Azorean hot sauce with queijo fresco and a kind of paté called pé de terresmo.
Since yesterday was Thanksgiving back home, we had arroz de pato which was as close to turkey as we could get. Our wine was Quinta do Carmo 2001 which was very, very good.
After lunch it was on to Terena.
Dinner: It was a beautiful evening, so we ate in the street (Rua Direita), just outside the door to Casa de Terena, where we are staying. A little pão, queijo e vinho, which is all we needed after lunch today!
Weather: Another gorgeous day; 3.0 again.
Wednesday, 10 October 2007
Quarta-feira (Wednesday) is market day in Vila Viçosa, so we headed there to get some essentials. It’s only about 20 minutes from Terena (north on N255) . After lunch in Alandroal, we drove and hiked to one of the many antas in the area. It was a great experience, partly because of the very helpful goatherds and their beautiful goats that we met both going to and returning from the anta.
Lunch: We re-visited a favourite restaurant in this area: Arco Íris in Alandroal. Steve had língua estufada and Susan, lombinhos grelhados – both were very good.
Dinner: Another picnic supper at Casa de Terena with some local cheese, meat, vegetables and wine … delicious!
Weather: What glorious weather; a perfect 3.0 again.
Thursday, 11 October 2007
Lunch: We had a nice light lunch at A Moira, just outside of Reguengos (north) on N255. We each had an omeleta de camaroes, accompanied by a salada mista.
Dinner: Tonight’s dinner was special … family style at Casa de Terena. We started with a yummy spinach and lentil soup, garnished with presunto. The main dish was an absolutely delicious Mozambican chicken and rice dish with olives. There was also some zucchini with walnuts and a tasty salad. Great meal!
Weather: 3.0 – just lovely.
Friday, 12 October 2007
There is a small (very small!) market in Vila Viçosa on Friday, which we attended for some vegetables. Unfortunately, the queijo stands were absent. However, there is a very good pastelaria there (Casa Azul) where we stopped for our late morning café e bolo – the local queijada was delicious.
Lunch: We explored Borba on either side of the noon hour and ended up for almoço at A Talha a restaurant recommended to us by Jeremy when we were here in April. We didn’t make it then, but are very glad that we did this time. Steve had cuchaço de porco preto no forno com esparregado. Susan had bochechas de porco preto com pimentos. Both meals were very good.
Dinner: This is our last night at Casa de Terena (this visit) and we had dinner ‘in’. Nice pão, queijo, azeitanos e vinho (plus tomato and cucumber), all from this region (Alentejano).
Weather: Another beautiful day – another 3.0.
