1 year, 175 days since the start of the 1st lock down in March 2020
Sunday is always a quiet day abroad. We had a leisurely breakfast and then walked to pick up the car from the huge open air car park and decided to drive to a cave that is known for neolithic cave drawings. We found it relatively easily but… it was closed! Apparently it is only open by appointment so I will email and try and se if we can get a tour around - it’s a long shot. As we were out and about we continued driving to Viana do Alentejo, a nearby town but to be honest it was not that exciting so we did not bother getting out fo the car. We had an interesting trip as both my phone and the SatNav directed us on a road that was literally blocked by another road crossing across… the road markings just disappeared under tarmac.
We stopped in the little town of Alvito, most places were closed but we found some parking easily and stopped in a little local cafe for coffees and cake and wandered to find the pousada which dates from the 15th century. It was so hot and quite clearly everyone in the village was having a siesta.
We drove on down country roads so remote that we lost our phone signal until we arrived at the Roman ruins of a villa. At first the entire site was deserted apart from a tiny black kitten even though the times on the entrance indicated that it should be open. We were just debating what to do when a car pulled up and it was the woman returning after lunch to open up. We parked in the shade and finally went in.
The ruins really were impressive. I think it is the first time (apart from our visit to Pompei) that we have been able to actually walk into a Roman building that is still standing. The heat was incredible, so hot that even the lizards had retreated to the shade. The site was incredible though and well worth the drive and wait.
Onto the little town of Vidiguera (which we drove quickly around) that the woman in the interpretation centra had suggested was comparable to Evora - I beg to differ although it looked OK!
We finished our day in the town of Beja. We parked on the outskirts near the bus station as suggested by the Rough Guide due to difficulty parking in the town centre. In the event it was absolutely empty. I have no idea where everyone goes. It was a nice town and we made out way to the castle for a wander and then found the only cafe it seemed opened in Beja for a full-fat coke and a packet of crisps - classy. We walked back to the car (seemed a lot quicker on the way back) and by chance as we were so close, stopped off at another branch of our favourite Pingo Doce to pick up dinner and more custard tarts. Then we drove home for dinner.
