Part 3 of My Trip to Portugal Nov 1-4

Today is a beautiful day and everyone in the town is getting ready to go to the cemetary for All Sanints Day. Some people will gather at the chappell first for a church service and then they walk through the village following the priest to the cemetary that is much different from our tradition in North America. The grave sites here are all marble and above ground with pictures of the deceased. The families put candles and beautiful flowers on the family graves. The priest walks through the cemetary and prays for all the deceased and their families which takes about an hour in Portuguese.
This afternoon we visit with family and friends in the Portuguese style.
Nov 2
Today is market day in Espinho that is about a 45 minute drive from Vale Maoir where there is everything you need to buy there. Flowers, fish, meat, vegetables and more important to me was the clothing, jeans, leather botas, shoes etc. We spent most of the day there shopping, stopped for a cod fish lunch and bargained with them to get the best deal.
We get back home and then visit family for a traditional Sardine Supper at Oscars Aunties and there is a table full of wood oven, roasted Sardines on home made bread and of course homemade vinho tinto and you are not allowed to leave the table til the sardines are all eaten.
Nov 3
Today it is another beautiful sunny day about 24 C and we go to the Praia (beach)
about 30 minute drive to Praia Vagueira. We have a delicious seafood lunch and then walk the beach where the waves are so powerful I dont dare to go in the ocean but Oscar ventures in eventhough it is not quite as warm as the meditteranian.
After a beautiful day at the beach we visit friends on the other side of the village for a octopus dinner.
Nov 4
Another beautiful day as far as the weather goes about 25 C today we stay close to home and walk the village visiting cousins and friends that Oscar has not seen for many years. Tonight we are at good friends Casa enjoying fresh caught fish from the river and sharing life experiences. Til tomorrow Obrigado

Part 2 of My Trip to Portugal Oct 29-31

Friday there has been lots of rain, very stormy one minute and then the sun comes out for a while, the wind blows and it rains again. Lisbon has had lots of flooding, but here in the village in the mountains, the rain runs down the streets into the river so there is no flooding here. Went out for a very nice dinner of Roast Pork and did some shopping in Aveiro which is quite a big city about a 45 minute drive from Vale Miaor. We are back home this evening and the rain is coming down hard and pounding on the rooftops.
Oct 30
This is Saturday morning and today there is a market in the town. There is all kinds of fresh vegetables, fruits, meat, lots of fish, and beautiful flowers to buy very cheap! Oscar bought me a nice pair of boots as I did not bring any with me and it has been wet. Because of the rain we opted to stay home tonight and watch some TV.
Oct 31
Today the weather is still wet but getting better and not as much rain. We walk the village and check out the gardens, orchards full of manderina, orange, lemon, fig and olive trees. We then drive to Bussaco, where we tour the gardens and grande hotel as well as the nunnery and chappell that is famous for over hundreds of years. We then take a short drive to Luso that has a famous drinking fountain where people take there water bottles and fill for free. Oscar has mentioned all over Portugal there are drinking fountains where people get there clean drinking water as well as there are still public washing holes where woman from the village take their washing to clean in the fresh water. Tonight we are visiting an old friend of Oscars, who was very surprised to see us.They have a beautiful home as well and we are enjoying a drink and a laugh tonight.
Eventhough it is Halloween in North America it is not really celebrated here like we do at home.
Tomorrow is a holiday here- All Saints Day where families, relatives, friends come together at the cemetary so I will write more tomorrow.