Well after an early start we we re packed up and ready to leave about 10 am which would allow us plenty of time to drive to Evora with a side visit to Monsaraz Castle which is very near the Spanish border and overlooks same. We decided to take pretty much the shortest route there which included a motorway which this time was chargeable. Some motorways have been made free to use recently in Portugal but the one we were on was not and you had to go thro the usual small channel but they they don't have barriers like France.
Our French Tag bleeps when passing thro a toll and we were expecting same only it did not make a sound so slightly concerned something was wrong but carried on anyway hoping that we would not be hunted down by the Portuguese Secret service and put in Jail , but on checking later with the Tag supplier there appears to be some places where it bleeps and others where it doesn't but as long as tag correctly registered then should be ok.
.jpg)
We arrived at Monsaraz which is a town overlooking the Spanish Border built to protect Portugal for illegal immigrants and we had hoped to walk around. There was quite a bit of parking space but lower down the side of the hill and the roads were very bad bumpy cobblestone roads which really not suitable for my lightweight scooter which is a big shame as it looks like an interesting town. Will make another attempt next year should we return to Portugal but stay a little nearer so we can get there early before the crowds of tourists. Jen took a few photos of the outside of the walled city but we will come back. So we had our lunch of sandwiches overlooking the lakes and with Spain in the distance.
We arrived in to Evora at about 1430 which was little early than normal check in however they had a room available and so were lucky and our impressions of the Hilton Garden Inn Hotel were very positive. We went to the rooftop bar where there was a TV playing , would you believe it, with Chelsea vs Ipswich game and the result was a 2 all draw but a terrible performance by the Blues. I did not see the first half half Ipswich goals but on reading later it turned out that Chelsea Goalkeeper made so many mistakes, one wonders if he it taking cash??, that’s a joke.
We decided for convenience to have dinner in the Hotel and overall it was not to bad, Noel had the fish and chips and Jennifer the Pork rib slab washed down with a glass of beer. We returned to the bedroom and thought we could watch TV but found they had a smart Tv with a You Tube app and so we signed on and caught up on some of the people we are following.
Then to bed
