Tuesday, 14th April.
Took John and Jean and Anita out for the day. Went for lunch at the Pousada in Tavira. Looked round shops there and managed to buy some presents to take home. Lunch was fine and our guests were impressed, but poor Kathryn got the wrong lunch (again, seems to be her fate in Pousadas!), coq au vin instead of black pork with some rather suspicious looking parts of the cock's anatomy in it. The pleasant but rather effeminate waiter arrived at the table and proudly announced "coq au vin for madame". "No", we said" black pork". "Oh,no, but madame asked for a black cock." We assured him that she hadn't, and he apologised profusely for his misunderstanding("Oh my god"...seems to be standard apologising language for waiters here!), and offered Kathryn a free dessert. But we are still wondering if the coq au vin she was served was exactly as the waiter described it with unconscious humour! Another example of the need to steer clear of of any sort of stew in Portugal whether or not it has a posh French name! After lunch ( i.e. at about four o'clock), we headed for home and called in at the brand new pousada at Estoi. Only been open five days. An extraordinary 19th century fantasy palace built by some duke or other in rococo style with gardens modelled on Versailles. Interesting, but all a bit over the top really. Anyway we all had a good day out, especially Anita. Sad that Malcolm was not feeling up to coming out with us.

Wednesday, 15th April

Threateneing looking weather, but Anita was busy and asked if we could look after John and Jean. We decided to brave the threatening looking clouds and headed west for Cape St Vincent ( see earlier references to this very dramatic piece of coastal scenery. Stopped on the way in Burgau for visit to this rather alarming village whose very narrow ( and slippery) cobbled streets appear to end in the sea before suddenly making a right angle turn at the last minute along a concrete shelf above the beach ( or sea when the tide is in). Had lunch in a very good fish restaurant we discovered last year with thw delightfully unpretentious name "The Shed". Very good fresh fish here and very friendly helpful service.

On to Cape St V afterwards and pictures of each other at Europe's most south-westerly point. Visited the pousada which has been abandoned because it is about to fall off the cliff edge into the sea a hundred meters below. Then visited the other one in Sagres which has spectacular views from the rooms, dining room and swimming pool over the Atlantic to the US.

Back home to Tranquil Escapes via Continente where we stocked up with cheese and other goodies for a light supper. The supper was light, but we got through several bottles of wine and lot of history before N took them home to Malcolm and Anita's through the mist which had settled in rather sinister patches over the countryside.