Covid restrictions eased up enough to allow us to take our first road trip on April 15 after 3 months of lock-down. We rented a car and tested the waters by taking a 5-day trip north along our border with Spain and back down. We were not allowed to cross the border on this trip, however. Restaurants could not serve indoors, but we could get take-away or eat on the patio. On one hand it was nice to have normally crowded places almost all to ourselves. On the other hand, the number of closed businesses was eerie. Hopefully, things will bounce back soon.
Here are some photos our our first taste of freedom.
Barcelos – where the rooster legend reigns and the weekly market was happening:
Stops on the way north:
Caminha – the far northwest corner of Portugal looking across the river Minho to Spain:
Vila Nova de Cerveira:
Valença – the old walled fortress city with the very narrow entrance:
Soalheiro – a nice visit where we tasted their Vinho Verde wines:
Monção – where we had a great lunch and spent the night at a quinta:
Driving south through Peneda-Gerés Parque:
Ponte de Barca – lunch stop:
Fluvial near Adaúfe – river beach:
Sameiro Sanctuário – modern shrine to Mary:
Along the road:
Guimarães – Normally full of tourists, it was oddly empty. Our second visit:
