After spending all winter close to home, we decided to venture out in March on a couple of different road trips. At the beginning of the month, we headed south to Torres Vedras for the town’s popular Carneval parade. Every year the parade has a different theme. This year the theme celebrated the 50th anniversary of the Carnation Revolution when the dictator was bloodlessly ousted in Portugal. Floats poke fun at political nonsense everywhere, including in the US. But the real focus of the Carneval events that continue for several days is on having wholesome family fun. It is a time when nearly all the men dress as (homely) women and no one takes themselves too seriously.

On the way to Torres Vedras, we drove through the beautiful mountains of the Arouca geopark. We spent two nights in the tiny schist (slate) hilltop village of Covas do Monte which is home to more goats than human residents. This is a place where it feels as if time has stood still. On the way home, we spent two nights on the coast with a visit to Mafra Palace and then  two more restful, rainy nights in the schist village of Gondramaz.  Radom photos below. starting with the irreverent Carneval parade.

At the end of the month, we headed south to the Alentejo region (one of our favorites) along with five friends. We all shared two adjoining houses on an olive-growing estate. The property had a private mini golf course, ping-pong, foosball, bicycles, and other diversions. We were surrounded by olive groves, fruit trees, cork trees, and nesting storks. We had gorgeous spring weather and saw a lot of the stunning region. We toured farms producing olive oil, wine, and cork. We visited castles and churches. On the way south, we stopped at a working rock quarry that features outdoor art. It was a fabulous trip. Random photos below.