Tui - A Border Town

We have a 5-6 hour drive to Tui on the border of Spain and Portugal. Taking little used divided highways that are beautifully maintained,like brand new, through relatively barren rolling countryside. Most of the hills are flattened plateaus. Bright orange poppies growing wild and bright yellow bushes. Green pollen here, too.


Searching for coffee to go. So far no luck. Gas is 1.44 euros per liter. Needed to use the EMV credit card.; magnetic stripe card wasn't accepted.

Beginning to see a few vineyards and large solar farms.

Two hours later we are driving through mountains and tunnels and great arrays of mountaintop wind farms. Castles here and there. Wild lavender along the shoulders.

Arrived in Tui about 3 pm (6 hour drive). The "modern" hotel is a little tired looking but once we saw the view... Wow. My idea of the Spanish countryside! (pix). Then we did our laundry and left for a walking tour of the medieval town. Went into Catredal de Santa Maria and did a tour but it was a real shame we can't read Spanish. We're missing a lot.

We sat down at an outside cafe for vino tinta and tapas. We had one glass, then after a while Paul went inside to order more and the waiter eventually said to him, "Look, why don't you just speak English? It will be easier.". It's pretty embarrassing to be such a limited Norte Americano. Every time I try to speak Spanish it comes out mixed up with English and everyone here is trilingual.

(I hear a dog barking in the room next to ours. Mmmm... I hope this isn't a taste of what's to come tonight because it's only 7 pm right now!)

A short pit stop in the room and then we will go out when the "good" tapas (seafood) are ready. The waiter told us we were too early at 6 pm. Needs to be closer to 9! We're trying to figure out the schedule here but it's not easy. It is true that all of the shops are closed in the afternoon. Downtown areas are like ghost towns in the afternoon.

8:45 pm. Went to dinner down by the cathedral where Jan tripped gracefully into the restaurant and landed on her hands and knees. Nothing broken, thank goodness!!! Our waiter rushed out and was very attentive during dinner...as an added bonus he spoke a little English. We ordered a platter of Iberian meats and enjoyed comparing different chorizo (sausage) and hams. The aged Bellotta ham, sliced paper thin, is amazing!!! We'll try to bring some home.

Local impressions: Skinny jeans (slacks) are totally in; comfy slacks are not. Smoking cigarettes is a common past-time...be careful where you sit.

Tomorrow we head to Camarines, right on the west seacoast, the Coast de Morte. Hopefully some seafood stops along the way.