Nazare

We made our way through a confusing set of train stations and buses to the `resort´ town of Nazare. While fishing remains an important part of things here, tourism and relaxing has become much more so. Fortunately we aren`t here during the high season, and it remains relatively calm.

On the way in from the station we met a nice guy from Switzerland who spoke english/portguese and god knows what other dozen languages. He´d been to Portugal 9 times before, and so far, we can see why.

Walking through town with backpacks on is like a homing beacon for every lady over 60 wearing a dozen traditional petticoats to come running over to you in hopes of renting a room out to you. We already had a place to stay, and are quite happy with it. They initially lost our reservation for a two person room, and as a result had to upgrade us to only other room avaliable - one of their 4 person apartments.

There is the small original town which lies 500 feet above Nazare on a clifftop. There is a practical and friendly elevator trolley which takes you to the top for .80 cents. We ignored that and decided that a brisk walk up a supposed trail would be a good way to start the morning. Brad led us to the base of an extremely steep, cactus filled, sandy and unfriendly trail, which we started to climb.

.80 cents started to look like the better choice around halfway up.

We had nearly ascended the entire moisture sucking distance when we spotted an old man with a cane making his way leisurely down the well marked and gently inclined cobblestone path. The hilltop town and most especially the view were worth the trip though.

We can`t post pictures at this interweeb cafe, but will try in our next stop. Anette, in a spectacular display of physicality pushed me over and forced me to take a particularly shameless picture of the beach. Next update we promise.