Ammaia

Well, it's the day of the royal wedding, and J is keen to see it. It just so happens that our hosts have a portuguese TV package that includes the BBC, so the rest of the day is organised around the viewing. And no bad thing - we could do with a bit of relaxation.

So in the morning, after the usual fabulous breakfast on the terrace (home made cheese scones with cheese, ham and quince jelly) we head a short distance down the road to Ammaia. There are roman ruins there and a little museum - which includes the best roman glass discovered in Iberia, and some gorgeous glass jewellery. Really well done. The site is just wonderful - incredible floribundance everywhere, corn buntings singing, and beautiful bee-eaters hunting overhead. I could have stayed there ages just taking everything in.

The wedding was good, and glorious weather in blighty too. The British do pageant well. Good music too. We followed with a picnic on the terrace, and then off to Marvao to enjoy those views again. The extra is a ground of (I presume) portuguese bikers, who had arrived in town. "It's only rock and roll" leather jackets a little incongruous in this setting, but they were having fun.