Not the Backside

Have always thought of the Lake side of Monsaraz as being its front, but saw today, from the facade of the church, that this is actually the front. And what a picturesque front it is. There's been a festa there this weekend, again, though all we've heard were the gunshots early this morning.

This was on the way back from lunch with Maria-from-the-market, and what a lunch it was. Huge prawns and suckling pig for starters, bean stew with squid for main, and sparkling vinho verde. Really enjoyed chatting with her and her man, how it was under Salazar, when her Dad had to flee in the night to avoid being caught and tortured/killed because he was a "communist", read, wanted a bit more justice for the poor, like her grandad, who kept beiing caught and beaten by the police for stealing a chicken to feed his children, from the landlord who wouldn't even allow them to draw water from his well. He told them he wouldn't give up because he wasn't going to allow his children to go hungry.

And much more.

Rushing to go out again now, for another meal with more folk - sorry I've been remiss with commenting, it's been a full weekend!