Over the Border We Go!

The sexy French tannoy woke us at 5:45, to give time for everyone to get down to their cars separately. Opened the curtains to a red sun just rising over the sea. 

And then, several hours of driving across and down Spain to the border crossing at Vilar Formoso; I'd booked a hotel at this place several ferry bookings ago when we wouldn't have been allowed to stop in Spain.

First, dramatic green hills. Then, up onto the central meseta and endless fields of ripening wheat, dotted with poppies. Open blue skies with cumulus clouds on the horizon, and lines of cypress breaking up the vastness. Villages, always with the tall tower of a church. 

Decided to take a small detour, as we had spare time, to see the Sierra de Francia... "Hidden away in a remote corner of southwestern Castilla y León and, until recently, secluded for centuries, this mountainous region with wooded hillsides (see extra) and pretty stone and timber villages is among Castilla y León's best-kept secrets... once one of Spain's most godforsaken regions; malaria-ridden until the early 20th century." 

Difficult to choose just one photo - the villages are incredibly picturesque, with window boxes of geraniums and hydrangeas and roses everywhere. This is of Mogarraz, where the walls of the houses display over 400 portraits, etched on metal sheets by local artist, Florencio Maillo, of residents, both past and present. The project began in the 60's, when poverty was rife and many locals needed identity cards so they could seek work elsewhere, and these inspired the project.

Quite eerie walking the narrow, cobbled streets, almost empty of people, but with the faces of past residents staring down from their family homes at you, some obviously very poor, and others elegant and displaying their jewels; priests on the church walls, and a couple of nuns.

And still the border to cross... but it was no problem once they'd seen our residence papers; our Portuguese car no doubt helped. Though we've since found out that the border is opening at midnight anyway.

Gratefuls:
- that we've made it back to Portugal, it does feel like home
- getting to see one more corner of this amazing peninsula
- an en-suite bathroom, with a bath!! such luxury

It was 30C (86F) today, going to have to get used to wearing a mask in the heat...