Portuguese Presépio

Love how Portuguese towns all put up a presépio in December, containing the traditional Mary, Joseph and Baby Jesus, shepherds and wise men - but also loads of other typically Portuguese figures, like this woman coming to the well, where another woman is drawing water. Some of the presépios have over a hundred figures, often including a group doing the traditional pig killing at this time of year - which certainly wouldn't have figured in the original Bethlehem!

Went today to give some things to our English friend, Eileen, who works in Monsaraz, across the Lake, and had time to wander the almost deserted town, looking at the life-size figures. As Eileen commented in her wry way, they've doubled the population of the town.

Gratefuls:
- Mike getting started on building the built-in cupboard, though frustrated in the end by the wall not holding the screws - but that meant we could go to Monsaraz
- another stunning day weatherwise, chilly and sunny
- making up more Advent gifts to deliver tomorrow