2012 Inlaws & Outlaws do Italy, Greece and Portugal: Coimbra

We left Evora on Friday morning and spent most of the day driving and making stops at interesting looking towns along the way to Coimbra. We ended up driving through mountainous terrain which was surprising and challenging especially as we both try to read signs and maps and watch traffic and dodge people when we don't know where we are or how to get there. It's fun when we actually arrive at the hotel!

We had the most enjoyable and delicious meal of our time in Portugal on Friday night. The restaurant was owned and family run from the Papa who delivered our food (he reminded me of my Dad), our waitress(grand daughter), cook (son) and about 15 other members of the family. We were there for 2 hours watching the chaotic portuguese eating frenzy complicated by initiation week students celebrating the week's end. The university here is Portugal's most prestigious and dates back to 1290. As we got up to leave we got a hug from Papa and grand daughter and the son wouldn't let us leave without having a drink of ginjinha(cherry liquor) with him. Best 2 hours we've spent in a long time. We are going back again tonight.

Saturday we spent hiking all over Coimbra touring the college and exploring the old town. We watched a part of three weddings (which last over two hours) and felt priviledged to see a part of Portugese life. Bob had a hamburger for lunch which is served without a bun, fried egg on top of a sausage patty instead of hamburger. He enjoyed it...I had one taste and that was enough.

We ended the day going to a Fado concert with was fantastic. Fado is only known and performed in Portugal and is performed with 2 guitars and a male singer who sings love songs to his lover. It's very beautiful. Tomorrow we hit the road again.