Tour- Days 15, 16 and17.

 Coimbra is the ancient capital of Portugal, and sits on the banks of the River Montega. It is also the home of Portugal's oldest university - students make up about a third of the population, about 30,000 of them. So, as you can imagine there is a certain vibrancy here.

The interesting old part of Coimbra is built around steep and narrow roads, and is definitely not car friendly - although that doesn't stop the Portuguese trying. However getting about is easy, with many buses and very cheap taxis ( all apparently related to Stirling Moss).


















On Wednesday, Dave Campin and I went off in his van for the day to Nazare, on the coast. Nazare is famous for surfing, and in the right conditions can get 100 ft waves, but not at the moment. 

It has two beaches - one is developed and doesn't get large waves, and the other undeveloped and does. In between is a headland with panoramic views.

Apologies that two sets of photos are mixed up above, but I'm composing this on my phone and it doesn't want to let me delete or move photos.

In the evening we had another excellent group meal, with all the excellent Portuguese hospitality and generosity. This was followed by a Fado group playing for us. It is nothing like frantic Spanish music, is would be more like the mournful Irish music in form. It was very good indeed. The cloaks are traditional.


Thursday saw us going back into Coimbra for a nosey around the less touristy back streets, and of course local restaurants. Four of us ended up searching out hidden bars and restaurants, with impressive results.






Today, Friday, we head off two hours south to a very rural location.



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