Cerdeira

We had breakfast in our sweet guest house and then drove south through more mountains to our next stop in the mountain schist village of Cerdeira. 

This picture shows a common theme along these roads: gaps in walls right where a car could go over the edge and plummet off a cliff.

We had lunch in Lousa and then visited the Castelo da Lousa, an 11th century fortified structure. 

From the castle, we hiked uphill -- very steeply uphill -- along the very well-marked Lousa trails, to see a waterfall, the schist village of Talasnal, and some ancient pilgrimage sites.

This is an accurate representation of my feelings. It was warm and humid; the footing was unstable; there was assorted vegetation impinging on the path, and Steve set a bruising pace. It was a good hike.

A swimming hole! Complete with two bored teenaged lifeguards.

We next drove a very short distance (took awhile because of the narrow, winding roads, steep dropoffs, and our general fear of dying) to the schist village we were staying in, Cerdeira. We had a tiny house, two stories, more like a treehouse than anything else. The village consists of various homes to rent, and artist residencies, and classes in various crafts. A stream gushes steeply down just next to the schist houses, and the whole village goes straight up the mountainside. It was magical.

Steve and I walked around the village before dinner, exploring the little trails and stairs.

This is the cafe/breakfast room.

This is the view from the window of our sitting area.

At 7:30, three employees delivered our dinner in crocks and baskets: cabbage soup, fish, chanfana (goat stewed in red wine), bread, olives, roasted potatoes, broccoli, wine, and apple crisp.

We spent the evening watching the Euro 2024 soccer games and enjoying our little house. The clouds lifted just at sunset for a great photo.

I walked out at dusk and crossed the stream to get this photo of the village at night. Like treehouses, or an elvish kingdom if you want to be fanciful.

We woke up to blue skies and bright sunshine, so here's the view down the valley and of the village when its not fogged in.

For breakfast we had fresh bread, jam, eggs from their chickens, and other goodies, and then hit the road for a long drive to the coast near Lisbon.