Tuesday 20 December 2016

Salema to Aljezur

A late start for a walking day and stepping out into warm sunshine after releasing and feeding chickens and rabbit and fuelling up with porridge, banana and honey, the destination was open ... though Ros' briefing offered a shortcut to Aljezur ... a little long for a late starting day ... but possible ... Pedralva appeared a couple of hours later, after crossing the Algarviana and a short break and dear coffee in the restored village, now a holiday resort, wet weather route noted and missed, meaning six river crossings, managed across stepping stones ... settlers tucked away in the hills ... Carrapeteria came too soon for stopping ... only 1pm. .. anyway its energy wasn't calling ... a thin, wandering dog attached, spotting a potential host, the English well known for caring for unwanted dogs, cats, donkeys .. the stereotype resisted ... the next village, Bordeira feels authentic and timely for lunch, €2.90 for a beer,olives, bread and soup ...a great balance for the €1 coffee at Pedralva (not much money, but a startling percentage mark-up from the usual €0.60) ... leaving an overlong walk to Aljezur and thoughts of hitch-hiking ...which solves the problem nicely, after an hour or so more on the trail, the road offers a hard shoulder fall-back ... when Jack, 23, living in Aljezur since his parents moved here when he was 8, stops  ... and drives right to the door of the Amizagh, which feels like home ... two new volunteers, Sanna from Finland and Adrienn from Hungary balancing the male energy ... Holly from Canada, pictured with Adrienn, is mooching about Portugal ...the only other guest in the dormitory ... a few others in the private rooms ... a convivial supper and maybe settling here for the season ... let's see ...

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