{"id":3800,"date":"2014-11-08T16:48:15","date_gmt":"2014-11-08T16:48:15","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.sailpandora.com\/?p=3800"},"modified":"2014-11-08T20:12:49","modified_gmt":"2014-11-08T20:12:49","slug":"entering-the-final-stretch-of-our-time-here-in-portugal-on-a-rainy-day","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.sailpandora.com\/?p=3800","title":{"rendered":"Entering the final stretch of our time here in Portugal, on a rainy day."},"content":{"rendered":"

It’s Saturday morning and we have what is arguably the nicest room yet here at Cabecas do Reguengo near the town of Portalegre in central Portugal. Their site is very interesting if you read Portuguese, that’s great. \u00a0If not, check out their site<\/a>\u00a0anyway\u00a0and click on “EN”, for English, on the upper right of the home page. One way or the other, it’s a very interesting spot and the story behind it is particularly unique as the owner is a retired ballet dancer.<\/p>\n

Really nice room.\"\"<\/a>The bathroom is marvelous and marble. \u00a0The picture does not do it justice.\"\"<\/a>This is the view that we woke up to today. \u00a0Not bad for a rainy day. \u00a0 The siting of the building, new this year, is very well thought out. \u00a0The hotel is a completely modern design and yet looks right at home among the older homes dotting the nearby landscape. They also have a vineyard on the property and the wine is very nice. \u00a0We liked the white as it’s more full bodied than most Portuguese wines, more like a California with a fair amount of oak. \u00a0Very nice. It’s obvious that the hand of an artist was behind it all. \u00a0What a view to wake up to, infinity pool and all. \u00a0\"\"<\/a>Yesterday we drove the 4.5 hours south from northern Portugal where we had spent much of the last two weeks. \u00a0This is our final stop prior to returning to Lisbon on Sunday where we will spend the last few days of our trip before we return to the U.S. \u00a0I expect that we’ll fine some fun things to do to occupy us until the 12th.<\/p>\n

As a special treat, Brenda’s friend Leslie is flying in from England to spend the night with us on Sunday. \u00a0I expect that the “girls” will be up to all hours as they have not seen each other for years. \u00a0 It’s a good thing that we have two rooms as I am sure that they will be up all night talking. \u00a0“Brenda? Leslie?, is it bedtime yet? I need sleep…”<\/p>\n

Anyway, the ride yesterday took us from the mountainous north of Portugal where vineyards and olive trees dominate the landscape to this area where it’s much more postural with cows, sheep and rolling hills. \u00a0 \u00a0After days of terrifying switchbacks and steep drop-offs, it’s nice to again be in a “less dramatic” area.<\/p>\n

This video is of the white knuckle run down the road from our inn high up on the mountain in the Doruo valley to the village of Pinhao down near the river. \u00a0Trust me that this video doesn’t do justice to the nail biting around hairpin turns, all the way.