It was a treat to have the day off from walking, at least walking to a new place as we have definitely done some walking today!
Started off with coffee and quiet time to journal, read, whatever. After breakfast we strolled by the market vendors setting out their wares, everything from linens to records to power tools to leather bags and more. There were also several food vendors, I’m sure if we weren’t so full from breakfast we would have been buying fruit and pastries.
We decided it was a good day to visit the local prison. Ok, it’s no longer used as a prison, it’s the visitor info center. After that we explored the twisting, cobbled streets and the many statues in the center of town.
We crossed the Ponte de Lima and headed to the Festival Gardens on the other side of the river. There were several unique gardens to check out at this annual festival, a great way to spend the morning before it became too hot.
There was a kids kayak event taking place nearby and we watched as parents raced down the path turning encouragement to their kids as they paddled. You have to be pretty fit to be a kayak parent apparently! You can hear some of their instructions on the video.
On our way back we saw several horses on the bridge, and except for the fact that there were motorized water craft nearby, you world have through we’d gone back in time hundreds of years.
We headed to the local Aldi to pick up lunch and snacks (surprisingly there were several Trader Joe’s branded items) then back to the hotel terrace to eat and relax.
Later in the afternoon Theresa checked out the main church and the Vinho Verde wine museum. While the museum’s exhibits were limited, the informational video was very interesting and the 3 euro entry fee included a glass of wine!
