Started out as a overcast day. The plan today is to cast off from Pinhão at 8:00 am, pass through the lock at Valeira and then the final lock at Pocinho before docking upstream of the lock at Barca d'Alva. Our shore excursion to Castelo Rodrigo won't begin until 3:15 pm.
Lots of vineyards.
River became very narrow just before reaching the Lock of Valeira.
Lock of Pocinho.
Once the excursion started, we essentially went up the mountain. The views were great.
The little town of Castelo Rodrigo. First built by the Romans as a fortress circa 500 BC, the walls around the city were added in 1209. The Spanish conquered Portugal in the 15th century. When Portuguese independence was restored, the castle, a symbol of Spanish oppression, was burned down by the local population and is currently in ruins. After 1640, the castle was torn down by the local people, who regarded it as a symbol of Spanish domination. Many of the castle's stones and windows made their way into the building of the local city buildings.
http://www.aldeiashistoricasdeportugal.com/en/castelo-rodrigo
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| Castelo Rodrigo |
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| Camino de Santiago |
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| The cross signified this was the house of a converted Jew |
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| Main street |
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| Blending of Jewish, Christian and Muslim cultures in the architecture |
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| Stones and window from castle |
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| Looking west into Portugal |
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| Looking east into Spain |
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| Our ship...very small |
Bartender's taste test!
Entertainment tonight were three local flamingo dancers. Amazing!
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| With Maxine |
Looked like a beautiful day!!
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