Monday, Oct 14th, Obidos, Portugal

Greetings!

Old buildings have stories which illuminate the dominant forces and events of the past which shaped the people of an area.  Today, we examined two church/monasteries (Batalha and Alcobaca), both built by Portuguese Kings to commemorate battles (over the Moors at Aljubarotta in 1147, and the Spanish at Santarem in 1385), and to house the development of great writings and later great burial tributes.  Their existence for six-hundred years guided the script of an empire, and stored the remains of centuries of actions.

After lunch, we drove south along the coastal towns until we got to Nazare, and to a beach where the largest waves in the world have been ridden.  Beginning this month, a worldwide watch is out for a special contest to surf the biggest by being pulled into the face of the wave by a jetski.  Today, the shorebreak was hardly worth suiting up.  But the daring will arrive when the storms churn up the Atlantic in a few months.

We ended the day packing into our bed and breakfast in Obidos, and taking our host's advice (Thanks Wes and for Anne)  for a perfect dinner at O Melro just down the block.  It seemed like the whole town was there to enjoy great food, wine, and to watch the Portuguese national football (soccer) team lose to the team from Ukraine (2-1).

To see all of the photos taken today, click on: Monday, Oct 14th, Obidos, Portugal.