Asturias, Euskal Herria & France Cruise - Leixoes Page

They got us away surprisingly late, at 0945, because is was quite a drive to Guimaraes , which was the original capital of Portugal, when Portugal was a County trying to expand itself by pushing the Moors Southwards, as they sometimes did in alliance with Spain but sometimes having to fight the Spaniards. While it had been warm in Leixoes & we had no coats, we had a sprinkle of rain soon after getting to Guimaraes, up by the castle. This was built on a hill where Joao I fought his mother, who was enamoured of a Spaniard, to maintain Portugal’s independence & became the first king, if I have got this right.

The Castle on the battle hill	Chapel full of buried heroes	Below the Castle
Two images of King Joao I	Convent near the Castle	Down into the Old City

We wandered down into the Old City, through a series of lanes & squares, until we got to a square with a Visigoth memorial in it. Here, we had hot chocolates (€1.40 for two) & then, as it was getting late, crèpes & the local ‘green’ wine (€10 for two!).

Typical side street

Town Hall

Local National Dress version

Main Square

again

and again

The square outside the Old City

The Visigoth War Memorial

Almost as soon as we got on the coach, the rain poured down but back at Leixoes, where they had kept the Palms Café open late, the weather had been fine.