Near Coimbra

We didn't land directly in Coimbra, but we took a trip there.

From the Alentejo we went further north to the town of Setra. This may be confusing for some people, as we were not in Lisbon or the surrounding area, but for us it all makes sense. I don't particularly like big cities, the more touristy they are, the less I like them.

Currently, Portugal is being hit by a high pressure system after heavy rain. I'm more on the side of those who say it's been hit, because temperatures around 30 degrees are not normal for April here. However, our trip so far has always shown that what we perceive as weather is never normal. The weather apps keep telling me that it's about 8 degrees above average...

It is also unusually warm here near Bonjardim at the moment. We are already walking around in T-shirts in the mornings, whereas a week ago we always needed a jacket. I can see the effects of climate change very clearly here. A friend from Bavaria just said that he only had to wait a few months and then the rockrose would grow in our latitudes too. He's not entirely wrong!

The Alentejo had many eucalyptus trees, but on the other hand it was an open landscape with olives and cork oaks, but we have since heard that the eucalyptus unfortunately draws moisture from the soil, so it is no wonder that the water level there drops. I cannot answer why exactly the trees are planted there, or whether they grow on their own. What is clear is that many farmers and winemakers will have to look for alternatives to their planting if the climate continues to warm. One winery has switched to wines with more foliage so that the vines are protected in the hot summers here.

Portugal has a rich history, prehistoric, Roman, Muslim and co. were all there and left their mark, the cities often have fortified castles and city walls thanks to the wars against the Moorish foreign rulers, they look really fascinating on their hills.

Yesterday we were in Coimbra, a very nice city, if you ignore the tourist aspects. The difference to other cities is the fact that it was built from the river up the mountain and is still growing. It was relatively easy to find a parking garage here, otherwise a visit with the dogs in the car would not have been possible, as it was too hot to just park the van in the shade.

Christian and I then walked up the various terraces to the oldest university in Portugal, we ate our lunch in a student bar and found it fun and of course tasty. The lady of the house was one of the few who didn't speak English, but gestures and the few bits of Portuguese we'd picked up helped.

The town was fun, but the walk afterwards was even better because there was a river! Loki was excited and explored the swimming area by swimming.

A word about the hiking trails here. In general, many hiking trails in Portugal can be found in various apps. Today we were unlucky enough to find a trail that no longer exists because of a missing bridge. The trail was still marked, but now we know that it should make us think twice if the trail is not maintained or mown. It was a shame, but it can't be changed.

To compensate, we did a wine tasting at the Bonjardim winery, because they offer organic wines. That's always good for me, even if I can't tolerate much anymore thanks to my self-imposed abstinence. The tasting was good, the wines here are not mass-produced, but carefully considered and produced in manageable quantities. There were several surprises for me here, hopefully we'll bring the box home!

I hope the temperatures will be better at our next stop in Serra Estrela!