🧘🏾‍♀️ 🏝 🌊 ☀️

Today is yoga day. First a coffee, then I go to the yoga studio (https://sandhihouse.com/).

Before the class, I chat with an American woman who is in Ericeira for a few days and then has booked Lisbon. Now, enjoying the sea and the tranquility, she wants to change her plans. No noisy Lisbon. I feel her.

The class is just as the title promised... a dynamic flow! I sweat like an animal, but I really enjoy the 80 minutes! Quickly back home, shower, pack my mother and off to Budda Eden. I'm glad to be able to drive the 75 km on the highway, no bumping over rocks and stones. I can barely hear the GPS say my favorite word "roundabout" 🙏🏽.

Buddha Garden? What is that supposed to be? I'll be surprised. After a short wine tasting, we enter the park. It is the largest oriental garden in Europe and covers an area of about 35 hectares. This garden was created in response to the destruction of the Giant Buddhas of Bamyan, an act of cultural barbarism that forever destroyed masterpieces of the late Gandhara art period. Everywhere in this garden you can admire buddhas, pagodas, terracotta statues and various sculptures. An estimated 6000 tons of marble and granite were used in its creation.

The sun is shining, I'm getting really tan and admire the statues. The Budda Garden and the concept behind it are truly worth a visit.

At around 3 pm, we start our way back - hungry. Unfortunately, between 3/4 pm and 7 pm, all restaurants are closed. And I mean all of them! We decide, because we are hopeful, to drive through the countryside... maybe there is a restaurant open after all?! 1.5 hours of pure disappointment 🥶. But: the weather and the route through the vineyards are fantastic!

Just before Ericeira, we see a restaurant where there are actually people sitting. I turn around, this is our chance! Ah ok, not a restaurant, but a place only for beer👎🏽. But: since we are already on this side of the road, we follow the sign that leads to the water. And we drive straight towards the ocean, no cars, no people. And a fabulous view.

I drop off my mother and rush back to the supermarket. Because we are still hungry and a picnic by the water seems like a nice alternative. And it is!

I bring cheese, among other things, which she will surely enjoy. Or maybe not: it is full of mold. But who needs cheese when you have this view! By the way: since I came back from the supermarket, a car with 2 retirees has been parked. At first they are awake, later they fall asleep. I am worried, but I think it's a ritual. Both sleep in the car in the sun peacefully ♥️. Before we witness a crime, we better leave the area.

We stop in Ribeira d'Ilhas and watch people surfing before heading home to get ready for yoga.

Yoga in the evening, that was great. Well, in theory... because the information in the email does not match the times. We stand in front of a locked door 🥶. First 30€ wasted.

Nevertheless, the day was beautiful, and instead of yoga, we have a mega pizza 🍕