This place is for the birds!

Each morning when I go outside, the number of birds singing and chirping amazes me.  Did you know a cuckoo bird sounds just like a cuckoo clock? I know there are places in the US that also have a lot of song birds, but the Sierras do not. We have one bird.... the blue jay that makes one noise all day long.... cheeeese-BURG-er.... The crows don't count, as a caw is not a birdsong! I love to sit outside with my coffee or doing my yoga and just take it all in. There is also this gal, who really gets your attention when you see her fly overhead to her nest.

A stork! The nest is huge.

We are in far eastern Portugal, in what is a national park.  The area is full of ancient relics, including our back yard. Within a 20 mile radius, we can visit w castles and see innumerable ruins of Roman and Moorish buildings, walls built by farmers over the centuries that are still standing and skeletons of homes scattered everywhere.  That doesn't even include the still standing medieval villages.  Our current home's original structure is from the 17th century.... the walls are about 2' thick, and of course there is no central heat.  It is very cool inside, which will be very welcome when July and August roll around, but a bit cool now. Our little estate is a little slice of heaven on earth. 

This area is very sparsely populated, and today we rode a single lane road which we called our own private bike path.  Not one single car for 8 miles.

It isn't really a road to nowhere. One of these towns has at least 8 homes.

 My recurring ear worm song these days is either "County Roads"  of the theme from Green Acres.

She wouldn't look at me but let me take the picture.

You have seen those pictures of elderly Portuguese women that make the travel brochures?  Well, let me tell you, that is not an affectation on the part of the Portuguese tourist office.  The population is very elderly, as there is no real work to be had around here; mostly just some farming. The women wear the requisite housedress and apron, and spend a lot of time holding a rake or broom by the side of the road. Some will wave as we greet them on our bikes, but most just stare with open mouth.  Everyone has always been very friendly when we have dealt with them, but they are very stoic and taciturn when you see them on the street.

Thank you for reading, and leave a comment if you would like.  I would love to hear from you!