Day Eight/Nine: July 5th/6th: Back to Vila Vicosa and On To Lagoalva da Cima in Ribatejo

Back To Vila Vicosa 

Thursday July 5^th was spent as a catch up day. I needed to use the Internet and the girls wanted to do some shopping. Our favourite place for both was Vila Vicosa. It was close and we could come and go without becoming snarled in traffic. I really did not like driving and was well aware of the problems of having an accident in Portugal so I drive defensively and even then had some close calls.

We arrived at Vicosa in mid morning and I set off to work at a café where there was a strong Internet signal. I knew that the girls would be safe and that I had no reason to worry about them so I went to work and had an Espresso by my side.

Darlene, Jessica and Taryn were gone about an hour to an hour and a half though they did come back intermittently to keep in touch.

When they came back permanently, we had lunch at the café and then left for Sao Miguel to pack our bags for the day to come. Packing is another thing that I do not like. I swore that on my next trip anywhere there would not be very much in the way of clothing and extraneous material.

The rest of the day we spent relaxing until the inevitable trip to the North.
End of Day 8

Heading To Lagoalva

We left for Ribatejo at approximately 9:30 AM.  Our trip to Lagoalva da Cima was rather uneventful. I had mastered the use of the toll boots and managed to pick up my ticket and subsequently pay may charge at the end of the route with no major problem. We arrived at our destination around the lunch hour and were greeted by Diogo Campilho who was the son of the owner.

Diogo was thirtyish, handsome, married with three children. He was a bundle of energy when I first met him and his status had not changed. He was the same bundle of energy but this time with more responsibilities. After welcoming us he advised us of possible schedules for side trips and of the breakfast/dinner times.

Diogo was always planning something and he could hardly wait to tell me about his latest venture which was the “Young Winemakers” which was a “Douro Boys” style association of young winemakers from various wineries each making his own wine but supporting each other also. This group included many of the well know winemakers from wineries in Portugal such as: Hobby Wine, Vadio and Conceito. I could hardly wait to hear more. Diogo also told me of his plans to get the   “Master of Wine” designation in which he had already applied   as he wanted to be the first in Portugal to get it. He also had plans to attend university to complete his Master’s Degree. This was in addition to all his parental responsibilities plus his work at Lagoalva. I wondered where did he have time to have three children.

I also met his wife who was the epitomy of loveliness and intelligence. She was a Psychologist and worked in Lisbon. Diogo’s children, Alfonso (3 years going on 16) and Elenore (younger in age but with a mind that was always working) , were much the same as he----good looking and energetic.  Another older son was not there at the time. We made plans to have dinner and then were on our way for lunch.   

Hotel Rural/Quinta Da Torre

Diogo also phoned and arranged a lunch at a hotel called Hotel Rural Quinta Da Torre owned by Carlota Almada Figueiredo. It was located not far from Lagoalva and in the same town of Alpiarca.

The hotel and Carlota were amazing as was Carlota’s “right hand’ employee Edgar. I have yet to meet one as congenial and professional as he!

The hotel consisted of two separate locations beside each other. The both had lavish gardens, a full sized swimming pool and unique rooms ---some being suites. The whole area was well groomed and so very clean. The back ground of green wherever we went gave a comfortable coolness to the air around us.

The hotel’s history goes back some 200 years---an inscription at the top of one of the hotel’s pools was dated 1764---when Carlota’s family settled on what was then a farm. In fact, many of the hotel rooms that were now luxurious quarters were once the rooms where farm workers stayed. Each room still had the permanent table like everyday fixtures used for kitchen duties.  

Each of the hotel sections had separate kitchen, dining and living facilities. People could visit, swim in the main pool, have lunch or dinner at their leisure.

Food here was good. It was freshly made and on the spot and covered a good range of dishes, snacks and drinks.

Lunch was interesting for the girls. In addition to all the accompaniments of olives and bread came an Octopus Salad. Jessica was the bravest as she took a small piece and ate it. We got her facial reaction on camera, Funny!

I ended up eating the delicious Octopus Salad in addition to my meal of “Steak with Veggies”.  Darlene, Jessica and Taryn had Pork Steak and Fries. We found the meal very filling and enjoyable.

We then came back to Lagoalva to unpack. Taryn and Jessica wanted to try out the pool and I wanted to relax so after a brief “housekeeping” discussion with Diogo, we left once again for the hotel.

End of Day Nine