Night of Day 5, Guimaraes

So as the sun set after our gallivanting around the town of Guimaraes, we noticed that the streets were starting to shut off.
We found out that the reason all of the central streets were closed down and were also lined with chairs (mostly unoccupied, apart from a few resolute grannies as seen above), was because it was the "town day". This is a day to celebrate the history of the town and it is slightly satirically political.

So with tummies rumbling away, we decided it was dinner time. We hit the old town square and poked around the number of open air eateries and bars that are dotted around the area. It was difficult to chose, but one deciding factor that was able to sway us was that we saw some people standing up, as all of these eateries were heaving with happy talkative happy punters. We grabbed a table and awaited our very smiley waitress to set our places for us.

We were watched over by something that is ever present in my life..... a granny!


We had a nice meal, it was interesting to see so many people enjoying the balmy evening and to sit there and sip vinho verde whilst the town got excited.

It was funny when they switched on the town lights, lights that we hadn't noticed earlier, and the gasp from the diners was audible.
Maybe I am a grump and not as easily impressed.... or just deep in thought.....

After this pleasant meal, we strolled the town, ate icecream and headed back to the hotel to kill some time until the parade, which was to start at 2200.

Around 2130, we walked down what we guessed was the path, marked out by the lines of food stalls and the multicoloured chairs, which were starting to be filled now. We strolled to the town hall, and then walked along to find a good vantage point.
The buzz and humm of downtown Guimaraes on Town Day.
This sums it up, lights, balloons, chairs and lots of excited kiddies.
The town hall even booked a full moon for the night.

We found a nice spot where we set up the tripod and waited. It was nearly 2200, so we thought it shouldn't be far away. But then for the next 1 and a half hours the only things to come down the street were the chair and balloon sellers!


Eventually it started, led by a band, followed by some of the funniest things we have seen. Of course many of the floats had political connotations that, as foreigners, we did not quite understand. Some were easy to translate though.
These dancing lights are men in knights outfits. Hard to get with a slow lens and limited light.
Kind of a phallic theme here, poles that look like, umm well, poles of a flesh variety, then...Questions of your prostate............ and a man chases a woman! It all adds up to shenanigans!


After standing there until about 12, we were tired and grumpy (well one of us was) and decided to head home, even though there were many people still enjoying the parade.
The parade continued for about another 45 minutes to be finished with fireworks. At this stage we had crawled into bed, after a very fine day in the old capital!

Day 5 literally just the day time, there will need to be a night post too.

So it is the last sign of these times.....


Ok, so this morning was time for one last hefty breakfast of our glorious hosts before the short drive over to Guimares. We said our goodbyes and were presented with our first engagement present of a bottle of wine from a local producer. It was a very sweet thought from some lovely hosts.

I have to say here two important facts here.
Number one, I cannot recommend more highly the house of Casa Cimeira http://www.casacimeira-douro.com/uk/index.php

The entrance to our hilltop accommodations

The view of the main building.

Number two, more wine as an engagement present will certainly be greatly appreciated and eagerly consumed at some point.

So off we went to Guimares only a short drive away. It was easy to find, even if we missed a couple of turn offs for towns we were thinking about seeing.... Portuguese road signs are not so straight forward..... but we made it to Guimares early just before lunch (for us this is about 1400). It was a really nice warm and sunny day when we arrived. This made it perfect for strolling about the town to learn about the surroundings. Also what the heck was going here, in the old Portuguese capital, as there was lights being strung up, tents being erected and a lively atmosphere about.

We walked about the old town the small fruit stalls,

the pastry shops and admired the very old buildings. Many of these are run down, and in desperate need of loving assistance, I just wish I had the money to help...... Some being purely the facade with nothing at all behind.


Others were lovely tiled fronts, and large windows. I remarked to Marta that in any other country if you had a house with a tiled front it would probably look tacky and ugly, but in a place like Guimares it just fits and livens up narrow streets, and like this one below just glow from mustard yellow tiles.

There was also some pretty cool public art in the centre of town, this one being a big finger print.


So before venturing too far, as I mentioned earlier, we arrived just before lunch. So as we again had stuffed ourselves for breakfast, we weren't keeling over with hunger, so we decided it was time again to hit a bakery. Yay, for baked food. Of course I required a coffee.


Ham filled pastry

Eggy custardy tasty and yummy, sounds like a Peter Combe song! For all of you not from Australia or familiar with the great mans work, and/or are interested in kids entertainment http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peter_Combe
Orange tarts

A window full of tasty looking pastry.

I know this photo isn't sharp and crisp, but you try and stop Marty attacking a strawberry tart to take a photo and you see how hard it is!


My coffee, as you can see a little burnt, and our first custard tarts, the national sweet of Portugal, or so I am led to believe. They weren't to be the last either.... rather tasty little morsels.

So off we went into the areas that was the old workers districts. It is amazing to see these old buildings in this area. They are run down but still maintain their distinct beauty and appeal. I would love to be able to buy a lot of them and do them up. There was one, and old textile factory, that was screaming out to be made into a hotel. In a perfect location near the markets. Below you can see the mail boxes of all the traders in the market.



For all of you who are smart arses, and think you know lots of useless information. Have a look at the below and tell me what this is.....


It isn't as easy as you think! I will be interested to see what you come up with.....

Now the sun sets and we move to the night.... in a new post, so this isn't too long.