Porches NE to Évora: Sunny & Hot! 30

Standing Room Only!

During our last full day on the south coast yesterday we decided to drive to the top of the highest peak in the Algarve, the 904 metre Mount Foia above the mountain town of Monthique. On our way up we had a quite incredible experience. Something a little like the bush walk we enjoyed with Neil and Sarah in Canberra. Think loads of kangaroos replaced by loads of storks!

Yup. Loads of storks as we passed through what seemed to be a colony of them along about 1 kilometre of road. We pulled over and walked about in amazement. I saw many many storks while walking up the Via De La Plata in 2014 and hundreds of nests, and while that was a special experience, I didn’t see anything quite like this. A massive concentration.

This photo reminds me of Hitchcock’s The Birds. Looks like the owners have given up and moved on.

There were so many storks that they were circling in a holding pattern waiting for landing instructions!

It was quite incredible!

I watched this one try to land on a nest, but there were already 6 occupants and he was waved off.

The storks were sitting on just about anything they could find.

And when that failed they ended up on the ground, a last option.

We continued on from this experience to the mountain top, still quite amazed. There were good views from the top though the clouds had drifted in.

We stopped in the town of Monthque for a look see, and found it a bit more original than the coastal towns which seem to have been overwhelmed by the tourist growth. A pretty little church.

This morning we said goodbye to our beach front.

We then drove back out of our way to check in on the stork colony because the weather was so much better this morning. 

A juvenile waiting for take off clearance, 

Followed by the launch.

Then a successful fly past!





We then headed north along a scenic very narrow windy road into the mountains. We stopped at Beja for lunch and a look around the old city centre.

There were orange trees along the Main Street, and the oranges were ripe! Orange season here. Erin would love this street!

We must have driven some 300 kms north to Évora today. The drive took us through some beautiful country that reminded me so much of the Via de la Plata route which is just to the east less than a 100 kms. Hot, dry yellow grasses with great huge cork trees and other round top trees dotted over the rolling landscape. I had a massive urge to stop the car, put on my boots and just set off. I think Annemarie might even have understood. Best I not test that theory!

We are in Évora for three nights. So much to see and do in this very unique community, but that will have to wait for the next post!

Time to find a cold beer, then dinner! We are once again in a small hotel, built in the 14th century with part of the original Roman wall a supporting wall. Cool!  Our room on the right with our own sitting area. Sort of like a cave, this room.