You want quirky? Today’s the day to deliver then.
We leave Porto under a cloud, or possibly it’s fog? Temperature in it’s boots, relatively, around 21 so we can still have the roof off with a little bit of heating to keep the tootsies warm. After crossing on that huge bridge from yesterday, our drive soon starts to climb, and the fog gets quite thick occasionally. We’re ascending to over half a mile high as we cross the Serra do Caramulo mountain range, then as we descend the temperature rockets upwards to the late thirties we’re more accustomed to.
All the while this sweeping highway affords spectacular scenery around the area, large parts of it a national park. Our destination, the small town of Belmonte is nestled into a rich vale, with wonderful views.
Our hotel is a disused and derelict monastery, which has been crafted into an eclectic hotel and restaurant, the public rooms are amazing, you’ll get quite a few photos shortly. The restaurant is a Michelin one rosette, as befits a birthday dinner!
We wander into town and check out the mini castle, the church and a few other buildings but the cooling pool and terrace are our preferred destination and we enjoy a long and lazy afternoon swimming, reading and, after a preliminary mojito a nice bottle of bubbly!
For dinner we’re on the Degustation menu, eight courses all but one excellent and the one that wasn’t, maybe it’s just the ways things are cooked here, but a little overdone for our tastes.
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