Alcoutim Friday
Thursdays Child
Robin & Joanna Minchin
Fri 12 Dec 2014 22:02
007:28.151W
Anchored off Alcoutim
Thank you to Shalfleet School for beautiful singing today, it was a real treat to see and hear your Assembly!
I had a funny start to the day waking to the sound of the clock tower chiming 5am, then apparently dozing back to sleep for what only seemed like a minute before the clock struck 6am. The same happened at the next hour, 6 chimes and an hour slipping by in what seemed like a minute before 7 chimes. When it happened for the third time I realised what was going on, Portugal is UK time, and Spain is +1hr and as we are anchored on the border we had both clock towers chiming both their hours at us, terribly confusing, especially when half asleep.
The barometer is finally dropping. It was thick fog in the River at 8am, sadly marking the end of the run of beautiful weather. With the tide turning the boat silently during breakfast, what was Portugal on our port side before breakfast, we found to be Spain on our port side after breakfast, much to the children's amusement in the thick fog.
After our lovely Skype call to school we had a good time exploring the town; 2,900 inhabitants, one library, one small food shop, one museum, two churches, one castle and several cafes. On the outskirts of town there are orange, lemon and olive orchards. Up and out early again tomorrow, the daily bread van visits at 8.30am. There seem to be some festivities brewing so it is a good time to be here.
We've also learnt of the 'Guadiana Glue'.............. folk arrive and find they can't leave as it is so lovely!
