The last few days have been delightful.

 

 

Early morning mist rises off the river

 

We have spent the time meandering up the river along the border between Spain and Portugal.

The weather has been fantastic and the scenery a picture of the rural idyll.

 

 

Bird life wonderful; saw egrets, grey herons, storks, kingfisher, ringed plover and possible azure winged magpies as well as three times as many species we couldn’t identify.

Anchored in still waters with fab views.

 

 

A house boat?                                                                                  Pete in the town square on the Portuguese side

 

Last night we  anchored between two towns. Each had church bells competing. And castles facing each other where canons could fire across the river. Now just church bells compete. Two each hour from each side, very approximately on the hour. But Spanish and Portuguese time is an hour different ..... Think Portugal won by adding little tune to one of it’s chimes at 12 and 3pm!!

 

 

Looking across the river to the Spanish town                                     Looking at the boat from the castle turrets

 

Towns quaint and go back several centuries with unmade roads and tiny steep narrow streets between whitewashed higgledy piggledy houses. Goats, hens and pigs mixed with groves of olives, oranges and pomegranates.

 

 

The air smells of pine, eucalyptus and aniseed.