After a short bus ride to Silves, we began with a walk to the castle site and cathedral.
Whipping post – detail shows that the crown is above the snakes of evil
I don’t know how long ago, but large buses are no longer allowed up here. The folks who were mobility impaired were given the option of a ride up to the castle.
Detail of roof within the entry/gift shop area
Views from castle walls
Below is the roof of a giant cistern on the castle grounds.
“The Silves citadel’s large “aljibe” consists of a large reservoir excavated out of the rocky substrate, with storage capacity of around 1 300 000 L, and which supplied the city until the 1980s. Its construction dates from the Almohad period (12th-13th century), probably during the time immediately after the first conquest of the city by the Christians in 1189.”
Today, there’s a special exhibit on the local lynx, which are endangered due to the usual lack of habitat but exacerbated by a disease which is killing rabbits, their main food source.
Didn’t see any lynxes but was happy to see that dogs were allowed!
On our drive to Silves, we saw abandoned smoke stacks from the fish canning industry. Large white storks, who mate for life when in Portugal to reproduce, revert to open marriages when they fly to Africa. They build enormous nests on these and other high places and I was able to see one from the castle walls – very graceful birds. I knew it wasn’t one I’d seen before! Not my picture but you get the idea.
This one is my picture:
Lovely cathedral, within walking distance of the castle.
5 foot tall carnation
Proud of their oranges, as well!
Door handles which caught my eye
Time for wine tasting the local wines at Quinta Dos Vales. The fellow who bought and developed this place is an amateur sculptor. He created most of the works on site, but they were all fun and the wine was good. It’s also always fun to watch Ron discuss grape growing and wine making.
The whimsical rotund women sculpture garden was a riot!
The sky always looks brilliant blue.
As it should be on holiday
We continue to luck out on weather – supposed to be in the 70’s in Barcelona for our last days there and the ocean has been calm as could be on our last leg.