Cheryl & Elwin's Adventures

After a quick stop to visit the studio (and wife) of Luis Soares, a Potugese artist we purchased a work from in 1989 in NYC we were off to the east through the agricultural high country of Alto Alentejo.  As in San Francisco you need to cross the Golden Gate Bridge to get to the good wine regions. The same is true in Portugal. The bridge here was designed and built by the same group of people. The difference here is that this area not only has miles and miles of vineyards, but also olive groves, and cork trees, along with walled medieval cities on hilltops. Our first stop was Arraiolos, known for its hand weaving of rugs. We had a delicious lunch of local specialities outside in the town square. Then our next small town was Vila Vicosa. Inside the walls was a beautiful cathedral and cemetary, and a town square ringed by orange trees. The jewel however was Monsaraz. This is a town of about 150 residents with a castle and a bullfighting ring.  It sits high atop the plain of Alentejo with spectacular views looking over the valley toward the border with Spain. The town is unspoiled by tourism and modern times. A final stop was at the Menhir of Outeira, an 18′ high Megalith from the Neolithic era. I don’t know why the women look so happy??? 

On to Evora, our next stop