Wales and newly discovered family June 2016

Ann is the historian and the researcher in our family, so when she said that she had been in touch with our cousin Ruth and was going to Wales to meet up with my mother's sister Beth, I was really keen to join her.  We stayed in a lovely house in Tintern, up in the hills with a garden overflowing with flowers - just gorgeous - you have to have something to show for all that rain!

We had to arranged to meet Ruth and David in Thornbury at my aunt's home.  I had never met them before so seeing my aunt was quite an emotional experience as she reminded me so strongly of my mom, who died three years ago. Even though my mother had spent 50 years in Africa, they sounded so similar and the personality! Instantly recognisable and so familiar.

She's 92 (there was so much information, I hope I haven't got the facts wrong) and so full of life and vigor.  Inspiring.

All the photo albums were hauled out and we took a trip through a lifetime which we were part of, which indirectly impacted on ours but had been a closed book until now.  Living on our side of the world until just last year, our lives were distinctly lacking in close family so it's wonderful to find cousins!  So much to catch up on.

After much talking we went out for lunch, hence the group photo.

Then we went off to Ruth and David's home to look at more photo's.  There were a lot but the following are my favourites.

I was particularly taken with this little daguerreotype which measured 2 x 2.5 inches at the most.  Our great great grandfather taken in 1880.

My mom as a young girl, the little blonde.

Another photo that appealed, a day at the beach.

And then all grown up.

What a lovely day, but nevertheless, emotionally draining.  It was almost a relief to sit in a traffic jam over the Severn Bridge.

Even time to get a bit of a closer up view as there is usually nowhere to stop.  Yes, it was still raining. Summer is still just a rumour at the moment.

Castelo de S Jorge, Al farma 10 June 2016

Today was my last full day in Lisbon and I still hadn't been to the Castle that we could see from the apartment.  Castelo de S Jorge - a moorish castle overlooking the historic centre of Lisbon and the river Tagus.

Ann and Revel had already been there but Revel kindly steered me up and down the hills.  Down through Bairro Alto and up the other side to an area of narrow lanes and sidewalk restaurants.

June is a time of celebration in Portugal and there were signs all over of a big party the previous night. Today was a public holiday - Portugal day and later in the morning there was quite a big military parade through the city.

I think this is a giant piñata ...

In case you need one ...

I did the castle on my own (with a thousand other tourists).  The view was worth the slog up the hill.

I really enjoy the spaces of the moorish castles, they understood how to build for the climate they lived in - spacious, unfussy, trees and cool.

Inside the castle are huge courtyards - I'm partial to a good courtyard.

And up on the walls - the magnificant views...

Peacocks, quite fitting in these spaces.

Meeting up with Revel afterward we had a look round the other side of the hill.

Then headed down to Alfama, the oldest part of Lisbon which was originally outside of the city walls and home to the poorest residents.  There is a tramline but it was spilling over with tourists so the only way to explore was on foot.

We stopped for lunch at a pop up restaurant, in a gym!  I have to say, one of the strangest locations to have lunch and the meal itself, one of the strangest I've eaten.  Quite tasty but like biltong (jerky, for the non South Africans) and potato chips.  

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It was the Larde - no idea what it was though.

Then just meandering back through the city, checking out the sights.

Wall art from different ages.

Aren't these steps gorgeous?

The central plaza, after the military parade. Praça do Comércio.  

Heading for the Metro we stopped to watch these fantastic dancers.

I was very happy to climb onto the Metro at Biaxa-Chiado - another underground station with a completely unique look.

Adeus Lisbon, you're beautiful.

Cacilhas, Portugal 9 June 2016

Across the river Tagus from Lisbon is the small picturesque village of Cacilhas.  The taxi driver who took me the long way round on my arrival in Lisbon recommended this as the best place for seafood. On another sunny morning we headed down to the Ferry Terminal at Cais do Sodr'a.

To catch one of the small orange and white cacilheiros -  the ferry that connects Lisbon and Cacilhas.
It wasn't an expensive journey, I can't recall how much but not more than a couple of euros.  Always fun to be on a boat!

There was a breeze on the other side of the river, so much cooler than Lisbon.  We walked around a bit to get the feel of the place.  Two completely different vessels here.

There are lots of restaurants very close to the ferry terminal and there is aggressive selling by the waiters to get you into their restaurant.  The thing is, the closer to the water, the more expensive the menu and you end up paying double for the same thing. Just an aside - always check your bill - in probably 5 out of 6 instances we were either overcharged, undercharged, items were omitted or added and quite often, but not always, the tip is included in the total.  It became a bit of a joke to "spot the mistake".   Nobody took offence.

We ended up at a very friendly place up the hill a bit.

This was the day for sardines... (and the ubiquitous boiled potatoes).  Very tasty but full of tiny bones.

After lunch we looked around the village - don't you love this donkey sculpture?

Then back across the river.

Some more street life - how cute are these kids - outdoor culture lessons.

This seemed to be a parking lot for the emergency vehicles - quite an appropriate spot.

A determined tree ..

Pavement art ...