Incidental observations

Julie was taken with the gypsies  - we passed two families travelling on the road, horse drawn drays loaded with all their belongings, spare horses tied on behind, hedged in by cars and traffic.  No longer hugh travellers across Europe as in past times, many gypsies have permanent homes but still spend some time on the road.  They camp on vacant land, sometimes moving within a small area, sometimes staying so their children may attend school.  They breed and sell their horses - and tradionally pilfer when they can - we were warned about leaving unattended items in our golf carts on one course.

Portugese people have proved friendlier, willing to talk about their culture, and have much better English then Spanish locals.  English is taught in schools, and television here is in English with Portugese subtitles so English is heard constantly.  Many people speak with American nuances. Unlike the Spanish they enjoy engaging in conversation.

Here and there abandoned farm houses, camouflaged in groves of trees and rocky outcrops, are slowly returning to nature.
A shepherd with staff in hand trails behind his flock of sheep and goats.  Back home land like this may be seen as only fit to run goats!
Yesterday we drove through a small village - cobbled street, white houses around a square, coffee shop.  Houses were decorated with ceramic tiles, coloured doors, windows surrounded by blue stripes of paint which apparently deter flies who like the white but not blue.  Older people sit outside chatting and viewing the passing scene.  Little has changed here and for some people lifestyle remains as it has always been.

Back on the bus travelling to Lisbon the countryside is changing- scrubby, rolling hills are giving way to undulating farmland, marginally better land, still dry and sparse but supporting livestock.
Trees here do not grow to great heights - lack of water and poor soil. Despite the lack of rain and grass, the general impression is of colour - muted greens and brown dotted with vibrant green - reminiscent of parts of Aus at times.  We pass a plantation of eucalypts - tall but spindly.
Some of the irrigation systems here look as though they date to Roman times - long rocky canals,  up off the ground, large shallow,  concrete tanks and sometimes modern osillating irrigation frames spraying vast areas.   Closer to Lisbon groves of olives , citrus and grapes and light industrial complexes. Nearly to our next hotel.