We’ve had a fabulous day, so far. Most of the ship went to Spain to tour Salamanca, and they would be gone all day, not returning to the ship until 6:00 pm. I will only be writing about our experiences, which were all good. Our small group of about 16 people left by bus for a visit to Castelo Rodriga, a 45 minute drive through scenic fields of olive and almond trees. The area is known for its cork, almonds and olives.
We were met at the entrance to the village of 75 people by a young woman who offered us almonds to taste. Then we saw examples of the cork produced here. We walked the steep, narrow streets and explored the clock tower, the Church of Our Lady of Rocamadour, the medieval cistern, the Jewish sector, and the prison.
This village is a historical village listed as one of the 7 Wonders of Portugal – Authentic Villages. The medieval village center is surrounded by fortified walls. There is no school here and the nearest airport is in Porto, ~ 2 hours away. The village is located on the path to Santiago de Compostela in Spain. We were signed up to go there when COViD changed those plans.
After the tour, we were treated to an almond tasting that included 8 flavors of almonds, some local ham, and a taste of almond cake. We were also offered several types of port, local wines, and coffee. I liked all of the flavors of almonds, and before we left, we bought some sweet almonds and some chocolate almonds to take home.
There was some time left for shopping, and we concentrated on the cork products: a small purse, a wallet, some coasters, a cork bracelet. It was fun to see everything made from cork. Selling these products to tourists is the only way the locals have to make money, so it was nice to be able to support the local economy.
As we prepared to leave, Isabela, our ship’s tour guide, informed us that our bus had broken down, and we would have to wait for another bus or take taxis (45″) back to the ship. Everyone took it in stride – no problem. We found a shady spot to wait, and after 20 minutes, the bus driver called to say that he had fixed the bus. Yeah!
On the drive back, we stopped to take pictures of the valley. This picture shows Portugal on the left of the river, and Spain on the right.
The ship had prepared lunch for our small group, and then we had the afternoon off. I walked an hour on the deck. It was 83 degrees and full sun, but there was no humidity. It’s been a wonderful, relaxing day, so far, and after dinner tonight, there is a Trivia night. We haven’t attended any of the evening activities, but everyone has given them great reviews. We are very impressed with Emerald Cruises, so far. They are very friendly and attentive to our every need.