He spent weeks preparing. Neighbor Paul made every effort to make his friends feel at home. With a great result.
Those friends have also become friends of Termas da Azenha
At least I hope so … It is actually quite a bold statement, I don’t even know how they read this … but let’s assume that the concept of “friends” is understood here in Portugal in a portuguese way. In Portugal you quickly become a friend. That says something about Portuguese society, I think. Friendly people.
The friends were everywhere received in a friendly manner, and that also contributes considerably to the experience. Paul had arranged a rental car in advance, prepared a few walks, filled the fridge, and came by every now and then to ask if I had any nice ideas or if there were things that absolutely had to be admired or done. Great anticipation.
Completely forgot to ask the friends if they had had so much anticipation as well.
And yes, there are things you should not miss when you are in the area. Then you really have to go to Conimbriga. That is an excavated Roman settlement with beautiful mosaic floors in a beautiful location where you can take a beautiful walk on the grounds, have a beautiful lunch in the restaurant, and if you are real hikers, like them, then you can add a walk of about 15 kilometers afterwards.
“We did become quieter and quieter,” laughs Anke, “because it was a tough hike, but beautiful – beautiful! And wonderfully quiet, it was great!” And throws a grateful look in Paul’s direction, who is proudly but modestly smiling a little about it.
The friends have walked a lot and extensively, because they like that, and you can do that here in the area
Not only nature, but also culture. Coimbra is also a must, and there is a lot to see there. The university library of course, where every evening, after leather covers have been placed over the books and tables, bats are released to catch the bugs that would like to eat (and poop on) the antique books.
The cathedral, the little alleys with the small shops, the park alongside the river, the Santa Clara monastery, the Forum shopping mall, with a great lunch in A Cozinha da Maria in the city centre, for example. Lunch is The Thing in Portugal, isn’t it, dinner not so much. Especially in the outlying areas you eat a good hot meal at noon, not a sandwich with cheese.
In the outlying areas, by the way, you can also experience a thing or two. The market in Louriçal or Soure, the renovated monastery in Seiça, or go to the lake in Paleão (40.037784, -8.590790) or go for a walk in a village like Alqueidão where you can see more than you think! An enormous church, with a medieval little one a little further on, a bandstand, a “Casa do Povo” with a bench with old men in front of it, a few typical Portuguese tile tableaus, and more of that.
The friends had a great holiday, and were lucky with the weather. We’re now enduring the early spring cold and ditto wetness & wind, knowing that they carry the portugese sun in their hearts back home.
(Good end like this, isn’t it?)
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We moved here in 2000 from Rotterdam, the Netherlands, to the Termas-da-Azenha, Portugal.
A big step, especially with two small children.
We are busy to rebuild one of portugals cultural heirlooms: Termas-da-Azenha, an old spa which has been turned into several holiday houses, rooms and a campsite.
You’ll find mosaics and paintings everywhere.
Since 2018 we call ourselves the first B&B&B in the world – Bed & Breakfast & Bathrobes. You can buy a home-made unique bathrobe/housecoat with us.
Each week a little blog about what is happening around us. An easy read. A few minutes in another world. A little about what it going on in Portugal. If you plan your holiday to Portugal, it might be a nice preparation
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