Yesterday we were supposed to walk from Coimbra to Mealhada, an easy 23 km stroll. We visited the Joanina library in Coimbra before setting out, but the skies opened as soon as we started walking and it continued, in Biblical proportions, for the next couple of hours at which point, sopping wet and cold, we decided to hitch a ride to our destination. We are so glad we did it because we were able to have the most delicious lunch at the Churrasqueira Rocha, feasting on Leitao Assado a Bairrada, roasted suckling pig, the Mealhada specialty.

So we welcomed today’s walk under cloudy skies but no rain. We did not run into any other walkers, we had the paths to ourselves as we wandered across the Bairrada wine region through orderly, clean villages with some impressive stately homes.  We have entered the second week invigorated.