Olive Farm to Portimão
1000 year old Olive Tree
This morning we say goodbye to Evora (and all it's students!) The sunrise is nothing less than spectacular.
After a quick breakfast in our hotel, I head out with my camera for a few parting shots.
You can easily see the ancient Roman wall in the daylight.
At this time in the morning there are no students and no tourists. Even the workers haven't reported for work yet.
The Roman Temple looks great in the early morning light.
There is also a park that we didn't get to explore yesterday because our time was too short. But no one is around and I have the park basically to myself.
After a little more exploration in the peace and quiet of an early morning in Evora, I head back to the hotel and meet the group in the lobby. We walk outside the walled city to meet Nuno and our bus and off we go to Amor é Cego - Love is Blind, a family owned Olive grove outside of Evora.
We meet João Miguel Rosado, who explains to us the history of the Monte da Oliveira Velha estate.
The olive grove is a 72-year-old dryland 12x12 plantation and the olive oil is carefully extracted in its purest state.
The olives are picked by hand, placed in 20-kilo boxes, and processed on day they are gathered in order to conserve all the properties of the oil.
The old olive trees are looked after with great care with the best agricultural practices. Like this 1000 year old tree. It's still thriving.
They believe that despite the relatively low yield - 7 liters per 100 kg of olives - their final product is a unique olive oil of the highest quality.
João Miguel tells us how the olive oil labels came about and the family doll that inspired it.
He teaches us the proper way to taste olive oil, using a blue cup with a cover.
The cup is held in your hands and warmed, then you smell.
Their Olive Oil was featured in September 2021 Eating Well and also the Good Gourmet
We met Nuno at the end of the driveway and we're off on our long drive to the Algarve region of Porutgal.
The Algarve is the southern most region of continental Portugal. Several studies and reports have concluded that the Algarve is among the world's best places to retire.
Interested in a possible move, check out this ARTICLE.
The area looks beautiful with hills and beaches.
We arrive at our hotel just before sunset. We'll be staying a couple of nights at the NH Marina Portimão Resort.
A couple of us have to check out the pool. It's chilly but refreshing. We quickly shower and meet the group in the hotel dining area for a buffet dinner.
More photos of the Olive Farm and our travels to Portimão: CLICK HERE
Tomorrow we have free time in Portimão or the option to join our group heading Lagos for a Coastal Atlantic Boat trip, a visit to Cabo S. Vincente and Sagres Fortress.
Travel on friends!