Mon 12 May - to Marvao

Mon 12 May- after breakfast, off to Marvao (http://www.cm-marvao.pt), a castle town on top of a mountain in the middle of a Natural Park, just a few miles from Spain. Along the way, we saw many future black pork, veal entrecot, and lamb stew meals; plus some beautiful wildflower carpets of purple. In Marvao we're staying at 'Pousada de Santa Maria' at N 39 23.606 W 07 22.556. Originally a home rather than a convent or castle, it then became the Eagles Nest Inn, and became a pousada in 1967. Marvao is a small town, population 159, with about 4 or 5 restaurants, 6 or 7 roads (some are one way only, some are blocked off for pedestrian use only), but at 2000 ft elevation, it has magnificent 360 degree views of the surrounding countryside. The main attraction is the castle, which you can enter and wander around, admiring the views from the walls, and the many little gardens inside. The town was probably begun by Romans, fortified and named by Moors in the 9th century, then by the Christians in 1226, reached its maximum population in the 16th century, then gradually wasted away over time.
It's a lovely small town, well worth spending a night or two, walking the walls around the city and exploring the castle. We walked around twice to get our daily walk, then had a Superbock beer (www.superbock.pt) at 'Restaurante O Castelo' just a few meters outside the castle. We had supper at 'Restaurante O Varanda do Alentejo': vegetable soup (squash or pumpkin puree with string beans & carrots, fried pork with clams, grilled veal and a split of house wine, Borba red (http://www.adegaborba.pt). Good, although the meat was a little tough, suprising after the other veal we've had.