Sat 10 May- Albergaria do Cavalerio and Evora

Sat 10 May- after the lavish buffet breakfast, we moved to the nearby 'Albergaria do Cavalerio' at N 38 34.488, W 07 54.846, inside the walled city Evora, a UNESCO World Heritage site. Our hotel used to the the olive oil producer for the church/convent next door, but has been refurbished into a very nice small hotel with lots of rustic charm (the stone olive presses are still in the courtyard, and some of the interior walls are the original). It's walking distance from all the interesting parts of the town: roman ruins, moorish ruins, castles, cathedrals, defensive walls, museums and good restaurants. We visited the Se (cathedral) and saw the religious vestments and trappings used by the previous bishops and cardinals of the cathedral. They are really beautifully embroidered, and quite pretty. There was a lot of art: sculpture, paintings, carvings, jewelery, etc. that was gifted to the cathedral over the years. It was a cool 65 F or so, perfect for walking. So we visited the mercado (closed at the time), the Evora Museum (temporarily in a small convent, and hardly worth the effort), then back to the hotel for a rest before dinner. We went to the 'Restaurante Adega do Alentejano' and had: 1/2 liter red wine (E2.80), tomato soup (more like a hearty tomato stew with bread, egg, sausage and spices, definitely not Campbells!, E7.50), 'lombinho', a black pork dish that was more like beef than pig, E9.50), bread (E0.75), and 'petisco' (a chicken salad type spread for the bread, E3). The total-E23.55, about $36. Our great waiter explained all the dishes so we could choose what was best.