Our daily mileage is unusually short for two reasons: The terrain required a lot of climbing and I have caught a chest cold. So, slow time adjustment, poor sleep, and then the cold. John has been patient, I'm slow, but feeling much better as I write this blog. So, breakfast opened at 7:30, we departed at 8:30, and arrived in Elvas (not Elvis) by 12:30.
I found two possibilities for lodging in Elvas on booking.com, a waited for John to finish his shower to get his agreement. When we selected the first one, it was no longer available, so we quickly selected the second one. Both are inside the old town walls.
The entire area is extremely dry, and predictions of rain seldom happen. Much like CA and MT, a 40% probability is less, perhaps because any moisture evaporates before it hits the ground. I hope that doesn't jinx us.
Marble Everywhere. Marble is so abundant that it's often he structural and surfacing material of choice. We rode by a marble quarry within Estremoz city limits on our way out of town. Giant heaps of marble are visible along the highways.
Borba Wine Store. Today we started to act like bike tourists, stopping for more photos and taking short detours into small towns on our route. Adega de Borba was a huge winery in Borba. This was their sales room.
Perhaps this still was used to make grappa, now on display in the rear of the store.
Wine, Wine, Wine. Local wines of every style, expensive-to-cheap, bottled or boxed, but nothing sold by the liter, "bring your own containers". We purchased 375 ml splits, one white and one red. Neither of us wanted to carry any more weight on the hills.
Private House, but certainly not a church.
Marble Everywhere
Outside Borba. looking back toward the town.
Pruning the Vines. They seemed to be pruning the vines for next year to make the grapes easier to harvest mechanically.
No, Nancy, I did not pick this mushroom and try to eat it.
Elvas Aqueduct. Most similar aqueducts are inoperable but this one is under repair. At first, I thought it ended but merely turns a corner.
The aqueduct has a length of 7,054 metres (23,143 ft) from its spring in the Serra do Bispo until the Chafariz do Jardim, and another 450 metres (1,480 ft) to the town fountain.[1][2] Its track includes 1,367 metres (4,485 ft) subterranean segments, to a maximum altitude of 4,049 metres (13,284 ft) above sea level, while 1,683 metres (5,522 ft) include arcade segments.[1] From Outeiro de São Francisco is the second canal, which redirects waters to Outeiro dos Pobres, identifiable in the arcade at Rossio.[1] In total there are 833 arches, with at most four registers at any one time (diminishing size at higher altitudes), supported by rectangular pillars and strengthened by semi-circular and pyramidal buttresses.
Another fortress in the hilltop
Elvas Cathedral
Elvas Street
Heading for the Castle
The Elvas Castle. We discovered that most public facilities throughout Europe take Monday off.
Hilltop fortification across the valley from the Elvas Castle
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| Barracks are in the yellow buildings. Elvas was where troops were garrisoned to defend the border with Spain. |
Elvas Castle. Closed on Monday.
Dog of the Day
Really wanted to meet the little dogs.
Tour Guide and his guide vehicle.
Note the marble used throughout the construction.
A Most Excellent Wash Basin. Let's see, it holds more than the bath sink, has a stopper for extended soak time, hot and cold water. Also, the bulk shampoo and shower gel found in most hotel rooms make excellent laundry detergent.
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