We went to Óbidos for the same reason that I guess many other tourists go there, to see a spectacular castle and a walled village that makes you feel like you’ve stepped back in time. But it was for two completely different reasons that our day there was so special…
When we first arrived, the weather was overcast and I was feeling a little tired after all the driving we’d done recently, which including a 2200 km journey from Germany. I recalled how my kids used to moan at us when we first moved to Germany, saying things like oh no, not another pretty little village, or must we go to yet another castle! Now I was the one doing the moaning, as I was simply not in the mood for more sightseeing. But soon after arriving, we stumbled across a lovely little cafe called Avocado Coffee & Healthy Food that filled me with excitement. As we’ve struggled to find vegan-friendly options since arriving here, this was an unexpected surprise that lifted our spirits! The food was absolutely delicious and the atmosphere friendly and relaxing. It’s amazing how a good cafe can make you feel so much better!
We then continued walking and discovered a book exchange run by Silver Coast Volunteers. Situated near the entrance to the walled village, this friendly place was packed with second-hand books that, as far as I could see, were all in English and neatly arranged in alphabetical order so that it was easy to find what we were looking for! We didn’t have any books to exchange, so we made a donation to some of the good causes they support and left with a couple of novels that I look forward to reading when we’re relaxing in the Algarve next week!
We then strolled around the village, enjoying the atmosphere, the old buildings and the beautiful setting. I was so pleased that my wife encouraged me to visit this place, even though I didn’t feel like it to start with! 😀
Well, that’s it for now, I hope these recommendations help!
Enjoy your weekend!
Chris
