Tchau Portugal

 Last day.  We slept in and then had breakfast here at our weird hotel. Headed out to walk to our last castle, Sao San Filipe. Wandered thru the fresh market they have next to us on the way So much fish! Octopus, shrimp and fish after fish, clams, mussels. AND THE CHEESE!  OMG THE CHEESE!!  Insane and gorgeous. The walk wasn’t as taxing as many of our walks but it was nice as we wandered through town with people having coffee, espresso, some having cigarettes and beer.  Lots of place in the parks and streets.  So the castle is a huge star shaped castle above the inlet here. Started in 1598 i believe. This one is much more intact with a cute chapel and also a lot of tile work.  Wandered around, had some beer and wine at the cafe and enjoyed the view.  Came back thru town and the center, grabbed some lunch and more wine lol and then some ice cream.  I had mint and it was actually real mint.  I wash shocked at first but it was great.  Kirk had banana and it tasted like banana bread - real bananas! Came back to get some water and chill and then headed back out to the other side of town and an old church. It had the same feel as a church we saw in Porto.  

Decided to stop for some wine and ended up chatting with some expats - one from NY and one from Canada.  The one from NY, Larry I believe, moved her to retire 5 years ago and the other guy has been here about 10 years, down from originally Lisbon.  They play paddle.  Apparently it’s growing a lot here.  

Back to the hotel to change for dinner.  Went to a small place just up the street and had our last fabulous meal.  We had a vegan tartar of minced tomato and black olives on light toast. So good!  Then fried cuttle fish where the batter had the ink in it!.  Ugly but yummy.  Then Kirk had his last black pork which was cooked to perfection with mushrooms and i had a delicious fish in a terrible fishy porridge. It  was too bad!  The fish was great.

Back in the room and packed up.  Ready for our 5:30am car.  OMG. Kirk and I talked at dinner about being ready but not.  We miss the dogs and I miss my friends but it’s nice to have people take care of us and not cook or clean!