Look at this beautiful fellah.  He was strutting around like he owned the world but I saw only about twenty-five hens and one rooster.  What's not to like if you are the rooster.

The scenery was just beautiful.  It rained last night so I slept really well.  The air was so fresh this morning.  When I got higher in the mountains, the smells were praise worthy.  Wild thyme and rosemary grow all over the mountains. I had a terrific breakfast...fresh bananas and grapes.  The star though was this pastry...no that's not the right term...bread stuffed with this clear, sweet concoction. I asked what it was and Mae said it was filled with something similar to pumkin. It was stringy like coconut but not as firm and it was clear. And then she added that it was confectiture. What ever it was...was delicious, almost as sweet as figs which I am not crazy about. and yet totally addictive.  I didn't have any left to bring you.

See this little man.  I couldn't find the trail.  In fact I kept going in a circle, because the trail goes both ways.  I sent up some of those arrow prayers and rounded the corner, (same corner three times). God does answer prayers.  I have yet to come across anyone working in the  middle of nowhere in the sprinkles,  until today. He stopped his work and showed me how to continue to Alte (my destination town).  As far as I was concerned, he was that shepherd with the halo around his head.  I guess it is as important to have goats as sheep.

The guide book said that I would see lots of water wheels which were ancient tools.  The color must not be original.

I have seen more cats than people on this walk.  Look at this crew.  You all know that I have a thing for black and white cats.

I am fascinated with these trees.  They appear very old.

Up in the mountains, there were so many boulders and this red clay soil.  I felt like I was in Georgia. I walked along a high ridge for quite a while.  It was magnificient. And a ridge is not up and down, it is more or less flat with spectacular views.

This was dedicated to Dona Antónia.  I don't know who she was but this whole town seemed to be named for her.  For the first time, with about 5 miles to go, I was able to sit at a bar and have a Coca Cola Zero.  Whoohoo!

As I came into Alte, there was this beautiful park.

In the center of the river was this interesting statue.  It just grew out of the water.  

I am tninking that this is a tourist area.  Ever so posh. I am stying in kind of a spa.  My room is fabulous and this is my little porch.  I sat outside and read whle the wind whipped around me.  It looked so stormy.  I was going to walk back into town and wander around but it looked so threatening that I kept putting it off.  Now it is raining.  Good choice.

I had a really good dinner.  Lemon sole with boiled potatoes and vegetables.  I love sole and it is so expensive in our country.  Vincenzo's has such a fabulous sole. My friend Cindy told me a long time ago that everyone is selectively cheap.  Her mother, long gone, saved tinfoil.  And yet she bought St. John suits. She could afford anything she wanted.  I kind of hit a point on entrees that makes me nervous.  Dennis, my fabulous husband, told me to get what I wanted so I ordered the sole at Vincenzos and it was divine! It is much cheaper here so I don't feel guilty. I polished it off with a Chocolate Mousee.  I also had two glasses of wine.  They must have been big glasses becaue I have kind of a buzz.  :)  I so needed a full meal after walking 13 miles of mountains.  

Good night my friends...until tomorrow!