Traditional Alentejo Village - Part 2

But the activity the day of our visit, at about 4 PM, was the village taberna, where Marie-Claire enjoyed a glass of local Sangres beer, seated in the balmy breeze under the orange tree.

Portuguese cuisine is served by Maria (reservation required, dinner only and limited to 4 tables). About 10 men were standing around the bar, or seated at a table drinking the smallest bottles of Sangres beer we have seen (.90 Euros) But we didn’t want to disturb their happy hour by taking interior photos.

The village “square” is a little different than those seen in larger towns and features the post office (boxes), some parking

and a resting place for an older and still functioning motorbike.

A functioning traditional wood-fired bread oven is attached to an outbuilding at one of the village homes.

Moorish influences were evident on a large farmhouse at the village outskirts.

Production of cork from oak trees is a principal agriculture activity. Other small farms around the village engaged in mixed husbandry (chickens, goats) and olive production.

The rugged, stark beauty of the Alentejo at sunset is free for the taking. Oh yeh, did we mention that a reasonable bottle of wine is anywhere from 1.69 Euros to 4.25 in the stores – and a litre of Sangres beer is 1.69. So if you want a libation to accompany the sunset, it is almost free.