Sometimes You Just Don't Know Where to Look...(first)

 

(photograph © Kiwidutch)

 

We are visiting Spain… more specifically, we are on the top of Monte de Santa Trega, a steep hilltop that lies at the back-side of the small town of  Camposancos, over the river from the north-western tip of  Portugal.

On the other side of the hill, facing the Atlantic Ocean is the bigger town of A Guarda.

The restaurant where we had lunch is almost at the top of the hill, but not quite, so after we have eaten, a short steep set of steps and a little path need to be negotiated in order to realise the full splendor of the view.

It’s clear that this little pinnacle catches the wind,  the restaurant was on the leeward side of the hill, facing Portugal slightly sheltered from the wind by the summit. Nestled by the road are stalls full of tourist trap souvenirs, most of it  looking less than attractive but we are enticed anyway and a few of the better looking magnets are purchased to further my collection.

 

(photograph © Kiwidutch)

 

For some inexplicable reason that I still haven’t managed to figure out, a lot of the items have a ” witch” theme…  which we bypass since  I have a passionate dislike since early childhood of most things sorcery or magical. Witches, ghosts, goblins, trolls, fairies, you name it in this realm, I can’t get enthusiastic no matter what.

No, no childhood drama or anything I can pin down,  just that books contain them have never ever appealed.

The idea of  reading  Harry Potter  is for me as appealing as writing out a dictionary, backwards, in Japanese.

So, (sigh) mean Mama that I am, when my kids discovered this  awful monstrosity of a souvineer,  it was easy to say no…

(the Spanish child next to us is clapping his hands because it’s noise activated)

We leave the Tat behind and enjoy the view…

 

(photograph © Kiwidutch)

 

 

(photograph © Kiwidutch)

 

looking back at the other “bump” on the ridge line of this hill…

 

(photograph © Kiwidutch)

 

A Guarda  and it’s harbour are a steep drop below on the Atlantic coast  to the left…

 

(photograph © Kiwidutch)

 

Kiwi Daughter has her new camera with her, she asks why one camera costs less than Euro 100,- and another costs Euro 250,- .. after all they both just take photos don’t they?

The easiest way to explain is to demonstrate… she has been taking  photos with her cheaper point-and-shoot… ( to be fair she did get a slightly better zoom than this, but it was very windy and gusting and it wasn’t until I put her photos onto the computer that I realised that the rest of her photos were not in focus) Note to self: need to teach Kiwi Daughter to steady herself when pressing the shutter…

 

(photograph © Kiwidutch)

 

And then, I show her some of the photos that I have been taking with my more expensive point-and-shoot (the Cannon was back at camp, and yes, I was kicking myself that I haven’t bought it along) Does she notice any different in the maximum zoom of each by any chance?  She looks into the viewfinder with a little gasp… I think I just heard the penny drop…

 

(photograph © Kiwidutch)

 

 

(photograph © Kiwidutch)

 

This shot is of the very top left corner of Portugal…(the bit on the other side of the river, that is)

 

(photograph © Kiwidutch)

 

Vila Nova de Cerviera  is centre top of the photo…

 

(photograph © Kiwidutch)

 

I hope to zoom in close enough to see the Stag on the hill behind it… but failed…

 

(photograph © Kiwidutch)

 

 

(photograph © Kiwidutch)

 

 

(photograph © Kiwidutch)

 

 

(photograph © Kiwidutch)

 

So.. the view is great…  I have to now confess all, the view is a nice by-product of the visit,  but it’s really not what we came here to see.  We drove by it on the way up, so now we have some hairpin bends to negotiate on the way down to see something that is far from mystic but very magical indeed….