Elvas, Portugal

Sonia drove us across the border to visit the UNESCO World Heritage site of Elvas, Portugal. Badajoz is right on the border, so you could walk to Portugal if you wanted to. Still, it was exciting to cross into another country. Victor cracked us up when he told us that, as a kid, he thought he spoke Portuguese pretty well. When the family would cross into Portugal, the Portuguese waiters and people in general would speak Spanish to them, but with a heavy accent, and substituting Portuguese words if they did't know the Spanish vocabulary. Victor thought that was Portuguese, and would tell people he spoke Portuguese pretty well, only to find out later that it was really just Spanish with a heavy accent. Ha ha. Border probs.

The fortification was closed, but we walked all around the perimiter.

Can you believe how incredibly beautiful this is? For most of the rest of the year, the fields will be pretty dry and brown, but in springtime, it looks pretty lush.

Stopping for a Coca Cola Light, or Diet Coke, as we call it.

The square in front of the church looks like a place I could just spend a week in.

In case you were wondering what footwear we had on. Birkenstocks are my go-to. They are the only shoes that my feet don't get tired or sore in.

I could drink in these old streets all day.

Sonia and I, two moms, have taken care of each other's kids for the past four summers. This is year five, and I guess the kids won't be getting together, besides this little spring break trip. Sad. Two years ago, Gold and Ruby got super sick their last couple of days in Spain. Sonia took care of them, and I was so grateful. She doesn't speak English, but she will speak Spanish to you as if you understood, which is even better. It gives me a chance to practice my Spanish! 

Yes, I took way too many pictures, as you can see by Ruby's patient expression.

Scott never minds being the star of the photo.  We still laugh about our two-month Europe trip right after we were married and the monster fight we got in when Scott wouldn't hold up the cute bag of pastries high enough for my picture. Now he just cooperates. Har har.

Dinner was at a Portuguese place in Elvas that the Altieris love to go to for special occasions. The waiter brought several raw choices to our table and Sonia chose a beautiful fish. It was then taken and cooked, and brought back to us with heaps of side dishes. The whole thing was just amazing!  Every minute of the trip brought us new reasons to be grateful to our friends who were gracious hosts. We loved being with them, They truly spoiled us.