Guarda - 17/18.12.16

What we were hoping for this evening was the silent wilderness of the

PARQUE NATURAL DE MONTESINHO

with its' winter nights punctuated by the calls of the wild wolves 

and and the snorting  and slavering of the wild bore.

It was too far to travel to in one day, so we'll winter camp there another time.

Instead we broke our rubber knecking  at 

GUARDA,

arriving well after dark and getting straight out for a walk.

It's old part isn't big, but it has been massively restored by Euro-millions.

 A river moated bastion, once again on the Spanish border.

So, there was plenty for the blokes to squabble over while the women got on with the real work.

The view from our hotel room was lovely.

There were 3 camels living in the tent thing under those trees, with wise men thrown in for good measure.

All free of charge.

People wound their way up and down the swish and the derelict lanes of the old town, their voices and the piped street music lulled us off to sleep.

The next morning, not too early, this was our alarm call!

We really liked this hotel, but you do have to enjoy the sounds of the world all around you; or be an insomniac!

Finally we made it to the Natural Park. All mountains, moorland and peace.

We made a picnic lunch in a bus shelter.

There wasn't a sign of human habitation, or activity anywhere.

If this was the UK, it would be heaving with people, waymarked and  metalled paths, interpretation centres complete with cafes, loos, car parks, souvenir shops and staff.

All in the name of the Environment.

Here, they put in a bus stop.

Kids catch the bus, spray the stop, and go away again.

Seems like a result to me.

And yes, eventually. we gained enough height, wot with all the hot air,

that we hit the snow line.

Then descended into the rain line.

Ho Hum.