Mertola, Portugal

... the faculty back home knows him, and him became friends at a conference in Yemen a couple years ago, so they started including Portugal on the architecture tour. He has written a book about the architecture in Mertola as it turns out, so when I get back ...

We arrived in Mertola this afternoon & it is absolutely beautiful.... The city sits atop a giant hill, which overlooks vineyards & a river. It offers sights right off of a postcard. It is that beautiful. The city itself is very small....VERY small. ...

... the next couple of weeks wwoofing at Convento Sao Francisco, and having a holiday with Marcus's mum Sue for her birthday.  More on Mertola soon!  For info on the convent and some amazing photos, have a look at www.conventomertola.com. 

... rain, and once the swimming pool became a road again, we ventured out but didn't last long.  So instead of getting off on our way to the coast, we stayed in Mertola for the night instead, at the nautical club.  The photos look good though.