A Big Week

Debra had her immigration appointment with the Portuguese authorities (SEF) on Monday of this week in Santarem which is in Central Portugal, just north of Lisbon.  We decided to make a week of it, tacking on a road trip to visit some interesting sites and to celebrate Mark's birthday.  Ryder stayed home with Jack as Mark's friend Rui was able to house/pet sit.

First stop:  Santarem

Debra's appointment was at 2:30PM, so after leaving Tavira in the morning, we arrived in time to have a quick lunch in Santarem.  We found a restaurant nearby and were blown away by the fantastic food.  Patio da Graca serves Asian/Peruvian fusion cuisine, and it was the best Asian food we've had since coming to Portugal.  

Debra's SEF appointment went well.  We need to obtain one more document (from the US), but otherwise, she received provisional approval.  Her residency period will expire in December 2023, just like Mark's.

Second Stop:  Tomar

Tomar is a small town in Central Portugal which is actually quite popular with expat Americans.  It has a lovely downtown pedestrian area with a river running nearby.

But the big draw in Tomar is the Convento de Cristo, the headquarters of the legendary Knights Templar.  The structures were all built between the 12th and 16th centuries.  

The highlight at the Convento de Cristo is the Charola, the 16-sided Templar church, thought to be an imitation of the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem.  It's said that the circular design enabled knights to attend Mass on horseback. ​

Third Stop:  Bussaco

A Carmelite convent from the 1600s was built in the area of Bussaco in Central Portugal.  In 1810, Wellington defeated the Army of Napoleon in a famous battle in the area.  And around 1900, the Palace Hotel was built on the site.  It was originally going to become a royal residence, but eventually became a luxury hotel.  We had heard great things about the hotel and grounds, so decided to stay there for Mark's birthday.

Fourth Stop:  Marvao

Marvao is close to the Spanish border and is a well-preserved hill town that has served as a fortress for centuries.  We stopped here for a few hours on our way further south. 

Last Stop:  Evora

We traveled further south to the Alentejo and the historic town of Evora.  Founded by the Romans, Evora has a number of historic sites and sits in the middle of the Alentejo, one of the best food and wine areas of Portugal.  Our favorite restaurant was O Parque dos Leitoes (the Park of the Pigs).

We wine tasted at Fitapreta Winery, an up and coming winery which has won numerous awards.

And we did lots of sightseeing, only touching the surface of all that Evora has to offer.  We will be back!