Kat Scratch Litter box: Nazare, Portugal

Nazare is listed as the second best place you just have to visit. It was the original weekend spot for the Lisbon crowd to get away from it all. Only an hour and a half away, it's like a cross between Capitola (beachy), and Lisbon (old world with stone streets), and a fishing village, and is where the boat we decided to jump on was located.

Carl & Brian checking things out

The local market

the "boat maker"- so cute!

Due to weather, and other boat guests, the plan to start sailing would be no sooner than Monday. Great, time to explore another place. It would also give us time to get settled and prepared for our journey south.

We arrived late Friday night from Lisbon and were actually picked up from the bus stop (schweet!), in a car no less! Good thing since our baggage seems to mysteriously grow & grow. Brian left with 4 pairs of shorts and now has 14. I guess carrying around a soccer ball isn't the smartest, most prudent, packing decision either, but I just couldn't part with it! It is orange, an Umbro, and was given to me. Anyhow, going from a 65' boat to a 33' boat was shocking. I mean, I knew it would be smaller, but wow, it is small. The Westerly 33 is huge boat for its short length, and luckily has easily swallowed our baggage - Good thing. The best part is I can actually stand up straight in the Galley. Moving on, we got settled and Carl, the boat owner, cooked everyone a great dinner.

A traditional local lady selling fish

The next day we went about exploring the town. Of course, it was just pouring rain and we spent most of the time in the cafe, drinking coffee, and getting to know Carl and his friend. Okay by me, I love the Portuguese coffee and sweet breads. Anyhow, not on point. This town was beautiful. It had this gorgeous, long beach, and old world charm to it. The women still wore the traditional 7 layer dresses with scarf head dresses, black if they had lost a loved one to the sea. There was a lot of black. There were fish drying racks right out on the beach to dry the daily catch. Vendors lined the walkways selling fresh roasted nuts, and other assorted goods. The city was actually divided (sort of), with part of it down along the beach and the other up on the cliff side overlooking the sea.

Fishing boats

Fish drying racks on the beach

The upper district of the town is where the main square with the cathedral was located. Legend had it that a nobleman was hunting elk and his prey bolted off this huge cliff (500ft) with his horse in full pursuit. He screamed a quick prayer to the virgin Mary who then appeared before him and spooked the horse to a stop just before tumbling over the edge after the elk. we have included the following visual aid for your reference:

The harbor sits on the edge of a huge underwater canyon like Monterey and is looked after by a retired Welshman known as "God", but signs his checks, Mike. He keeps his harbor open when all others are closed. Carl was one of the lucky ones to reap this benefit when he came into the small harbor in 20 ft seas, blowing 40 knots.

Anyhow, due to weather and equipment procurement issues, we ended up leaving (early, not butt crack though) on Thanksgiving morning. Well, I know what I am Thankful for!

Happy Sailing.