Evora, Obidus, Nazare

Yes, Yes, Yes.

Today I'm going to concentrate on the extraordinary - if it doesn't qualify, then it isn't going into today's blog.

One of Portugal's finest is Vasco da Gama.  He established the trade routes between Europe and India amongst other things.

This is the house in which he lived in Evora:

Just a normal everyday Portuguese apartment in a typical Portuguese street.  I suppose I shouldn't expect anything different.

But I'm on holidays, looking for the extraordinary, and I think its extraordinary that I am outside Vasco's place.  I would have liked to have had a chat with him about his exploits - then I'd really have something unique to share with my blog readers.

Vasco was extraordinary even if his home wasn't.

Portuguese tiles was extraordinary before I saw them on just about every street I walk down here.

They even put them on park benches as this extraordinary woman found:

The sausage rolls are extraordinary. As good as Fleischer's on Glenferrie Rd.

What isn't extraordinary any more (to me) are the insides of churches.  So today is a church free blog.

And while I'm at it, I think we'll make it a castle-free day too.  Although, I must admit that I find it extraordinary that they provide tourist sights for people my age without regard for their safety. 

Check out the rampart railings in the next photo:

Didn't spot any railings?

That's right - only a 50 ft drop if you stumble and fall.

Here's a pic of a roman aqueduct along side a city carpark at Obidus.  I think that qualifies as extraordinary.

I find the blooming Bougainvilleas extraordinary - here's one at the end of a non-extraordinary typical street. 

Here's the view from our hotel room balcony in Nazare.  Now this is extraordinary.

You don't believe me?

Here's the pic from inside the room.

With the rolling surf just outside, this room is a bonus if your partner snores.

Here's Ruth on the beach in front of our hotel room (after a great night's sleep). 

And this is her other side.

You can see the funicular we take to get to the little village up top to bring you more extraordinary photographs.

I enjoyed seeing the waves crash onto the cliffs here in the distance.  That is an extraordinary view too.

The waves here are simply extraordinary in themselves.  Nazare has an annual surf competition, and apparently holds the record for the tallest wave in competition.

I couldn't decide which pics do NOT qualify as extraordinary.

Is this extraordinary?

Or this?

Or that?

What about this extraordinary Ping Ponger ponging away on top of the world?

Here's a shot of me catching a wave

with my camera.

It was extraordinary that the people can ride these waves, and secondly, extraordinary how they catch them.  There's a Jet Ski service to tow surfers to catch waves if you're having trouble on your own.

It's a bit like watching grass growing as you wait for some action, but eventually, if you're patient, surfers catch waves.  Extraordinary.

And again.

Good place to grow windmills here too by the way.

Here's that extraordinary woman standing in the crutch of a surfing beast.

So as the sun sets on this extraordinary day in Nazare...

 Cheers darling. (This is me being romantic - extraordinary!)

It's goodnight from me...

My kids might read this so I'll sign off at this point without further description;  suffice to say it was a lovely end to an extraordinary day.