Salema

Before another colourful breakfast, a quick dip in the pool at Farmhouse of the Palms.

Our host, Frank, suggested a number of sightseeing activities - Ruth was very excited to visit the Monterosa Olive farm where we learned about Extra Virgin Olive Oil.  This was surpisingly interesting even for me.

Here's the olive maker Broao and his assistant, I'll call him Brian, lecturing us about olives.  You'd be excused for thinking they are standing in front of olive trees.  

Olive trees are actually bushes, and they last a very, very long time if treated well.  They grow from the inside to the outside, and in fact become hollow.

Here's an olive bush that is 2,000 years old!

And in the middle of it I found a relatively sprite young thing.

The pedestal at the base of the tree described it's pedigree.  So I suppose the olives in the next photo are just about ready to be picked after a 2,000 year gestation period.

Back on the olive farm, we learned about the various qualifications of "Extra Virgin" olive oil.  

We learned how to taste olive oil - much like tasting wine.  With this new knowledge, I intend to be a real tosser next time I ask for Olive Oil at Stocked Deli in Glenferrie Rd.  

Brian explained how they process all the olives - this boutique farm will start the process within a maximum of four hours after the olives are picked.  Here's this morning's pickings, and they are about to press, wash, and centrifuge them to get the best quality oil out of them.

Ruth was given the task of safeguarding a few olives before they get pressed, washed, and whizzed.

After all that Extra Virgin information, time for a visit to the Salema beach, just a short 20km down the road from Lagos.  

Salema seems a lovely place, and those who know me know that I'm not much of an animal lover, but really... such a nice place and look at what is encouraged!

The place is frequented by British holiday makers - we heard a lot of British accents here - maybe they're dumping their excess pets here?  

I suspect this place belongs to a well-to-do Brit:

Portuguese seem to like their fishing.  Here's a Salemanian trying to catch lunch.  By the size of his gut, he drinks a lot of beer while waiting for his line to be tugged.

Body shape is clearly a problem in Salema - the city council has recognised the problem and installed exercise equipment.  But as usual with these things, you find the people who need them the least making most use of them.

After Ruth's workout on the cycling machine above, we headed for the bar.  Here's a pic of the sun setting on the cliffs of Salema.

Well that's it for today... sorry that there are no pictures of inside churches today... maybe tomorrow?

I bet you can hardly wait.