More Minho

More Portugal goodness

Another gratuitous shot from my recent stay in northern Portugal

Don't come out!

I noticed the other evening while watching the tv news that a large Sodexo truck was parked up next to the giant drilling rig being used to make an escape tunnel for the 33 miners trapped underground in Chile. For those who may not know, Sodexo is a massive corporation that has its tentacles in so many pies around the world, mostly supplying catering on behalf of governments to schools and hospitals. The company is an enthusiastic supporter of the Private Finance Initiative scheme run by the NHS and supplies many of the disgusting meals eaten in hospitals in the UK. Having tasted the stuff they produce I would advise the miners to stay put until the Sodexo truck leaves the rescue site. On the other hand, it occurs to me that Sodexo may be producing the meals being sent down to the miners. What a dreadful thought. Have they not suffered enough?

More photos from Portugal

Here's the view from the house I was staying in. Unfortunately, one week later it was raining like a monsoon and the roof was leaking. My clothes were damp, my money was damp, my book was damp... unbelievable humidity.

Here's a shot of one of the many granaries that can be seen all over northern Portugal. For some reason I have an unhealthy obsession with these espiguieros. Not sure what it is about these strange buildings but they are used to store corn and other foodstuffs through the winter. The strange platforms at the top of the stilts are there to stop rats and mice gaining entry to a free feast. Obviously, putting hospital food in the granaries would be another effective way of discouraging hungry rodents.

Hello

Hello everyone...

Just returned from my first holiday in two years. It was challenging getting through airport security and thank goodness for wheelchairs, but we managed it and spent two very lazy weeks doing very little. I'll try to write a bit more later but here's a photo that gives a flavour of my rural destination.