We've spent the past 5 days in Lisbon exploring the city and surrounding area before joining up with Lilli-tours for a 12-day ride through Portugal and Spain.
The Alentjo region is known for olive groves, cork production, cattle, and vineyards - and we saw all of these today as we rode on quiet 2-land roads through the Mediterranean countryside.
Cork trees are harvested once the tree has a diameter of 27.5" at 51" above the ground, usually when the tree is about 25 years old. The cork can be harvested only every 9 years from each tree, so a number is marked on the tree identifying the last number in the year it was harvested.
Each tree can be harvested for about 150 years. Portugal produces about 100,000 tons of cork each year, about half of the world-wide production.
We also saw numerous storks nesting on top of light poles, power towers, and sometimes trees - they seemed to be everywhere.
We stopped for a few minutes in Estremoz, one of the 'white cities' of Portugal known for the white marble buildings built from local marble quarries.
Our stop for the night is in Vila Vicosa, home to Romans and Muslims then chartered as a village in 1270. We're staying in the Convent Inn, founded in 1514 and one of the richest convents in Portugal. Of course much of the town and the convent itself is made from local marble.
We have time tomorrow morning to wander through town before we set off for another day's ride in the Alentejo. What a beautiful introduction to Portugal!
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