susannefortune

There’s so much about this fine city I want to remember. The gardens here were spectular. When people ask me what was my favorite memory Ponte de Lima is one.

The Market comes to town one Monday a month. We just happen to be there on that Monday.

Flowers and vegetables to plant, fresh produce, fresh fish, salted fish, pastries, bread, but also needed housewares to buy, fabric, clothes to wear, furniture, it’s a true market. It’s not a flea market as we know it, folks don’t have Amazon or shopping malls, one waits for that Monday once a month the buy what you need.

This is the Lima River, riverside towns would take its name from the river. The bridge? It’s ancient and was built during the Middle Ages. The town played a pivotal role in the defense of the Minho against the Moors.

Near the church (above) we walked to the botanical gardens. It was hidden behind the church, but the best kept secret of all.

I caught Laura in her own photo shoot, fun and funny.

We head back over the bridge, stopping by a ceramic artist’s studio near the gardens to buy a couple of treasures. What a joyful day.

Laura still has some energy to look around town. I found a bench shared by two Portuguese women my age. We smiled and greeted each other. They knew many passer-bys and smiled, waved, nodded and spoke. I just smiled, waved and nodded.

I don’t want to ever forget the simple life and how special 🇵🇹 Portugal and its people are.