Day Four: Alverca to Vilafrance de Xira

Today was a easy day of only 10 kilometers - 6 miles.  Hot, sunny and peaceful with only about one mile on busy highway.  I got a late start because we sat at the apartment drinking coffee.  The inside of the church in the previous post is stunningly beautiful and they stamped my credencial, always a critical issue for pilgrims.  Total pilgrim sightings so far - 0.  Today is brought to you by toros and azulejos.  Vilafranca is the center of bullfighting culture in Portugal.  They have two festivals here when the bulls run through the streets.

This the Praca(Plaza) de Toros.  At first I tried to make it into a railroad roundhouse.  This arena appears to be small and intimate, all the better to see . . . well never mind.

This a beautiful  example of azulejos.  They are ceramic tile that either painted and glazed in a multitude of geometric designs or meant to be pieces in a much larger picture.  These are all over Portugal.  Many building fronts are entirely covered with these tiles instead of stucco or paint.

The market in Vilafranca.  It is tiled on all sides according to the seasons and the traditional dress and farm work of Portugal.

This park in Vilafrance runs along the river for about a mile.  There are all the usual benches, playgrounds, and paths.  There is also a cafe and a gymnasium.  It was wonderful to sit here and watch FAMILIES promenade by as they enjoyed their public space that improves their quality of life.

Speaking of space, this beautiful garden occupies a space that in many countries would collect trash.  Some industrious person has made this into a peaceful place for relaxation and food production.