Into Portugal

You tell me that it is persisting down in the UK at present, well you are not alone, it is precipitating here and has been for 24 hours but at least it is warm rain and it doesn't take long for my flip flops to dry.
I programmed my Satnav for country roads down to Portugal today and the route was brilliant, lots of quaint villages and far more to see than from the motorways, there was the odd industrial complex but hey it just makes the contrast stand out. We stopped first at Valenca do Minho on the Spanish/Portuguese border it is the site of a massive Napoleonic war fort which I loved  exploring, the whole of the interior is now full of shops, expensive restaurants  and cafes(it would make a good day out for a family as kids would enjoy the exploring and mums could go shopping). We then headed for the coast and drove down to Viana do Castelo - supposed to be a pleasant holiday resort but not for us. We then drove down the A and B roads to Ponte de Lima again excellent countryside and views, we arrived just in time to experience the biggest market I have ever seen - not planned, though it should have been it is mentioned in the guide book.
So a quiet night tonight, tomorrow's plan is to check out the Douro valley from Porto onwards but a lot of it will be weather dependant. 

Some people have asked about my travelling companions, Harry is a grey bear loaned to me by Charlie, Marmalade is a little bear given to me by Jan - he was my constant companion and kept me safe when I was out in Bosnia and Piaf the Peugeot (know as Edith) is the 407 estate I bought the day before I caught the ferry.
1 and 2 waiting to embark, 3 tucked up in their bunk.