Tuesday 1st December

We start the day by taking your brother’s girlfriend’s dog for a walk. It is a super friendly American bull terrier called Danko; so very strong and full of energy.

Late morning, and we pick up Ana’s father, and drive to Elvas in Portugal for lunch. As we enter the city we pass a marvellous four-tier aqueduct, 130 feet tall, that stretches for almost four miles.

We have a traditional Portuguese spread for lunch. Beginning with breads, olives, cheese, tuna paté and linguica, this is swiftly followed by bacalhau, a dish of salt cod, scrambled eggs and fried potato matchsticks. When all the plates are cleared, platters of churrasquiera, hot and spicy chicken are presented to us. The peri-peri hot oil makes one’s mouth tingle with the heat of chillies.
We complete the meal with a huge plate of the most wonderful mouth-watering desserts. Sericaia topped with a sugar plum, molotov flan, multi-layered coffee cake, baked apple, caramel tart and more.

Beer, red wine and a Portuguese liqueur, Beirão, all slipped down quite easily during the many courses.

Feeling quite comfortably full, we have a little wander around the castle of Elvas.

Driving back to Badajoz as the sun begins to set, the colours in the sky turning a glowing orange.

Parking quickly, we walk through the plaza to watch the sunset from the top of the castle walls, the Alcazaba, an ancient Moorish citadel.

We then walk back through the Plaza Alto, to the car, and make our way back home.

And so we come to the end of our last full day with your brother and girlfriend’s family. If only you could actually have been here with us, I’m sure you would have loved everything about Spain and Portugal.

We love you so very much.
Missing you every day.
Thinking about you always.
And I miss having you to talk to.
Fly high sweetie pie.
Sleep tight darling.
Beloved Angel son.

xxxxx