land of the unexpected

semi-troglodyte church
On the other hand, there is something decidedly wonder-full about a semi-troglodyte church, even if it is built around a crocodile’s cave!





believe it or not...
...this is hanging in a church. After the mechanical director of music in another church, I thought I was ready for anything. But this (and the strange story attached to it), may rate even higher on the bizarreness scale (I don’t know - it’s a toss-up). Ron and I were married in a church with a dove suspended from the ceiling. And to think we could have had this instead!





flashback
As I gazed at this photo of a typical Portuguese landscape, I was suddenly reminded of another time and place. JCMC - any ideas what that might be?






heavenly serenade
But this was the serendipitous wonder of our day. As we walked by a little village cafe, we heard music coming from inside. We ducked down into the room and found this man standing there all by himself, playing his accordion seemingly just for the joy of it. He didn’t speak any English, but when we left, he said “merci” to us. And we hadn’t even bought anything. Obrigada to a gracious man who has definitely changed my mind about accordions!






wonders of village life...
... narrow streets encased in ancient stonework; villagers chatting in little groups, ready with directions and advice for us; a village priest willing to interrupt his lunch and be late for a meeting in order to unlock his church and give us a personal tour; an old church organ complete with Biblically-robed mechanical director of music, arm rising and falling and mouth opening and closing (sometimes falling grotesquely open) in time with the organ’s operation (really!); a donkey-and-cart being led through a village square; two women loading their produce into the back of a truck, arguing with each other over our business until we offered to buy bread and cheese from them both.