Look at this....

I haven't posted since last Thursday's Fence day!  hahha.... well, at least "Good Fences" gives me a reason to remember what day it is.  That, and the fact that it is also garbage day today, so I did have to remember to wheel the bins out.

This may be a bit of a cheat...but, I'm going to show you some shots of fences I took while on holiday in Portugal.  This day we were in a town called Constancia .. very pretty.  We did a lot of walking up and down hills.... some of it pretty steep.   Loved the doors, windows and fences .. took lots of pics of them .. and haven't really had anybody to share them with until now.

Now, I have all of you.... and I'm thrilled to show other fence enthusiasts what I love to shoot while on holiday.

The look of them.  The view through them.  Even what is behind them.

Everybody seemed to have dogs.  And, not many were friendly.  They barked loudly and ran straight at the fences.  I was glad the fences were high and strong...

I remember this guy was more curious than mean...but, still...he did bark if we got too close... and I wasn't about to put my hand through there to pet him... darn it... cuz that fluffy head just begs for petting doesn't it?

Kind of reminds me of some of my bears.... with that cute big shnozz...


Check out all sorts of interesting fences here and hey!  why not add one of your own?

... still in Constancia, Portugal

I'm enjoying reliving our holiday myself.... who wanted to come home? ...not me.... well, actually, in all fairness nobody did...but, we did have to get back to reality eventually.

Today here at home it was at least lovely and sunny and some of the snow on the shady sides of the house are even melting.  I tried to break down the 3 foot pile of it on the front lawn...most of it shaded by a huge spruce.  If I don't move it...I bet it won't melt for weeks.  I shovelled and tossed lots of it onto the warmth of the sidewalk, the road, and even onto the now bare grass nearby that is in sun for more hours of the day.  Tomorrow is supposed to get up to a whopping +15C..... oh, I hope so.  That'll get more melting happening. I'll try to  break up more of the pile.  The south and west facing yard is bare and dry now.  Woohoooooo..

Of course, in Portugal it is at least this lovely and even warmer I'm betting .....sigh....................

Open windows... plants in pots... definitely somebody home....

Washing hanging outside ...a common sight.... not many people have dryers...I'm not sure about washers..but, probably not in tiny places like these.  Life is simpler... slower... and easier in some respects.  In others... maybe not so much.....




















You already know I'm partial to old worn doors and windows.... but, look at this beautiful old keyhole and is that a tiny doorknocker? ...

And, this place was very special.  We saw the light sticking way out there.......the intriguing wrought iron gate ..... and went straight up the steps for a better look.                                 
Not sure if the door out front belongs to the same house..or what..... it seemed strange to also have a huge gate and pathway leading around to the backside of things...or maybe the real front is actually behind ...




















Looks like Tuscany through there..... cypress trees?... a winding path....

a hidden balcony back there...this guy defiitely had the right idea.  Imagine a tiny table for two set up on the balcony...overlooking an orchard of some sort....ahhhhhh.... bliss.

No...I wasn't brave enough to jump the fence...just put my camera through the fence and took a shot.....  no for sale sign on this one..... I guess not!  Wish I could have seen the balcony side of it though ....

Oh, dear...then there was this poor thing.....  better days are long gone.  No roof left... totally crumbled...




















...and through the door's criss cross metal strips... ahhhhh.... what a shame..... not much left of all of it now.

Down to the bottom and a cup of coffee was in order.... at a little riverside shop.....

Oh, and...we had a brief chat with Luís de Camões ...  ... a great poet.... and considered to be Portugal's Shakespeare.                                                                              

more sunshine and exercise...in Constancia....

...still going up... hahhahah...... but, honestly, in hindsight, it was a very good thing that we put on as many walking miles as we did.  We enjoyed waaaay too much great food and way too many custard tarts and other yummy desserts later on ...... poor Joe fared the worst, but luckily I only gained 4 pounds.  Lost it and then... am gaining it back as I am not out walking in the snow and cold.  Roll on, warmer days.

A little chapel nearer the top.... church in background... and behind that a lovely little perfectly kept cemetery with some very old stones and crypts.

Little houses right close to the cemetery and church....I decided the caretakers might live here.   I love to make up my own little stories as I go along.... not only while on holiday...but, pretty much everywhere.

As usual.... one or two not quite up to snuff.  Somebody needs to show up with a brush and some whitewash.  Still sturdy for sure...just needs a bit of cosmetic care....

some old.......some new........ all so clean and lovingly cared for even though blackened from time and weathering.  Coarsely crushed light sand between the stones for walking on..... ..... some real and some artificial flowers.... and even two new bumps of pale sandy earth where someone was recently laid to rest.

We quietly took some photos and definitely appreciated the workmanship of the stones and little vaults.....  and then began to head downhill.

Turned around to look back.... a beautiful palm ....  turned around again and this..... I'm not sure exactly what it is...but, reminds me of what we call Tulip Trees around here......     






                                                        

Little planters along the walkways and the streets... ... flowers in all of them.....

Prickly pear cactus..

Hard to tell the size without some perspective....yikes...

This little place looks like only half a house... how strange.....

And, this lovely little fella (I decided it was a "he") was behind bars.  The cats roamed freely...but, this did seem to be the fate of most dogs.  Small, tiled areas to hang out in.  Only saw one or two with bigger yards and some grass to play on. Hardly saw anybody actually walking a dog.   This little guy was just a puppy...and only wanted somebody to talk to him and pet him.  He had the softest fur...like velvet....   Several others we saw were pretty loud and probably wanted a taste of Canadian back(side) bacon. Probably they were just frustrated.

..still heading uphill... Constancia, Portugal...

....in and out of little pathways we went ..and up and down steps....we peeked into all the cute little areas and found all the hidden doorways.  Well, not all by a long shot...but, lots.   Hope we weren't trespassing..but, it seemed to be just a labyrinth of steps and cobble and rockery paths that led up or down.  I think some were shortcuts so the people who lived at the top of the hill could get there quicker.  That was my take anyway.

                                              

       

sometimes just a look up was enough to warrant another photo.
















This door was a bit newer than some ....and I wonder if those newer bricks inserted under the lintel were to allow for more height when placing the new door? .... he got a few extra inches out of it...

There were several places for sale..... where was the agent when we wanted to look inside? ...

Maybe number 3 was the better option...it did have a newer door...

Aha.... some of those road signs I missed whilst walking up... I just had to look back to notice them.  It's definitely got to be organized... because some of the little streets are too tiny to allow two cars to pass each other.  You can see this one is a bit wider...two can pass.... or...even park in front of a house.

Look at the little sailboats designed into the cobblestones on this street.

loved the blue tile works we saw in so many areas...

more cats.... some even had collars...but, all seemed to have the run of the streets... not too many cars to worry about...and I bet they are all pretty savvy...living outdoors most of the time..or perhaps all of it. I don't know for sure...although, come to think of it... I did see one or two looking out of windows.....

A little public courtyard where people gather to visit and catch up with goings on.  The houses are so tiny, I think that is why folks spend a lot of time just walking or visiting in the outdoors.

Some places were just not as kept up as others.....

But, most of it was lovingly cared for..

A few nearer the top had larger areas for yards and gardens... there is probably a story behind it all...but, I'm afraid I don't know it.
This guy had a big yard with orange and lemon trees...some grapes and even an olive tree or two below that...  and a good view of the river in the distance.

No for sale sign on this one.... drat.  Click on the photos to biggify and see more.....

Here's a cute one with an odd shape... and his own palm tree.  That was strange to me.  Palm trees, orange trees...and in the next yard...a pine tree.  It just seemed odd somehow that they all did well in the same environment.

Huh? .... hahahhah.... I was used to seeing cats and even dogs everywhere... but then, up pops a chicken to say hello... on top of a very high stone wall.