Nazare, March 11, 2023

 Nazare (Naz-a-Ray) is about a 2 1/2 hour drive from Evora and so after checking out, we plugged in our GPS and headed off.  It was an easy, uneventful drive until we got just outside of Nazere when we lost internet access for some reason and had no idea where our place is located.  After about 40 minutes of Rita frantically working her two phones we finally got back on line and followed its direction to our new home.  We would have never found our place on our own as there is a lack of street signs and Nazare is full of one way streets.  Thankfully, we also have underground parking as finding a parking spot is also a nightmare in this town.  Our apartment is very central and has an amazing rooftop view of the beach and the town.  After unpacking and showering we headed out to check out our neighborhood.

                            Nazare and its amazing beach from a lookout just by our apartment 

Making our way down to the beachfront we had to maneuver some very narrow streets.  The benefit to these streets is that they do not get a lot of sun which keeps them cool during the hot summers.

Made it to the beach and it was humming with people walking the promenade.  The busiest place we have seen so far, but it is the weekend and the sun is shining so even the locals are out and about. 

Nazare was well known for its fishing before tourism and surfing took over the spotlight.  These  wooden, narrow, colorful fishing boats with their upturned prows, allowing them to cut through the heavy surf, have not changed since the Phoenicians brought them here in pre-Christian times.  These are actual restored fishing boats that have been retired and sit on the beach to showcase Nazare's glorious fishing past.

Walked along the beach to find a section that is called a "mackerel crucifixion zone" where ladies have deboned and filleted their mackerel, sardines and other species from the sea on nets pulled tightly on wooden frames to dry in the sun.  This is a small portion of the sardine catch.

                            There were also several wooden frames with octopus being sun dried 

 
                                 

On the beach walk several of the women, in traditional dress, were selling the dried fish to locals and tourists alike.  Rita and I decided against making a purchase much to the annoyance of this women.

Back at our apartment for a cozy evening at home we managed to catch the sunset.  Looking forward to more exploring tomorrow.
  










    

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