Great day, too many photos. Visited the community of Favaios, which is essentially a cooperative. One style of famous bread, cooked by ten separate bakers, and one wine label, bottled in one winery. Four Corners bread. Our baker is literally famous, not only for her bread but also because she was a friend of the last Portuguese dictator, many decades ago. Always a big smile (though I heard a local ask “Was she in a good mood today?”), I gave her a photo I took two years ago and, Covid or not, she gave me a big hug. Bread was hot and delicious. The town museum/marketing outpost provided a good primer for how the bread and wine is made. The winery produces a style of fortified wine that is popular as an ingredient for a cocktail. One option is to add it to beer, which I tasted and wholeheartedly do not recommend. They bottle the wine in miniatures, which allows them to say they produce an impressive number of bottles.

(I wore a t-shirt I’d bought there two years ago, which was noticed by all the various tour guides. My prize for marketing their name was two (small) bottles of Favaios wine.)

After the tours came lunch. Accordion music, beautiful views, great food, and a real character of a host. They call him the town’s Mr. Bean, and he plays the role with great gusto. I don’t know if I’ll ever hear the words “Oh! My God!” again without thinking of him. The food was excellent.

We returned to the ship with plenty of time left for a leisurely cruise downriver. Many great views. I took photos of the many, many billboards proclaiming vineyards and wineries. Overall, a great day.

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