Morocco to Spain and Portugal Day 10: Évora

It was our 47th wedding anniversary, and to celebrate—(and because he was late!)—Matt sang My Way. I’m so proud of my son-in-law, and this song has become especially meaningful to me. He has sung it at some of our most memorable occasions. It never fails to pull at my heartstrings.

My Italian teacher recommended that we visit Évora, Portugal, and it was excellent advice. The city is famous for its massive walls, which date back to Roman times and still surround it today.

This is mostly our group. One of the locals commented “Oh no! They’ve discovered it.” because it was so crowded.

The pastries are so good here that sometimes I entirely forget to take a picture–this time I remembered after the first delicious bite.

We wandered the village streets with their whitewashed walls and yellow trim. I know I say this every time, but the town is absolutely darling. The Roman temple at the top of the hill is a testament to its rich history, while the independent shops showcase the work of modern local artists. It’s a tourist destination, yes—but also a place where locals live, shop, and go to school.

Marsh in front of the Romanesque/gothic cathedral

We visited a chapel built by the Franciscans, constructed using the bones of people who had long ago been buried in unmarked graves. The message they wanted to convey is that, in the end, we are all the same. Wealth, fame, and status will not help you in eternity—what matters is your soul.

It was such fun to have so many of our friends gathered to celebrate our anniversary with us—including Rick and Diane, who were in our wedding, and Lisa, who attended. Our tour director ordered lava cake, and everyone sang.