Octopuses and Stripey Houses (Aveira ~ Portugal)

5 September  2022

Aveira is known  as the Venice of Portugal due to the presence of canals running through the city which used to carry colorful boats called barcos moliceiros. The boats still run up and down the canals but instead of carrying harvested seaweed they now carry tourists. 

Just outside of Aveira is a small seaside village called Costa Nova do Prado which is famous for it's palheiros or stripey houses to you and me that were historically owned by the local fishermen. 

Whilst in this area we decided to check out the local lighthouse as it's the tallest lighthouse in Portugal, which when got there we found that Portuguese lighthouses n average ain't that tall. 

However along the bank next to the lighthouse were a hundred so fishermen and it wasn't till8 we saw what one of them landed did we realise they were fishing for octopus. The lure, rather than being bait, was strip's of sparkly fabric and octopuses put up a good fight when being pulled in and landed.

One thing we have found is that pretty much no matter where your are there will be a bar or a Cafe selling good coffee, beer and/od food and the beach at Costa Nova do Prado was no exception. 

Aveira's other claim to fame is a local sweet called Ovos Moles which is made from a mixture of egg yolk and sugar encased in a rice, or wheat, paper shell. Incredibly sweet and really needs to be consumed in conjunction with an espresso. 

There's even a v cool sculpture celebrating these sweets.

Included the next photo for no other reason than I really like the designs on the Sardine tins.

And this one because of the patten in the cobblestones captured the essence of a net.

From here the next stop is Knights Templar territory - Tomar