Sunday, April 1 – Palm Sunday in Portugal. No morning run today–rest day for my abused joints. Instead, enjoyed the impressive breakfast provided by the hotel before heading into the heart of Coimbra, home of Portugal’s most prestigious university.

I went to a Mass at a local church where I am pretty confident I was the only participant not from the neighborhood. Meanwhile, Dan checked out the science museum at the school which I was happy to miss. We then connected to wander through the rest of the university before heading to the Machado de Castro Museum which includes a very cool cryptoporticus (Ancient Roman subterranean gallery).

We enjoyed a light lunch overlooking the city, then wandered through the narrow winding streets, reveling in the absolutely perfect weather. Strolling through a riverside park, we encountered a regatta in process and enjoyed watching the boats (and the antics of their supporters along the shore) before heading back to our hotel.

After last night’s multicourse dinner extravaganza, we decided dinner in the bar was the call for this evening, and we had both a nice meal and fine conversation with a couple from Worcester MA.

Tomorrow we head for the wine region in the Douro Valley.

23,626 steps, 10.2 miles