Date: 18th August 2019
Travelled: 142 kms from Almeida to Manteigas, both in the Province of Beira
Visited: Guarda, Linhares da Beira and Manteigas
Stayed: Manteigas car-park, free + B. N40.40040, W07.54131
Budget: 70 days @ โฌ78 per day
We get away from Almeida relatively early by our recent standard. A cool change passed through overnight and the village festival was very quiet. Mind you we were woken by fireworks at 1.30am ?
Our Portuguese sim has date expired (30GB for 15days @ โฌ15), unfortunately these tourist sims cannot be topped up other than at a MEO shop. I should add Portugal has an excellent 4G data network everywhere we have visited. Despite being Sunday and most things are closed, Google tells us the MEO shop in Guarda is open today, so we service the Hymer and turn for Guarda.
We find a supermarket for our daily ice top up, then a parking spot in the old centro. Mind you itโs market morning and there are lots of people out early today.
The Sรฉ or Cathedral of Guarda, circa 1390 
The altar. 
We thought it was probably another Alfonzo statue, but no a local hero.
Guarda is done and we set the GPS for Linhares. Despite being only 40 kms away the steep descent and climb takes almost an hour.
Map of Linhares da Beira
The Town Hall 
The designated parking area is too small for the Hymer to turn around, but luckily we jag a spot behind the chapel
The Igreja, most of the towns people are milling about here, so we presume somethings going on. 
The Castelo looks more interesting than it is. There is a walkway along the bastion walls, the towers are closed.
Once we finally escape Linhares we turn for Manteigas. Initially the drive is easy enough but once we turn into the Serra da Estrella National Park we start the long and winding climb over the mountains.
Map of Manteigas, the icon on our overnight park
So we have a drink or two, before eating in. Being much cooler this evening, brings the promise of a good nightโs sleep, when the bells stop ringing. So another day slides by…
Michael and Pam
