The Sweet Smell of Orange Blossom and Meat

The Douro River Valley is a spectacularly beautiful wine growing region. Rugged terraced vineyards slope down hill to a slowly curving blue river. A photographer’s paradise. The light at dusk makes the dry rocky dirt turn a bright orange, while casting dramatic shadows of vines and olive trees onto the road. As the sun sets and the temperature begins to drop swallows come zipping out of their cool corners like an untrained army. Using the wind as their personal rollercoaster, they swoop chaotically through the air collecting unseen bugs for dinner. This breeze also brings with it the sweet small of orange blossoms mixed with savory roasting meat from the restaurant below.

And here sits me and my Ryan on the balcony of our humble guest house. For only 35 euros a night, we have box office seats to the best lightshow in town. Sipping on a local cocktail (inexpensive white port, tonic water, and lime) from our plastic bathroom cups, we smile knowingly to each other. Life is indeed very very sweet.

P.S. And the wine is good. It is very very good. More to come.