New Year's Eve 2009

Another damp but mild day, interspersed with heavy showers. We went out geocaching about 0900 hours, armed with a packed lunch, and did not return until after dark. We then prepared and ate a hearty cooked meal with a glass of red wine and then snuggled down in front of the television to see the New Year in.

Friends had asked if we wanted to meet up at a bar to see the New Year in but we were tired, the roads were wet and slippy, and with the prospect of colliding with other alcohol infused drivers, we opted to stay home safe with the Wamsler warming the radiators.

By 10.30 hours we were lagging, the television failed to stop us from diving into a warm bed. But at midnight the valley came alive with the sounds of loud fireworks marking the transition into 2010. The hubbub lasted about 10 minutes and then we were both snoring again.

During the day we had visited several geocaches. The first was the "Prehistoric Circuit Fiais/Azenha" (Circuito pré-histórico de Fiais da Telha / Ameal) not too far from Carregal do Sal. It is an amazing place, the area littered with prehistoric burial chambers, art work etc.

The second cache was to Cabanas do Viriato where we learned that one of the streets was named after Aristides de Sousa Mendes, who helped thousands of people (mainly Jews) to escape Nazi territory. It wasn't until 1974 that the Portuguese Government acknowledged the actions of Aristides Sousa Mendes as heroic.

The third cache was at Caldas the Felgueira on the River Mondego. The water of Caldas da Felgueira helps patients suffering from skin diseases. It was discovered that the water can cure various types of diseases, such as asthma, bronchitis, muscle diseases, skin problems such as eczema, etc.

Then we visited another ancient burial site called Anta da Arcainha. Excavations at this site show that it probably originated from the neolithic period, but was also used during the Copper and Bronze ages. Though it has been plundered over the years, much of it still remains to give an impressive sight.

Finally we went to Lagares da Beira to do our final cache for the day. However, there was much activity in the small village with it being New Year's Eve. There were the massive logs in the square ready to be relit (from Christmas Eve), this is a custom in all the villages, a gathering point for the community to celebrate together. Dark clouds that had followed us as we moved from one site to another now caught up with us and we heard the first signs of thunder. Back home to light the fire, prepare our hearty meal, and snuggle down on the sofa, for the eve of the new year.