Green vegetation at the Lines of Torres

The Anglo-Portuguese Alliance is the oldest alliance in the world that it is still in force. Thanks to this alliance Portugal remained neutral during the Second World War and was able to get rid of the French during the Napoleonic Invasion (1807). On a 37km bike ride from Foz of river Sizandro to Ponte de Rol, we found, at the top of a hill, one of the forts that was part of the lines of forts ordered by the Viscount of Wellington (Arthur Wellesley) to defend Lisbon from the French troops. These forts were called Lines of Torres and were extremely important in the victory against Napoleon. Of course this help from the British was poured with financial benefits for the second. From personal experience I can confirm that for the English there is no alliances without financial advantages, but maybe I should not generalise!

White and black truck, green and white Specialized, fearless friends

 

                                     

I have been promoting Scotland landscapes (which I love) a lot. I have promoted Paris. Recently I have been promoting England (more still to come). But now please let me promote my place in Portugal and its surroundings. And I have plenty of reasons to do it: It is not only me who loves it, the foreigners I have hosted in the past weeks in my holidays flats and cottages have been loving this corner of Europe too. So, I have to recognise, I am very lucky to have this place to come back everytime I want. 

And the recipe for an excellent evening outdoors yesterday was: my white and black truck, my green and white Specialized, some fearless friends and the beautiful landscape of Dois Portos and Ribaldeira, near Torres Vedras: Approximatelly 16Km of off-road tracks around the best vineyards of Western Portugal. The fearless friends will now come for a ride in Cambelas-Foz sea cliffs and some water sports in Cambelas beach. And I will report all this because August is the month I am promoting my country!