In the morning, we went down to the beach, and I even let Zserbó off the leash because we were planning a longer trip and wanted him to tire himself out. Our destination was the town of Mértola and the Parque Natural do Vale do Guadiana national park.
The sky was very cloudy, but fortunately there was no wind and the temperature was 15 degrees. We didn't have to drive far on the highway, and soon we were winding our way along country roads between rolling hills and fields full of yellow and white flowers. We stopped at the park first, I put the bag with our picnic on my back, and we set off. Panka was off the leash, but Zserbo was on a leash because I didn't want to lose him in the wilderness. I really like the landscape here: there are lots of hills and valleys with interesting trees: small balls on thin trunks. They are like "Kojak lollipops," only with green apple flavor instead of chocolate. Apparently, these trees produce pine nuts, which are very difficult to harvest, so their high price is understandable. Lots of yellow and white flowers form smaller and larger "carpets." It is very refreshing to the eye after the gray and brown of winter. However, I really enjoyed the whiteness at home! I missed the snow after so many snowless winters.
We found a nice little clearing with a rock in the middle that was just waiting for me. I sat down on it, took out the dogs' treats (dried duck necks), then my little cheese-tomato-radish combo, and everyone started munching peacefully. Of course, they finished first and, sensing the smell of cheese, sat down in front of me and tried to beg me with their "can't you see we're starving?" eyes to give them some of my cheese. I didn't give them any. Meanwhile, my siblings told me that there is such a thing as a "cheese tax." If an owner eats cheese, they have to give a certain amount of cheese to their dog as a tax. Well, I didn't know that until now. I promise I'll "pay" for it from now on. This reminds me of a cartoon: two dogs are standing in front of a shop window displaying cheese and wine. One says, "I didn't know wine went well with cheese. Until now, they only gave me antibiotics with it." Ha-ha-ha...
We walked back to the car and continued our journey to the town of Mértola, which is located high above the Guadiana River and is also called an open-air museum town because of its beautiful location and appearance. It really deserves this name. At the top is a castle, steep, winding, cobbled streets, whitewashed houses, dark brown or Greek blue doors and window frames. It is very pleasing to the eye and a real workout for the legs and heart.
After leaving Mértola, there was a parking lot about a kilometer away, from where we could take a walk from the other end of the national park. We took advantage of the fact that we had plenty of time and, much to the delight of the dogs, I parked the car. This was a steeper section of the park, but for those whose legs and hearts are used to the Kishegy and Öreghegy hills in Lovas, this was not be an obstacle. We really enjoyed the refreshing sight of the flowers and the winding river. The grass here was so green and tender that even my dogs started grazing. They were very funny. And no, they didn't throw up afterwards. It must have been a real probiotic. After the climb, of course, there was a knee-strengthening descent. After getting in and buckling up, we could start the journey back. These bends are not insignificant. The road must have been designed this way to keep sleepy drivers awake. In any case, it worked for us, and we got home just in time for the dogs' dinner. I fed them, then went shopping and ate a bowl of delicious soup at the little snack bar next to the bakery on my way home. In the evening, I watched the international news. Unfortunately, the world (politics) hasn't got any better, so it's enough to watch it once a month. Or maybe even that's too much. But as Sándor Weöres wrote many, many years ago: "Heal yourself, not society... If a hundred people, a thousand, a million improved themselves... society would be healed, humanity would survive."