Yesterday I walked up the hill to the castle, paid €1.40 to get in and walked my way round the walls. It’s very extensive.
Archeological excavation has found traces of a Moorish palace on the site, believed to be the ‘famous palace of balconies” immortalised, I am told, in the poem “Evocation to Silves” written by the poet-king Al-Mutamid who ruled the city before the Christian monarchs conquered it.
In various parts of the city you can see the influence of that Moorish past. Here are the elaborate gates by the entrance to the castle.
Later in the day, as Phil was getting ready to go and play chess at 3.00 we discovered, quite by chance, that there had been a change of timing. The game was now at 5.30. We had decided not to have lunch in view of the original schedule but to have dinner instead. Now it was too late to lunch but Phil’s game might well finish too late to have dinner. What a dilemma!
As it turned out he won his game quite quickly and we went for dinner at the Tasca Béné, which is rapidly becoming our go-to eating place here: friendly and efficient service, nice atmosphere and tasty food! What more can you ask for?
Back in the UK I hear that nigel Farage’s Reform party has been stirring things up in Cornwall:.
“Cornwall Council has its first Reform UK councillor. It was revealed after the party's conference at Carn Brea Leisure Centre today, Monday, February 24, that Newquay councillor Kevin Towill has defected from the Tories and will now represent Reform.
The news was greeted with delight by party leader Nigel Farage, who was greeted by cheers and a standing ovation from over 700 fervent Reform supporters and members.”
Now, he may have “fervent Reform supporters and members” but still I wonder why he and his party receive so much attention. They have a mere handful of MPs and Farage himself seems to have been in the USA far more than in the UK since he became an MP. Media attention has a lot to answer for!
Life goes on. Stay safe and well, everyone!
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