To the high plains

As Rocky the big old overweight gold coloured dog of an unknown mixture of breeds lolls around outside our suite on the fake grass turning on and off the security light your blogger settles in for another capture of the days events. Everyone else is horizontal in their nightly recuperation. Not just the occupants of this establishment  (being the four main actors in the last weeks reveries, the retired mother of the now two owners of the establishment who looks after us all but also the 4 annoying Aussie tourists who are significantly imposing on our space simply by being them. Not their fault, as no one should be blamed or accused of something degrading as a result of factors out of their control, it's just annoying that we have spent the last 11 days traveling to the other side of the planet, driven into the boondocks of a previously unconsidered culture to be be faced with "g`day - I'm from Brisbane, an ex Catholic school teacher, and so are my colleagues, would you like some black tea? - its very hard to get here...and isn't the poverty around here terrible? And there's nothing to do here but ride on boats and visit wineries").

That was breakfast. We spent the rest of the day dodging them....read on dear blogger..
Today your blogger took control of the vehicle in order to practice for the next upcoming leg. All the drivers here have a significant issue in that they do it on the wrong side of the road. In recognition of this underlying flaw in their societal system they've even gone to the extent of putting the steering wheels in the wrong position in their cars. Astute observations reveal that they didn't modify the motorbikes in the same fashion... so really folks....it's about time you woke up an readjusted your system. Until they do though we had to follow suit as trying to convert them here and now would've stretched the insurance coverage somewhat. A quick trip onto town to get some vittals now the shops are open. The expected uplift in excitement levels in the town now the holiday was over did not eventuate. Wierd. Maybe we're here in the off season and should be thankful for it.
Being at a bit of a loose end for a few hours the consensus was to go for a drive. The focus was a tourist road sign which indicated a landmark akin to Stonehenge. Looked it up, created a target and for it we went. Up and up we drove. The roads were winding around the hillsides in really well engineered fashion. The vista's being revealed were glorious, would've stopped to soak it in but our 4 Aussie comptriots were already there. Powering on past we kept focus on the destination. Futher up and further up we drove. Leaving the vineyards behind and into Cyprus and then into the typical low scrub grass fields that define high plains everywhere. We missed the location but thanks to internet maps we found it.
Off the side of a narrow road with no road signage to indicate the spot is an unremarkable pit defined by big flat stones with an entrance plinth about 1 meter high. Really? It's only 4000 years BC. (Rocky the dog outside barks - must be someone walking up the road. Wakes non-blogger who gets up to have some water...all whilst the blogging continues). Stonehenge is 16000 years BC.. so take that you pathetic European recalcitrants... no wonder we did Brexit...

It was worth it. The ancient burial tomb was beautifully perched on top of one the highest peaks in the area. We could see for a long way in every direction, not unobscurred enough to warrant a panoramic video but obviously there enough to appreciate the trip. It was just us and the wildflowers in the gentle warm breeze under a pleasant midday sun. Along with the spirits of some dudes who were important 6000 years ago. Probably casino operators.
Feeling a sense of accomplishment (I.e. challenge anyone else to do that ! ) we headed back down the roads in the hunt of a decent coffee and without even trying found one in Sabrosa, in a very modern cafe looking out an extremely picturesque window.

We did stop on the way down at a viewpoint which was simply amazing. The centre of the focal extravaganza was a traditional town that will most likely never get to experience the pleasure of our existence.
That was fun, but there was no time to dilly dally as we had a tour of our house owners Vinyard to experience. The highlights just keep on rolling in....
Our guide owns our accommodation (along with his brother) just the two them work 7 days a week buiding their

5th generation family vinyard into a commercialy viable proposition.

We piled into his work twincab and tumbled and crunched our way up above the steep slopes where we've been sleeping. Highlight was the old house ruins which included the grape pressing vats below the primary house, the chapel (with its own confession window) and the simply awesome views of the town below.
He then showed us the extremely salubrious tasting/long term storage rooms he had built. These guys are extremely clever as it seems that they not only have the vision to create just about anything as well as having the capacity to do so. Our rooms are the main suite - luckily enough for us down tricky stairs so Sarah had given it up to us. Thinking it was brand new its actually 6 years old, testimate to the quality if the design and build. Back to the rooms we had a tasting of the wine they produce as well as more insights into the area.

As it turns out this establishment was old ruins which they had negotiated with UNESCO to convert into the modern apartments we're enjoying so much.
The wine was really good, unfortunately can't get any home so it's a case of purchase and enjoy now.
After that it was siesta time before heading back down to the water front for pre's and first time we feel we got ripped off price wise. As it transpires it was our ordering and a mistype on the volumes of fridge magnets. May be able to remediate later..

Dinner in the restaurant above the ancient bridge was superb, so far we have not had one bad food experience and most have been simply awesome. Our prime window table had been snatched by you know who, luckily we managed to get an alternative enough out of polite conversation range to keep them at bay. Then they left and we relaxed. Another wander up the dark quiet highway around the bend to get home and a debrief and night cap before settling down to pen this prose. Now even Rocky has settled down for the night.