Ericeira - a Beautiful Fishing Village Dec 10th 2019

Austere White Walled Cottages, Hotels and Houses 

10th Dec 2019, we were fortunate enough to have a beautiful sunny winter's day with temperatures in the high 'teens and cool enough to walk the beach and the small village called Ericeira.

After a lovely lunch at the Mar a Vista, we ambled our way to the beach and there was a springkling or elderly retired folk just enjoying the afternoon sun. Compared to the other fishing village called Antibes (to the west of Nice along Cote Azur) the Ericeira village is less touristy and it faces the huge Atlantic Ocean while Antibes faces the Mediterranean Sea and North Africa not too far away. 

Taking a short walk along the promenade, I am struck by the simplicity of life in the fishing village and where everybody more or less knows each other, as well as their families and professions. So coming as a foreigner to this part of the world, I am indeed privileged and grateful to have this opportunity to travel, visit far flung places and expand my mindset and readjust my attitude. 

Portugal is blessed to have balmy winters and many pensioners from the UK and Europeans further north have bought property in the country. Asians, most notably the Chinese have also invested in the property sector of Portugal in the last decade.

The beach after the fishing boats have come back to shore 

On the way back to Cascais where we were staying (another beautiful part of South West Portugal), we got the Grab and the driver whom we made acquaintences with is from Brazil. 

Raul told us that there are many Brazilians who have come and made Portugal their 2nd home and also ventured into various businesses. 

Location of Ericeira from Lisbon the capital 

Portugal is one of the gems of Europe, relatively (yet) unspoilt by the mass tourism from the Asian hordes armed with their cameras selfie sticks invading into everybody's faces. There will be one day when the country is beset by these tourists,  and we try very hard to adapt even temporarily to the local culture so that we will be welcomed again to this fine country.