Well I'm nearing the end of my wonderful trip to Pontevedra. It's been the best of times...at times!

Yesterday we travelled on the autopista which sounds like an efficient machine to get drunk, to Valenca, the first town over the border into Portugal.

After my host had thrown all of the change over the floor at the toll barrier we arrived in Valenca and then proceeded to drive on the autopista again when the driver missed the turn.

We ate goat at a delightful roadside restaurant which was full of the cast of extras from Cocoon, not to mention a few Nuns too. We were in great company. It was considerably quieter here and the only loud babbling conversation was our own!

After a short siesta I walked around the ruins of Valenca. Tui in Spain and the aforementioned town in Portugal used the battle the hell out of each other. Valenca faired the better and now the remains of the fort house a multitude of cafes all serving the same food and gift shops all selling the same cotton goods and trinkets. The bridge between Tui and Valenca was designed by Gustave Eiffel and is similar to the iron lattice work you will see on that little tower he designed in Paris.

On the way back we stopped off at Santa Tecla which is an Iron Age fort on the top of a mountain. It offered 360 degree views and was absolutely beautiful. I was slightly concerned by the lack of safety barrier, not to mention an awful selection of tacky gifts at the top!

I finished off some Jamon last night. Whilst not bellota, it was €10 for 100g which is still rather expensive. It was delicious though. Washed down with Vinho Verde, the slightly fizzy 'green wine' from Portugal which is wonderfully light. Behind the hills on the far side of Pontevedra there was a dazzling lightning show last night well into the night. It was a memorable end to a memorable day.

It's been the best of times...at times!