Chains, Coffee, and a Big Band

Day 9: Coimbra (Rest Day)

Our rest day began with the rare luxury of sleeping late. I cleaned the bikes and waxed the chains while Lisa organized our things, made coffee, caught up with people at home, and did a little work.

Once ready, we wandered through the university campus and down to the botanical gardens, finding a couple of small souvenirs along the way. We noticed preparations for an outdoor music festival and learned there would be a concert that evening.

Lunch was at a kebab shop, followed by groceries for tomorrow’s breakfast and a little relaxation at the apartment. Later, we slowly wandered through the campus again, stopping for street music and people-watching before finding a Brazilian pizza place for dinner.

We climbed back toward campus for the concert, which opened with the university’s big band. The students and faculty performed lively modern music, and it was plenty of entertainment us. The main event would have to continue without us!

We were back in bed around 10:00, grateful for another beautiful-weather day and excited to return to the bikes tomorrow for a big ride into the mountains.Read more