"You're on the wrong side of my Quinta...stay right there I can see your black car!"
With these words we were about to find a jewel in the hills of Alpendorada. Quite by chance Shane booked a room east of Porto near the Douro River just outside the village of Alpendorada. Between our GPS and the very strange directions we got from a fellow at the restaurant where we had lunch we managed to get quite lost. When I phoned the Quinta & told her where we were she looked out the window across the steep valley to see our little black car driving down the road. She told us to stay where we were and then proceeded to drive over to get us. Though the distance seemed short it took us a good 10 - 15 minutes to follow her to our room for the night. Quinto de Villa Sete is a family run guest house which blends the old with the very new. This would be a place to spend a few days but we had to push on as we have much to see before getting to Ronda on the 19th. However we made the best of our time there playing fooseball with three generations, sipping the local white wine while tasting 6 different types of home made jam. Four kids, two grandparents and Mom & Dad. Such a great one night retreat.
For our friends with motor bikes the road we took today would be right up your alley, Back & forth, up and down through steep terraced vineyards, over a river or two before climbing up to 1,950 Meters where we actually found a ski hill. Big White it ain't but there were three or four runs with a rope tow and a chair lift. I just loved this drive even though I was the obe driving. Sal ador Dali moonscape terraine with huge rocks, patches of snow and tiny little snowmen left over from the weekend travellers. At the end of the day we settled in to a comfy room in Covilha.  
The drive from Covilha to Elvas was a push through nasty rain which didn't matter a whole lot as we were on highways much of the way with farmland, cork trees, thousands of sheep a few cows & olive orchards.  
We took a side trip to Marvao in the mist. Thanks for the suggestion Marge. It is a stunning, well preserved, hilltop village surrounded by walls overlooking the valley below. Too bad it was a drizzly visit. We managed to walk around & take some photos before the full on rain hit.  
After checking in to our hotel in Elvas we made our way to the Post Office in the old city. We have spent two days on toll "card only" roads with no fees showing as coming off the credit on the toll card we bought in Sagres. After about half an hour of explanation we were handed the phone to talk to a surpervisor who told us it could be up to 60 days before charges will show up on the internet and then, if wwe don't pay any balance owing, we will be charged 10 x's the amount. What???? So we have to check for the next two months? In spite of being assured that they will send us a text as son as they get the info we will not be counting on that. So for the next two months we will have to go on line and check. By our estimation (cause there's no real way to add it up) we are going to be really close to our credit. Yikes!
So with that lack of assurance we set off in the drizzle to find (way too much) food & check out the town. Huge wall surrounding the center with quaint churches boasting a definite Moorish influence. Took a wrong turn & circumnavigated (almost) the outside fortifications before returning to our warm dry rom.  
Now for a good nights sleep and three days in Cordoba.