We are GO!
And then suddenly everything shifts! The permit for removal of the cork trees. The definite building permit. A date for ground preparations. The Portuguese frontiers open up in this mean Corona-era! We are leaving for Vilar and we are ready to roll…
As soon as we hear the building permit is on it’s way, Luís is on the doorstep of the city hall to make all necessary payments. Immediate pay, immediate stamps, immediate signatures, and the long awaited paperwork is in our hands!
Yellow monsters
And onwards to the village of Benedita for more meetings. The ground workers did not want to start working before they saw all permits with their own eyes? Well, here they are! Let’s make fast arrangements for the final days of July, before everyone pulls the plug for summer holidays…
And again our patience is tested to the max. One of the huge machines broke and must be repaired. Of course this takes more time than planned. But then finally, on the 24th of July, they appear, the yellow monsters! And on Monday 27th of July finally finally the work of moving the grounds begins…
It is freaky. These enormous machines working for two days, moving freight after freight of earth. An enormous terrain appears. Did we cause this? Was this what we ordered? We can imagine a whole block of houses on this plot. What have we done?!?
Oregano
Of course we attract a lot of attention from the villagers. And this is another chance to get to know people and inform them about what’s going on and who we are. A neighbor woman quickly pulls out the oregano and other herbs, before they are covered with dirt. We promise to leave a strip of land for these wild and rural herbs, as we happen to like them very much as well. Other neighbors come ask if they can pick the pine apples from the cut down trees, to be used later to light their barbecues. Everything is fine, because everything is another reason for them to have a chat and become acquainted.