Tuesday, 9 February - Silves

This morning it was off to Silves (Silvesh), the old Moorish capital Xelb (Shelb) which is located on top of a mountain. The day started off with a bit of rain as we drove up the slight incline of 89 degrees. I was feeling apprehensive as the streets narrowed to the point where we were about to turn our mirrors in. When it seemed that it couldn't get worse, the car started slipping back on the wet cobblestones. My mind was racing – should I floor it and hit the wall ahead or just let it roll back into the wall behind? Which was the lesser of two evils? Where would the damage be the least? Would there be damage to the walls? Or just to the car? Perhaps if it went backward, it would be cheaper to fix the boot rather than the front of the car. Kiss the €900 deposit goodbye! Twenty metres on up and around the wall, there were a few parking spaces in front of a small café up the hill and off to the right where a car was pulling out. Gail said to try for it. What was the worse that could happen? They would be short a couple of sidewalk tables and a half dozen or so chairs. I floored the gas, popped the clutch lurched forward, cranked the wheel and went sliding into the space missing the other cars and coming to rest against the

kerb (English for curb). At that point, we were only half way to our destination. We would have to back out, go up the hill for about 10 m more and then do another right turn. Right then we were safe – relatively. And help was ahead – the church. Unfortunately it was closed, so I had to do a quick prayer of thanks right there and again another to St Christopher when we had to leave. The castle had a breathtaking panorama which was enhanced by my heart palpitations. They have a very interesting Archaeological museum with artifacts dating back to the Phoenician period. The castle itself has quite a complex well and cistern system which allowed it to be defended without being forced out for lack of water. At the end of our explorations, it was back to the car. Gail stood at the top of the hill to keep away the tourists who wander about like sheep. I guess it was a good idea, because that way we did not have to fill out any forms. I figured tourists would not do the car as much damage as stone walls. Anyway, I made it up the hill, turned and got to a flat area less than 100 m away. Down hill from there, we stopped in the new town, picnicked and then picked up a couple more things to make dinner at the apartment.