I caught the 8am coach to Viseu, passing through Fátima and Santa Comba Dão en route - two towns that are synonymous with conservatism and the authoritarian New State of Salazar. The first because the anti-republicans aligned themselves with the church to undermine the Republic by promoting the visions of the Virgin Mary as evidence of the evil lay republic. The second because it was the birthplace and hometown of the country's dictator, António de Oliveira Salazar (who, before he became Portugal's dictator, had been leader of the Catholic Party). I have never been to Viseu before, and, to be honest, I didn't really get much of a chance to see much of the place. The countryside was beautiful and hilly and the architecture is completely different from that found in my more usual haunts in the 'workshy' south of the country. Later, we headed off in search of a better view of the Serra da Estrela, which involved driving to a place called Nelas. We didn't have time to go any further, because I had to get back to Viseu for my return coach to Lisbon. Perhaps another day I will have more time to enjoy Viseu and its surroundings. As an aside, this is the first time that I have seen snow on Portuguese soil!