We hung our wash on lines strung across a balcony or tucked away in a corner of the kitchen. That's so body heat from the animals would heat the living quarters in the winter, Dr. Niehues told me. From my vantage point I could see all of the valley and hills surrounding Barcelos, a city that dates back to Roman times. Romans built the stone bridge that we crossed on the way downtown for our daily street witnessing. A modern school sits behind the apartment building, and a furniture store with a glass front is across the cobblestone street.
Next door are several old, old buildings that have caved-in roofs.
No doubt they date back to Roman times, too, and probably were farm houses. Although I was told Portugal is a rural country, it seemed very urban to me, with modern buildings under construction on every hand. People are moving from the farms into the cities, where small industries provide jobs. Both men and women work long hours. One missionary gave me a tour of the older portion of Famalicao, including a trip down a one-lane road bordered by stone fences.