Indiana Cafe

This is one of the local pubs that we've visited a few times. Once a month, they have an open Djembe (african drum) session on a Friday night, and as our yoga teacher plays we go along. But last Friday night should have been just an ordinary evening when we popped in to meet a friend for a drink. It was ordinary until the drugs squad turned up -- a number of police in quite a few cars, and with a sniffer dog in tow. It seemed an odd time for a drugs raid, but that's what it was. Nothing was found among the dozen or so customers and staff, and after half an hour (with the doors sealed) the police moved on.

But what an odd experience, here in the remote Beira region of Portugal! We've heard that there is a drugs "problem" of sorts in the area, and it may be that there is some drugs related crime. But this flood of police seemed like an over-reaction in such a small town.