Only a few days left to go before the end of April Squares so I thought I’d share something rather different today, using the idiom ‘Under the Big Top’.
Have you worked out what it is? If not take another look at the header as that is a big clue! It is salt. Salt, and in particular the flor de sal, was once Portugal’s white gold and essential to many economic treaties. 
It can only be harvested by hand. However in modern times salt-making is not as lucrative as it once was, and consequently many of Portugal’s traditional salterns have fallen into decline, and those that remain are mostly harvested by machines. However you will still find commercially active salterns in the Algarve, producing flor de sal. If you want to learn more about this white gold click here to visit a post I wrote a couple of years ago on my Portuguese blog. by the way none of the salt in these pics is flor de sal. It just left overs from the harvest!
The life of B 
Left over salt! I think I learn something new every day on your blog. On mine you will find yet another picture of a chicken… what can I say I’m surrounded by birds! 🙂 https://behindthewillows.com/2020/04/27/portrait-of-chicken-on-top-of-a-straw-bale/
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I love birding photos so i am always happy to see birds in squares 😀
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Salt seems like such a simple commodity but there are so many kinds and colors. Here in Hawaii, they produce white, black and red salts! Here’s my offering today: https://grahamsisland.com/2020/04/27/top-tropical/
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ooh not heard of black before. Is that from the lava?
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Well, the lava enters into the description, but I believe it’s activated charcoal that’s actually responsible for the color.
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ahh . .fascinating. have you tasted it?
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Didn’t have a reply option on your last comment, but I haven’t tasted the Hawaiian salts yet. I’m not sure my palate would appreciate the subtle differences unfortunately.
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I suspect mine won’t either!!
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Great photos. I saw a special on TV that showed the making of sea salt. It was quite interesting.
Here is my entry for today. Enjoy!
https://ceenphotography.com/2020/04/27/april-27-squaretops-antlers-on-top/
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ooh would have liked to have seen that
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White gold indeed! Here’s mine – https://myheart2heart.blog/2020/04/27/top-art-at-the-top/
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ooh and looks like you have gone for gold gold!
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Oh yes! Just realised that now 😃
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Seeing these salt pans is interesting – especially as it is a sight not often seen. The salt from these pans must be of a better quality.
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From some pans certainly, specially those still raked by hand.
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I remember seeing the salt in Portugal.
https://junkboattravels.blogspot.com/2020/04/april-square-challenge.html
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Were you fortunate enough to be there when they harvest?
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I use Cornish Sea Salt, although we don’t use much so it lasts ages.
A local square today for you: https://wp.me/pL5Ms-5eD
Not many left and then you can have a rest 🙂
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Have to say we are the same . . .
Can’t decide if I want the rest or squares to continue this month!
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Well you’ll have time for other challenges (she says innocently 🙄)
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hee hee, guess what i am working on today!!
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So interesting Becky! https://dailymusing57.com/2020/04/27/on-top-of-a-chair-for-april-squares/
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I love seeing how traditional foods are produced
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Could almost be sand or snow too. We refill our salt grinder so infrequently I couldn’t tell you what type is in there!
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fascinating how they look so similar – sand in the grinder though doesn’t sound good!
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https://geriatrixfotogallerie.wordpress.com/2020/04/27/sitting-on-top-2/
Portugal as well…
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oh how fabulous . . were you in Alentejo?
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Several times, with the camper we love to drive round the Iberian Peninsula
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Have to say I am feeling very tempted to do the same next spring.
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At first I thought this was a photo of sand. 🙂 Your post has made me think about being more adventurous with different types of salt – I am a bit of a Maldon Sea Salt girl and all these other types seem to have passed me by.
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I was a Maldon salt girl until I tried fleur de sel!
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These last few days are getting quite hard, but you’ve got a toppingly interesting post today. I knew about fleur de sel from our time in France, but didn’t know it was a Portuguese thing too. I’m offering a blue sky, fit for Mediterranean climates, today (not in real life this morning,unfortunately): https://margaret21.wordpress.com/2020/04/27/a-topaz-sky/
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I think the Catalans produce it too this way – warm weather is a requisite!
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Oooh, I must ask Emily-in-Barcelona. I didn’t know that.
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ohh yes do ask, would love to know if what i read is correct . . never completely sure these days
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PS oh have you got the grey too this morning. Such a change to last week. Good for garden though
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Well, not so much without added rain.
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That’s meant to be coming too isn’t it . . . at least I hope so! Just some overnight would be good
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Yes. Only overnight please.
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The rain gods never seem to listen to me on this, hoping they will take more notice of you!
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They won’t.
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Great capture, Becky! I love good salt…Malvern sea salt and Himalayan pink salt…… Anyway, I’m on the rocks today… https://suejudd.com/2020/04/27/top-of-the-rocks-squaretops-27/
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You should definitely try this one then Sue. I think it is much better than Maldon as the evaporation is by sun
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Oh, indeed
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