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Sunday, April 27
Algarve To Lisbon
by
George and Anne
on Sun 27 Apr 2008 23:46 BST
Day 88 Sun 27 Apr 08
SEE NEW PHOTOS - CLICK HERE
Set off about 10.30am amidst much hugging and waving from our neighbours, a lovely send-off. Drove away very sad to leave but it’s nice to think we’ll definitely come back again.
Headed off to Lisbon – motorway all the way and all passing through inland countryside – should take three and a half hours tops. The further north we got the greener it all became, very similar to English views. Saw a lot more cars than we usually do when travelling on Sundays, maybe because it’s the last day of the bank holiday weekend, but only saw one other caravan the whole way. Toll motorways – had to pay €45 (we were a class 3 vehicle, so probably had to pay extra for the caravan).
Over the bridge into Lisbon looking for camping signs (the book said “well signposted from all major routes” – absolute rubbish). The site was very difficult to find – we knew it was in a big park so we followed signs for that. We saw one sign for camping, then no more ! Ended up down in amongst blocks of very tatty flats with loads of locals out on the streets – very helpful locals – it seemed that every time we were dithering about where to go, one of them would point in the direction and wave us on with a thumbs up ! This happened at least three times and we eventually arrived at the site. The locals must be very used to pathetically lost caravanners in their backstreets.
Anyway, have found another brilliant pitch – up in the woods away from the main hub of caravans with loads of room and our own water tap and picnic bench. Put the awning up straight away, even though we are only here for a week, as we are looking forward to having guests to stay on Thursday for a few days.
George has got bad tooth ache at the moment so we are hoping it will get better before we have to seek out another dentist !
This site is in a lovely setting – in a large natural wooded park – but only a few kilometres from the centre of Lisbon so we will have to get used to big city driving.
Saturday, April 26
Last Week In The Algarve
by
George and Anne
on Sat 26 Apr 2008 23:44 BST
Days 82-87 Mon 21 Apr–Sat 26 Apr 08
SEE NEW PHOTOS - CLICK HERE
Played golf on Monday atPine Cliffs – on the Sheraton Algarve Hotel complex. Lovely course along the cliff-tops, only nine holes, so we went round twice for €47 each pre-booked at a discount golf shop in Almancil. While we were there we saw an advert for the Vacation Club/Timeshare company based there – go and listen to the blurb for 90 minutes and get a free round of golf. As we own three weeks at the Marriot Golf Resort in Majorca we were quite interested in how it all works out here so we had our “chat” with one of the reps. It turned out to be a practically identical set-up to ours but very expensive - one mid season week cost €28,000 ! Anyway, needless to say George wouldn’t let Anne sign anything but we did get a voucher for a free nine holes.
Weather is now very hot and sunny and should be for a while apparently. Spent an afternoon (plus picnic) on our local beach – practically had the place to ourselves.
Had another visit to Vale do Lobo. Anne went into the Beauty Spa for an eye lash tint (brilliant when you’re away – who wants to wear mascara all the time ?) and George took some photos of the “Arty Things” which have appeared all over the place. Went back via our favourite beach bar and sat overlooking the beach with another bottle of wine.
Played our free nine holes at Pine Cliffs then spent a few hours round one of the swimming pools there – brill.
Had a lovely day on Thursday visiting our friends Annette and Gordon who have a house in a small village near Tavira (back towards the Spanish border). They are both also members of Mendip Spring Golf club so we caught up on all the news/gossip. Got there mid morning, went into Tavira for a walk round the town and coffee, then came back to their house and had a wonderful boozy lunch up on the roof terrace in the blazing sun. Lunch lasted for quite a while ! Ended up with tea and cakes – what a lovely day – thank you both. See photos…………
Moving on to Lisbon on Sunday so we took the awning down on Friday, which was a bank holiday out here. We prefer to do this as it gives us a totally free final day and gives us a bit of leeway if it rains on the last day. It’s no fun taking down and packing away a sodden awning (apparently) – it’s heavy enough when it’s dry ! Sat outside in the sun afterward feeling pleased with ourselves.
We have really enjoyed our stay on this site and will definitely come back here in the future. We have had really lovely neighbours for the whole time – John and Marjorie with dog Dexter on one side and a Dutch couple, Jose and Andre and their
three-legged dog on the other. We invited them round for drinks at 6.00pm on our last night and had a lovely couple of hours sitting in the (still hot) sun chatting – we did talk about things other than caravans, honest ! Then went on to Vilamoura on our own for a great steak in Rui’s Carvery for our last meal here.
Off to Lisbon tomorrow – filled up with diesel at €1.29 per litre, a lot more than in Spain.
Tuesday, April 22
Algarve Continued
by
George and Anne
on Tue 22 Apr 2008 12:28 BST
Days 75-81 Mon 14 Apr–Sun 20 Apr 08
Lovely days this week – long walk right along Quarteira promenade and then on to Vilamoura harbour – lots of sitting in the sun outside the caravan.
Went to the local market here which is huge – bought a beautiful little jacket for our grandson-to-be.
Have made a few visits to the Equestrian Show Jumping Arena in Vilamoura, we had heard about it from our neighbours in the next caravan to us – their son owns some horses who are competing in some of the classes being staged and they were going to watch. The climax was the Grand Prix on the Sunday with some top horses and riders competing. As it was only up the road from here we popped in a few times and really enjoyed it.
Had a trip to Albufeira which was the first place we ever stayed in the Algarve when the children were little – saw the balcony of the apartment we had, in the town centre right near the beach.
Lots of changes since those days – the fisherman’s beach where all the fishing boats were drawn up on the sand is in the middle of a re-vamp. The street leading down to it where we used to park our hired mini all those years ago is now mainly pedestrianised, the boats have all gone from the beach, the car park has been made into a large tiled area and there are lots of new modern cafes and restaurants. Ruina’s fish restaurant just by the beach is still there though.
They seem to be knocking down buildings on whole sides of streets and starting again. Oh yes – the loads of steps that led down from the cliff top on the far side of the beach have now gone – replaced by two (very long) escalators - that’s progress for you ! It might be interesting to visit again when they have finished it all.
Anyway, it was great fun going back – ably finished off with a few hours on the beach in the afternoon, where George went in for a swim (he insists on you all knowing that !)
Had a bit of a do with the camera – went to take a photograph and it wouldn’t work – it made all the right noises and all the right lights went on but the lens bit refused to budge. Found a camera shop and they kindly tried a new battery in it but to no avail – it is a late camera – only had it for three years but it has taken approximately 3,500 photographs. Anyway, went back to the shopping mall in Guia and bought another one for €110 – not in the plan but needs must.
Sunday, April 13
Enjoying the Algarve
by
George and Anne
on Sun 13 Apr 2008 23:15 BST
Days 68–74 Mon 7 Apr–Sun 13 Apr 08
You can see our latest photographs – CLICK HERE
On the way back from the beach bar yesterday George had a lovely telephone call from Grace – Lady President of the Rotary Club of Weston-super-Mare thanking us for our “guest appearance” the night before - let us explain ……………
Saturday evening was Grace’s big night – the annual President’s Dinner and Dance, being held this year at the newly re-jigged Cadbury Hotel and Country Club. We were really sorry not to be able to go as it was George who invited Grace into the Rotary Club – she was the first Lady Member and has been a massive asset. She and husband David had no idea that other members had arranged a telephone link over the PA system so we could talk to her. We called during the evening pretending to try and book our caravan in for the night whilst photographs of us on our trip were shown on a big screen – you can imagine the confusion – anyway, we were thrilled to be able to give them both our good wishes from afar.
Weather not too good for the first few days – on Tuesday it absolutely hammered down all day – so we postponed puting the awning up until it got better. We spent the time doing a bit of shopping and driving round to see what had changed since we were last here in 2002. A huge mall has appeared in Guia (just inland from Albufeira) and new roads are confusing us !
Bought some Swordfish and Dorada down in the indoor fish market – the man was so nice he even told George how to make a great sauce to go with it ! Nearly next door is the indoor veg market so we stocked up – including some tiny chillies that the lady assured us were lethal. Will let you know……..
Had more heavy rain overnight one night and it’s been very windy so we didn’t put the awning up until Saturday (bearing in mind the last time we put it up it blew away) – the spare part Anne had brought back from her UK visit worked well and we were able to unpack the car and give it good brush out.
Went for a long walk along the beach from here (the very eastern edge of Quarteira) nearly to Quinta do Lago. Still very windy but sunny – found our old favourite beach bar, Mad Max’s, now called Izzy’s – and enjoyed a bottle of wine right on the edge of the beach overlooking the sea. – see photo.
Weather got better every day – boiling hot sun on Sunday so had a great day here on the site, then had another trip to the Sports Bar in Vilamoura Marina in the evening to see the end of The Masters Golf from Augusta over a few glasses of red wine.
Weather is forecast to be settled from now on so we are looking forward to some sun and beach days.
Sunday, April 6
Cadiz to The Algarve
by
George and Anne
on Sun 06 Apr 2008 23:37 BST
Day 67 Sun 6 April
Left the site at 10.00am and took the motorway, €5.65 toll.
Passed along huge flat plains towards Seville, weather became very cloudy, then round the ring motorway and headed west towards Huelva.
Went over an impressive suspension bridge crossing the Odiel River and on towards the Portuguese border.
Drove through into Portugal over the natural border of the river Guadiana between the two countries, still cloudy but looking brighter.
The motorway surface was surprisingly poor apart from Huelva to the border.
We are not used to cloud – we were in Cadiz for a week and (literally) didn’t see one cloud until our last day there !
Arrived on familiar territory – when the children were small we had a two week time-share in Vale do Lobo and came out here every year. Had some fabulous times. We sold the weeks in 2000, bought three weeks in Majorca and have only been back once since then so are really looking forward to visiting old haunts.
Arrived in sunshine - the caravan site is on the edge of Quarteira, between Vale do Lobo and Vilamoura. It is quite a large site - not that easy to find but no back alleys this time – some pitches are enclosed by low hedges with high kerbs (no !) and there are open areas where you can almost park where you like (lovely !). We found a great place against one of the boundary fences, loads of room to tow the caravan into position with the car rather than man/woman-handle it, and only one other caravan anywhere near.
Now this will make you smile – we decided that the other caravan was facing the right way for the sun etc and pulled ours facing the same way into the exact place we wanted, got out of the car to check – where was the caravan door ? – against the hedge at the back ! We hadn’t realised that the other caravan was French – continental caravans have their doors on the other side to ours ! So we had the embarrassment of pulling the caravan away, going round in a great big circle and came to rest in exactly the same position but facing completely the other way. Never mind, it’s a super spot.
Got set up then walked down to the beach and had a Super Bock beer in the beach bar in the hot sun. Beautiful golden sand stretching to Vale do Lobo in the east and Vilamoura in the west.
Here for three weeks – wonderful.
(One drawback, no internet on the site – this is coming to you from McDonalds in Vilamoura – but it is free).
Check out the latest photographs from Cadiz – click here
Saturday, April 5
Bay of Cadiz
by
George and Anne
on Sat 05 Apr 2008 19:00 BST
Days 61-66 Mon 31 Mar- Sat 5 Apr 08
Really enjoying the Cadiz area. For those who aren’t sure, the ancient walled city of Cadiz is right at the end of a long thin spit of land, historically easy to defend as most of it is surrounded by water. It is considered to be the oldest city in the western world, founded by the Phoenicians in 1100BC. The old town itself covers not much more than a square mile which makes it brilliantly compact for walking and exploring, although the city has now spread outside the original walls down the spit of land. We have been here once before when a cruise ship we were on visited for a few hours. We loved it then and have been looking forward to our return.
The caravan site is actually in El Puerto de Santa Maria, just across the bay from Cadiz, on the mainland so we took the catamaran ferry – 20 mins, €1.80 for both of us. Arrived at the port of Cadiz at about 10.00am then walked … and walked… and walked. Saw the sights we had seen before plus many others – the defence Castillos, the calm relaxing parks, fabulous beaches, (one of which is almost the whole length of one side of the spit), the Roman ruins, lovely churches and the beautiful cathedral in one of the main squares. George went up one of the cathedral towers to see the breathtaking views over the whole town.
Too many things to mention them all but we would recommend anyone to visit here.
Had an afternoon walking round the old town of El Puerto de Santa Maria. Met a local gentleman who chatted to us over a beer in the cathedral square and told us a bit about the history of the place –it is named El Puerto because it used to be the port for trade with the Indies. There are other Puertos - but not El Puertos. Found the bullring – third in importance in Spain, behind Madrid and Valencia. Lovely old own with a lot of history.
Had a day out in the car, visited Chiclana, Puerto Real, San Fernando and Rota, but did not manage Jerez – didn’t think we could do it justice in a couple of hours, can’t do everything. There are absolutely fabulous beaches in this area – from 5-mile stretches of golden sand edged with dunes to more traditional beaches of golden sand with long promenades, cafes and restaurants – all with the gently shelving bright green Atlantic sea. The bay of Cadiz is also a haven for wild life watchers. It has large nature reserves, including marshlands, on the migratory route of many birds between Europe and Africa
Oh yes, we are now in sherry country! Didn’t have much idea about sherry until we went to a history and tasting evening at the Bogeda (wine cellar) Gutierrez-Colosia, established 1838, up the road from the caravan site - €5 each. Really interesting talk by the wife of the owner, Juan Carlos, about the history of sherry and this particular bodega which has been in the same family for 4 generations. All sherry comes from a geographical triangular area made by Jerez, El Puerto de Santa Maria and Sanlouca. All the grapes must be grown inside this triangle (or just outside it) but the sherry must be made inside the area – or it cannot be called sherry ! It’s made by a process called ‘criaderas y soleras’ which basically means that over a period of a few years the wine is moved down from upper rows of barrels and added to lower barrels and eventually into the floor level row, the soleras. Some wine is removed from the bottom barrels every year to be sold. Sherry therefore cannot have a date, as it is made up of wine from several years but the dry Fino takes at least 3 years to produce and Amontillado another 5 years after that. Also learned that sherry should be eaten with the meal – not as an aperitif – over here they have a beer or two before the meal to quench thirsts, and then they drink different types of sherry with their meals. Tasted five different sorts and had a really good evening – ended up buying straight from the barrels, a litre each of Fino and Oloroso. 2 litres for €6.10 - bargain. Apparently it is not a good time at the moment for Sherry producers. Doesn’t every business always say that? Anyway you can help this particular family out by buying some of their sherry in the uk, look out for the Gutierrez-Colosia name on the menu, I’m sure they’d appreciate it!
The weather has been fantastic all week with clear blue sky and temperatures around 28 degrees. We had literally not seen one cloud until Saturday afternoon when it hazed over a bit.
Off on Sunday, heading for Portugal.
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