And we are back

Well just arriving at Portsmouth – docking in 20 minutes. Very smooth crossing – no sign of Mal de Mer from either of us:) Cabin was more like a pokey, windowless cupboard to be fair – but there wasn’t a barking dog to be heard for the first time in 3 months so we slept like logs.

Now just the trek up to home and sort out the central heating. Reading in the papers we might get snow next week – hurray, thought we had missed it.

What a fantastic holiday – we are saving now to do it all again – next time Greece! But first a job and save some money.

Ah well back to the real world x

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made it

At the ferry terminal – lunch eaten just waiting to board. Fingers crossed for a calm crossing – next stop home:)

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Snow!

And lots of it – travelling the last hour through the mountains with plenty of the white stuff – pretty but cold brrrrrrrrm

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Santander bound…

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Madrid – that’s fun to navigate!

Set off this morning at 7.30 from site for the long haul towards home. Sunny and bright all the way, once we cleared Malaga no real traffic to speak of. We passed the time counting the giant ‘Osborne Bull’ hoardings that are everywhere and that saw us through to a lunch stop at a service area.

After lunch Madrid was looming. Sat Nav in charge so pressure was off me. We followed it exactly and found ourselves on the R4 – Iain was concerned not another car on there – in fact all the cars were on the motorway that ran parallel – ahh good reason we are the only silly sods on the toll road! Well for €6.50 we drove alongside the very light traffic on the non toll road for about 12 miles literally yards apart. Then we re-joined the motorway and hit Madrid.

Oh my God what chaos – too many motorways to count and roads off everywhere. Ayrton Senna Baxter at the wheel and flew past our exit, well Mrs Sat Nav did forget to tell him to exit till we were a few yards too far over. So a quickish detour into Madrid (never again) and a few frayed nerves from us both and we got back on the right road. As we left the city mayhem stopped to top up with diesel and Iain bought us a celebratory kitkat each – the high life for us:)

To be fair Iain gets promoted from Head of Logistics to Chairman of Logistics for his brilliant drive through the city – nerves of steel whereas my nerves were shot to pieces. Hardly a cross word (hardly not none) but we both blamed Sat Nav as she can’t argue back.

So now we are 40 miles north of Madrid and at campsite – arrived at 5pm. Its blowing a gale and very cold and a bit of a dump. Doesn’t really matter as we are up early again tomorrow as still 5 hours drive to get to Santander – oh the joy of leaving it to the last 2 days :). Ferry leaves at 5pm so we should make it – if not its another week in Spain so not that bad if we miss it!

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Nearly home time

Last day of sitting in the sunshine today – we head off first thing tomorrow towards home. We have 750 miles to get to the ferry at Santander so will drive all day tomorrow and have an overnight just outside Madrid. Its going to be a long day….we plan to leave around 8am and get to site at teatime.

Happy Valentines Day – the brilliant campsite owner came over this morning and gave us a bottle of cava to celebrate – how lovely is that? Iain thought  about buying chocolates for me – but decided not to in case he got told off – superstar:) – we made do with a chicken salad sat outside the van listening for a final time to those truly Spanish sounds of bleedin barking and howling dogs!

Van now packed up and ready to go. We are both really sad to be going home – have had the most incredible experience seeing amazing places, meeting great people and being as chilled out as never before. Can’t quite believe how lucky we have been to do this and what a superstar Iain has been as head of logistics (I was head of catering). Someone switch the heating on in Wales we are going to need it.

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Lazy Sunday

The good news is Iain has now recovered – up and around properly for the first time in 3 days.  We walked into the village this morning to the local market, well it would be local if we were in Camden! – every stall was owned by a Brit – stalls selling home-made cakes, jewellery, paperbacks and even one selling tinned British produce. The only stall manned by a Spaniard was selling knickers – it was just too weird so we resisted and didn’t spend any cash other than on a coffee stop in the bar.

Back at camp and its a good little site.  There is only one shower / loo but its spotless (yes to seat and loo roll).  Lovely view straight out over to the mountains, only 2 neighbours so its also very quiet.  The owners are lovely and when we arrived they made us a coffee, we have never had that in all the sites we have stayed at.  They bought the site 10 years ago and it looks like they are still developing it – its done fairly well and everything is clean and well looked after.  The best thing is the owners though and they even offered to go and get us a takeaway curry from the nearest town the night we arrived (we had to decline due to the then digestive problems himself was suffering).

We have started planning our trip home 😦 we will stay here for a couple more days as we want to go and see some of the Pueblos Blancos – being the white villages in Andalusia, Monda is only a few miles from here so hopefully take the van there tomorrow.  We also want to visit Coin to see the old and new towns and stock up at Mercadona – we need olives a plenty and also a few boxes of €3 for 5 litres wine to bring home.  That should take us to Wednesday and will leave here fairly handy that morning and have a long drive up past Madrid – its going to take 6-7 hours and when we get there will stop overnight. Then we have another 3-4 hours on Thursday up to Santander where we catch our ferry at 5pm.

 

Pueblo Blanco Monda

 

Campsite visitor – Sardinian Warbler

Malaga photo album and we moved on again

Our visitors from Wales have left this morning on their way back to tropical weather they will have there.  We loved seeing them and spent a good few days catching up on all the news.   Yesterday both Ped and Iain were struck down with some bug so we didn’t get a ‘last supper out’.  Iain still not too well today but we have moved on to our next site and now have him in recovery mode in the sun.

We did a grand tour of Malaga, twice, on our way here – Sat Nat error not navigator error.  Once we finally got out of the city centre a straight run up with hardly a soul on the roads as usual.

We are up in the hills about 30 miles from the coast at Finca de la Piedra.  Little campsite that takes 5 vans, run by an English couple who live on site in a static caravan.  Its very quiet with only the barking rabid dogs to break the silence.  Village of Vilamour  is a 20 minute walk away,  I walked in earlier but it was closed for siesta. There are several bars and a small supermarket plus a little bakery, the usual white painted houses and a big church in the middle, quite pretty but very sleepy.

Its warmed up again and with the windbreak out it has become a bit too hot to sit outside – that is a first for us.  However I will persevere as don’t want to come home lacking my tan and really need to get rid of the panda eye look before we get back.

Ros about to go for a dip

Mez and Jen on the prom

A few drinks and they are happy

Malaga from Torremolinos

Arrival at Malaga airport

First drinks post arrival

Dinner in Benalmadena

Ros, San and Jen at the harbour

Fuingerola and Paella

Next place to try out Fuingerola so train yesterday, again. Much more built up area – not as nice in terms of cafes etc but the beach and promenade were beautiful as always. Lunch in ‘ Ye Olde English’ bar – run by ‘Ye Olde Indian’ family. Service was sooooo slow but food was good. After walking off lunch some had aching limbs so back to Benelmadena for the siestas. Ros and I walked to the harbour and back whilst the others had a kip and a few beers.

Early evening headed for the promenade for paella tea. Restaurant Santa Ana and a fantastic meal. Various fish starters with prawns, clams and scallops – followed by a massive paella – bloody lovely. Such a nice evening that Iain and I left late for the train and got back just after 11pm – tired and tipsy best describes us.

This morning up and out on the bikes. Took a picnic and we stopped off to eat on the promenade. Found the Rhyl 4 having breakfast and Guinness in the pub, and went back to the apartment complex with them for a sunbathe (in fleeces but hey it was on the sunbeds). Wind is picking up so looking forward to a tough bike ride back home in a couple of hours

Benalmadena

This morning we braved the winds and got the bikes out to ride up the coast. Just over an hour and 8 miles to Benalmedena – promenade all the way, the only difficulty was the amount of people. Seems like the whole world was out for a morning walk, run, skate. The cafes were all open and plenty of people in them its certainly really popular here even out of season.

Anyway, got there and within seconds spotted the Rhyl 4 having a cooked breakfast outside in the sun so joined them for coffee. Then dropped the bikes off at the apartment before walking half way back! No it was lovely really as we walked back to the harbour, some serious boats there and loads of lovely little shops and bars. Spent over 5 hours just wandering around, Ros and Jen bought bread to feed some very large fish that seriously didn’t look like they needed food, hundreds of them just around the waters edge. They say the harbour is nothing compared to Marbella so can’t wait to go there and see just how rich some people can be as this looked fairly exclusive to us. We resisted the urge to buy handbags and sunglasses from the numerous street hawkers – there are too many of them and some are overly persistent, having said that there are some very nice bags:) not sure we will be resisting the ice-creams tomorrow though.

Got to 5pm and back to the apartment to collect the bikes and back to camp for us. We wimped out of another night out on the town, not sure we are up to 2 nights in a row as we normally go out once a week, so will get our strength up for tomorrow night. Head wind against us all the way so heavy going, but back in an hour and 10. As Iain missed out on a meal out thought would do him something authentic from the area for tea – did an omelette and added sausage (Spanish omlette?)well he was happy-ish with it.

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They have arrived….

This morning we were at the airport in Malaga to await the arrival of the Wales 4 on the 1025 from Liverpool. So brilliant to see them all and within 5 minutes we were in a bar and Steve and Ped were on litres of lager! Ros and Jen were impressive at being within the luggage limits – but Jen does have more clothes for 5 days than I have for 3 months.

Left them at the airport to get their taxi to Benalmedena and we caught the train back to camp for lunch. After lunch back on the train to Benalmedena and met up on the prom. Really warm and plenty of people around, really lovely town. So strange having friends with us after nearly 3 months on our own – but so lovely to have them here with us. A good walk along the seafront and then up to check in.

The apartment is to say the least stunning, great balcony with a bbq, full kitchen and even a washing machine (an iron to but we won’t need to borrow that) – fabulous complex and only minutes from the beach. After a quick cuppa the men were off to a bar to watch Ireland v Wales at rugby. We had a girly natter then followed them down. Went out for a tea and we all had fabulous meals – except Ped who for some reason seemed to be given a child portion. The waiter gave him some onion rings and thought that solved it – but Ped talked him into an upgrade from coffee to cheesecake and they only charged for half a carafe of wine when at least 3 or 4 were drunk so alls well that ends well.

Back on the train again for us to get home – we should buy season tickets! Iain has a slight wobble courtesy or Steve and Ped, will works off the effects tomorrow when we cycle up there.

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Torremolinos

We arrived here at lunchtime after a quick 40 minute drive down from last site. This site is ok – small, amongst apartment blocks but its clean and seems secure. Not much room between pitches so a bit crammed in but it will do us. Found this thing in the washroom called an iron! I haven’t used one since we left home so treated Iain to some ironed clothes – the wrinkled look was getting a bit old hat. You can choose either a limitless cold shower or a 4 minutes hot one – who on earth chooses the cold ones? Oh well most expensive site we have been on is looking like being the strangest too.

We walked down to the beach after lunch, only 15 minutes. Then we followed the promenade right through to the other side of town. Wind blowing but much warmer so we walked and walked to get to the marina. After about 4 miles we still hadn’t got there so gave that up as a bad plan and stopped for warm up coffee with brandy – now that was a good plan. Obviously we than had to walk back – so a big total of 9 miles which is a hell of a walk for us – now flaked out in the van debating tourist info brochures on what to see and do.

Torremolinos much nicer than we expected. Town has lots of big hotels and apartment blocks but its really quite pretty with old buildings dotted around. Lots of tat shops but lots of lovely cafes and bars too. The beach goes on for miles – looking towards Malaga we could see the snow on the mountains behind the town. We are literally minutes from the train station so will use that and buses for the next week.

Just realised how close we are to the airport – can nearly see the pilots faces as they come into land – its not going to be quiet here by any chance is it?

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Siberia hits Spain

Ok so its cold – so cold I have a t shirt, cardigan and fleece on just in the van. Its 5 degrees but feels like minus 5 with these Siberian winds blowing. Total clear blue skies though and we have been for a walk into town and froze to death so came back and tucked up with my Kindle and a bit or murder in the East end Martina Cole style.

Town is lovely, all the houses are very well kept and there is nothing old or derelict. The main street has orange trees all the way along it with tons of fruit on, seems strange to be this cold and see ripe oranges on the trees. For miles coming into town all we saw was olive groves and it seems this is a big production area, must be money in olives as this is one of the best kept villages or towns we have seen.

Campsite is quite busy now, a Spanish motor home rally arrived this morning with 20 ish vans. Talked to the neighbours on pitch below – they are from Mold – small world again.

We will move off tomorrow back down to the coast and pitch up in Fuengirola, we have Google’d site and a bike path along the beach to Benalmadena so easy biking for the week to see the North Wales holidaymakers. Iain has worked out trains and we can get between site and apartments in 2 stops so if it is cold bikes are grounded. Looking into getting into Marbella too so we can do some famous yacht spotting.

Good news is this cold again tomorrow then Sunday back to proper Spanish weather so should be a great week coming up. Looking forward to seeing Mez in his tankini and Ped doing the bull dance -oh and the amount of luggage Jen and Ros manage to get on the plane 🙂 roll on Sunday!

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Siberia hits Spain

Ok so its cold – so cold I have a t shirt, cardigan and fleece on just in the van. Its 5 degrees but feels like minus 5 with these Siberian winds blowing. Total clear blue skies though and we have been for a walk into town and froze to death so came back and tucked up with my Kindle and a bit or murder in the East end Martina Cole style.

Town is lovely, all the houses are very well kept and there is nothing old or derelict. The main street has orange trees all the way along it with tons of fruit on, seems strange to be this cold and see ripe oranges on the trees. For miles coming into town all we saw was olive groves and it seems this is a big production area, must be money in olives as this is one of the best kept villages or towns we have seen.

Campsite is quite busy now, a Spanish motor home rally arrived this morning with 20 ish vans. Talked to the neighbours on pitch below – they are from Mold – small world again.

We will move off tomorrow back down to the coast and pitch up in Fuengirola, we have Google’d site and a bike path along the beach to Benalmadena so easy biking for the week to see the North Wales holidaymakers. Iain has worked out trains and we can get between site and apartments in 2 stops so if it is cold bikes are grounded. Looking into getting into Marbella too so we can do some famous yacht spotting.

Good news is this cold again tomorrow then Sunday back to proper Spanish weather so should be a great week coming up. Looking forward to seeing Mez in his tankini and Ped doing the bull dance -oh and the amount of luggage Jen and Ros manage ro get on the plane 🙂 roll on Sunday!

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Today I got to drive !

Yes Iain finally allowed me behind the wheel – albeit on a dual carriageway.  To be fair that’s fine with me as I find I ride my bike on the wrong side of the road all the time.  So whilst I was allowed control of the wheel I wasn’t actually allowed the Tom Tom.  I did mention I couldn’t see it but the response was he could(!) so I left it at that 🙂  My guess is he feels slightly safer seeing what roads are coming up etc.  Anyway, suffice to say we got here in one piece and arrived at Humilladero late this afternoon,  we left El Rocio at 10am and had two stops so took us just over 4 hours driving to get here.

Site is good and bad.  Good is toilets with seats and paper, showers are brand new and piping hot. Reception has boxes of fresh oranges for free, lovely little bar and restaurant. Bad is its not quite finished – no landscaping, sand everywhere, and a general feeling of it will be wonderful when its finished.  The guy on reception is selling olive oil from a local vineyard, extra virgin olive oil they say retails here for €9 a litre, selling for €2.50 a litre – so we got a couple of bottles.

Its getting colder for sure. Both of us in jumpers this afternoon. The forecast is for 5 degrees tomorrow and Saturday, but then by Monday its back up to 17 degrees  (just as Ros requested).  We will stay for 2 nights so we can have a wander around the town tomorrow but move on somewhere else Saturday morning.

Safari day

Oh my god – we were up at 6.30am – first time we have done that for many, many months. It was cold, dark and damp. We had to walk to the pick up point about 20 minutes away and when we got there not a soul around.  Luckily Iain noticed a little workmans cafe/bar open so we popped in there for a coffee to wait for the tour office to open.

At 7.30 they turned up and we were ready to go for 8 o’clock.  Luckily for us the second couple who were booked didn’t turn up.  So it was just us, one other guy and the ranger in the Landrover.  All starts well with a gentle drive through the town, around the lake etc.  Then he gets into his stride and its off road hurling us around as he crosses sand ridges and throws the vehicle between trees.  And was it cold or what? I honestly thought I had frostbite it was so cold and he kept opening the windows and didn’t have the heating on.  Trip lasted 4 hours and as it got warmer it got better. We saw red deer and fallow deer – we didn’t see the Lynx though which we had hoped to see.  On the bird spotting front it was amazing. We saw 45 species of birds and I wont bore you with them all but I have to mention Purple Swamphens,  Marsh Harriers, Flamingos, Spoonbills and Little Owls – it was incredible to see so much in such a short space of time.

Back at base camped we packed up our chairs and windbreak and tomorrow we head off again.  We are heading North towards Seville,  then East to a place called Humilladero.  Its in the Sierra mountains, very near to where we infamously got the camper stuck up a street last year – so we will be avoiding the village of Campillos like the plague as the police may not be so helpful reversing everyone out of our way a second time.  Its a good couple of hours over so we will be there mid afternoon and ready to get our jumpers out – forecast is the weather to go from an average 18-20 degrees for the last 4 weeks to 5-8 degrees for the next 5 days, what is that about then, is the Welsh weather moving down here ready for the Malaga week?

Anyway – cant resist so here are a couple of bird photos from today

Little Owl

Chiffchaff

Acebron Palace – not quite the seaside though

Right, the plan was to head for the coast on the bikes.  We waited til after lunch and headed off out on the main road.  About 2 miles in I decided I knew a short cut on a side road.  Iain queried my knowledge – but I was sure someone told me this little road went towards the next reserve, near the beach.  So we cycled for a good few miles, no traffic, no houses, nothing at all.  About 5 miles later we get to a gateway and this leads to Acebron Palace – all very good except its the end of the road too. Nowhere near the beach but hey ho we will visit Acebron instead.

So its a palace that’s only 50 years old, but had been left to fall into ruin in recent years.  Its all been fixed up now and its a museum with an observation platform on the roof.  From the roof you can see for miles and miles across the park in all directions.  Its flat forever so the view is just sand and trees with the odd electric pylon complete with nesting storks.  Pretty spectacular in its own way.  Sadly no cafe – so no drinks or cakes and we have to cycle back the way we came due to a lack of road in any other direction.

Acebron gardens

Happy before we got lost

Cycling in Donana

Acebron Palace

Not such a happy cycler

Donana National Park

Yesterday we ventured into the town and it was a bit chaotic to say the least. Fireworks going off outside the main church at 10am (that’s different than the bells calling them to mass). When they do arrive for the services they come in big marching groups with drummers and pipes. Lots of the people appear to be there just to be seem – lots of preening going on with chaps on horses. One guy all dressed up on his horse outside church, got his phone camera out and passed it to me to take his photo – spent about 5 minutes explaning something (I guess how his phone worked and what he wanted in the photo) to which at the end I just said ‘sorry am English’ – he raised his eyes to heaven but passed me the camera. I took a photo but think it was a bit off focus, offered to take another but he said no. Saw him 10 minutes later asking someone else – the bleedin cheek of him, hope they were Brits too.

When it all got to hectic we headed back to camp for the usual sit in the sun for the afternoon. The Spanish campers all packed up and gone by tea time so very quiet here last night. Our neighbours from Australia have also gone – they came over 18 months ago to London, bought a camper and 19 countries later are still touring, quite a few Danish on site now and a couple of Brits and Dutch.  The loo situation seems better in Spain – loo seats and loo roll here 🙂 the only downside being there are sparrows in the rafters in the showers.  The site is all sand on the pitches and the roads, hence the van is now permanently looking like Rhyl beach inside.This morning we rode our bikes down to the Donana National Park. Left them at the visitor centre and went round the 3.5 km of board-walks. As it always seems down here, free to get in and yet they have spend millions on the place. Very few people around and you walk along the board-walks between the bird hides. Took us nearly 2 hours to walk round with keep stopping to look at stuff  Absolutely beautiful and we saw loads of birds, including Glossy Ibis by the dozen and Flamingos, well worth going.

We decided to have lunch out as everywhere has these 3 course dish of the day deals for €10 a head. Went to the restaurant at the campsite and said we would sit outside, to which the waitress just said – no you sit inside. At this stage we should have realised this wasn’t going to be in our top 10 lunches. anyway we ordered and Iain went for Ox steak and I went for tuna. We asked does it comes with salad and chips – no – one or the other. So I got 10 chips and Iain got two pieces of lettuce and a slice of pepper. Add to that 2 cokes, 2 wines and Iain had cheesecake – plus one starter between us and some olives – €40! Hmm we didnt sort that one out too well did we.

We have been to the tourist centre and booked on a jeep safari in the park for Wednesday. You had to be there to see the look on Iain’s face when the guy told us it goes at 8am – bless Iain queried it twice to make sure he had heard right – for someone that doesn’t do mornings before 9am this is going to be good as we will have to be up by 7am. Anyway its a 4 hour trip and as you cant drive yourself in the park we hope its going to show us lots of things we would otherwise have missed. So tomorrow is now a spare day so we will bike to Matalscanas beach which is about 10 miles away and see the coast and our first view of the Mediterranean this holiday (edit Iain says its still not the Med so scrap that!).

El Rocio is certainly rocking

The local bus in town

Posers on horses everywhere

Church of Nuestra Senora Del Rocio

Iain with his birthday drink

One of the Brotherhood buildings

San in town

What the well dressed El Rocio’ns will be wearing

Iain at the Brotherhoods

Church of El Rocio, the home of the famous El Roció Virgin

So last night was interesting to say the least. Very noisy with gunfire at times, a little scary especially when I was leaving the van to visit the loos (nearly saved me the walk!)  Torrential rain for 2 hours so we watched the chaos as the Spaniards piled in trying to get their caravans parked up in the quagmire of sand and rain in the dark, entertaining to say the least.

This morning we woke to blue skies and Iain’s birthday -happy birthday to you xxxxxx

We walked into El Rocio which is about 5 minutes from the campsite. The town is famous for the pilgrimages here – is the most famous  attracting nearly a million people – considerably less here this weekend but still an awful lot. It’s a sprawling, pretty Wild-West-style place (they tie the horses to wooden hitching posts outside the houses that have signs saying “reserved for horsemen”, the roads are sandy and unpaved/untarmaced, and the shops all sell saddles, western clothes and religious gifts and nothing else. We bought a mini rosary to hang in the windscreen to keep in with the fashion here

There are roughly 90 or so brotherhoods and each has its own house with stables and its own chapel. The members come for various festivals and fiesta bringing horses, wagons and carts and the men dress in western wear. The women are either in western wear or wear jodhpurs and long leather boots – Iain is loving this type of bird watching:) Everyone seems out for a good time with lots of drinking and singing as well as the processions. In seems to be more about the men though as there are proper Cabelleros with the outfits and Arab horses – strutting around with a drink in one hand (the riders not the horses).

We headed back to camp for lunch and the site is even fuller now. Seems to be parties all over and even a couple of guys playing flamenco guitars now. We sat in the sun taking it all in then finished off the afternoon with a game of Petang (Iain now 3-2 up in the series). This evening we will have a few drinks in the van to celebrate Iain’s last year of birthdays that start with a 5.

Viva Espana

Well we finally dragged ourselves out of Portugal today. Up and away first thing – sad little gathering of camp neighbours to say goodbye (bet they are glad to be rid of us and use our space really).

Headed out on the EN125 which follows the Algarve coast right into Spain. We stopped off in Tavira for supplies and found a real shopping centre with good shops. I couldn’t resist the sales 70% off – new pair of Mango pants for £7 bargain. Did the big food / beer shop and then followed the coast road down to the border. Lovely little white washed villages and a couple of Moorish castles. And so many motorhomes everywhere – we have seen hundreds today on the roads and hundreds more parked up on waste land and car parks doing free camping. There can’t be many campervans left in Northern Europe with so many down here.

Crossed the border and again felt wrong not showing passports. To be honest you are over before you know it – like England to Wales. Once in Spain we headed for Huelva as a route through to Donana Park. I managed to navigate us through the city centre and out the other side with only one wrong turn and we only fell out once whilst parked on a roundabout ‘discussing’ which way we should go.

Finally into the National Park and about 20 miles into the campsite at El Rocio. We are on site and now sitting watching people turn up, caravan after caravan, ready for the big festival on Sunday of the Seville Brotherhoods (its religous orders though it does sound like a sect to us) they all ride horses and the woman wear fantastic costumes and parade around the town between the various church services.

The site holds about 200 pitches and its probably 2/3 full right now. Only a couple of Brits though, mainly Spaniards and Dutch. There is a nice restaurant on site but its only 5 minutes to walk into El Rocio so we should get something there on Saturday night to celebrate Iain’s birthday.

And not wanting to have to tell you but – its not raining here – its hammering cats and dogs!

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Today it rained

😦 😦
……..not a lot – but it rained 😦
Temp dropped quite a lot today too – too cold to sunbathe for more than 1/2 hour or so this morning
Went to the pub down the lane this afternoon for a couple of jars – missed a trick there for the last 3 weeks, it looks a dump from outside, but it’s really nice inside…. and, like every other one in Portugal (it seems) the drinks are for free (well, almost) @ €9.50 for 6 beers and 4 glasses of wine. AND a ringside Grand Prix seat thrown in for free too (the pub’s on the main village road and every form of transport (even the pushbikes!!)  goes through at about 200kph (even though it’s a 50kph limit) – and the front door is actually ON the roadside – wouldn’t like to fall out of there after a few beers at night – Frightening!

Finally – Fuseta

Yes today we finally made it down to Fuseta after a couple of weeks of planning to go we decided this morning to head out early on the bikes. Iain consulted the map and it was up hill and down dale (1 hill we could pedal up, the second – no way we pushed up). Not too far and after about 40 minutes we hit the coast and the little town of Fuseta.

 

Looks like a fairly poor town but you can see the devlopment taking place with villas and appartments so we guess its on the way up. The supposed market in the town square was 2 stalls selling handbags and leather jackets _ I am sure they are the same two we see in every town as the jackets looks exactly the same. Down on the coast the tide was out and miles and miles of sand – the clam pickers were out in force, literally hundreds of them as far as you could see.

 

As always after a cycle we need a strong coffee stop – Iain spent several minutes explaining he wanted 2 coffees from the lady (hmm someone isnt mastering the lingo so well 🙂

From there we headed along the river and out onto the salt flats – so many birds to spot its an amazing place to go. The cycle path heads out along the Algarve for miles right alongside the sea, a bit windy today and a few clouds came over so we only ventured a couple of miles.

 

From here we decided to head back – decision whether to follow same route we came (too many hills and legs aching) or try following the road signs from Fuseta back to Moncarapacho. We decided on the latter – oh my God what have we been doing – its practically flat all the way. A slight incline at worst and probably a mile further but its flat, 3 weeks of up and down hills to the coast and the perfect road was there all the time. Well we lived and learnt and back to camp for lunchtime.

A bit of cloud cover again now so I am going to upload some of my bird spotting photos as I feel sure there will be a great interest (well maybe not).

 

Today…

Another good day – rode our bikes up to the water towers which is the highest point in the area. Then along the lanes and into Moncarapacho where we stopped at Antonio’s for a coffee break.  On return to camp the other campers asked that we book in and out in future so they know where we are and how long we intend to be out, we thinks they are worried we will conk out whilst biking around!

Other than that we spent another relaxing day on site enjoying the sunshine. We keep hearing the warm weather is forecast to leave us but its hanging on in there so fingers crossed for another good day tomorrow.  Iain is recovering from his prickly heat rash now so we can get out for a full day tomorrow on the bikes. Hoping to go to see the Spoonbills and Flamingos on the salt pans and a bit of extra bird spotting if I can talk him into it.

Only a couple of days left here now and much as we love it we are both ready to move on and see some more places, we intend to be in Spain on Friday and heading for El Roccio, which is fairly near the border.  So the next few days will see Iain biking into town for wine stocks to take home as he is getting 5 litres boxes of red wine for €3.50 – and to be fair its quite good stuff, and apparently much cheaper than in Spain. Other than that the only other thing we are stocking up on is Olives – after both refusing to ever eat an olive before we have for some bizzare reason developed a taste for them, again dirt cheap here so will be stocking up.

Ouch!

Yea, Yea, so call me a wuss, do I care? YES I DO! 😉

It’s been 21c here today – pretty warm for both the middle of winter AND us! (Well, for ME at least!) ……….. and I’m frazzled. 😦   – the ol’ “prickly heat” is starting to rear it’s ugly head on me, so, whilst today has been spent “in the sun” it’s also been spent partially covered up to stop the sun creating even more bloody volcanoes on both my arms and my feet!
Sandra went to town  this morning and bought loads of sun cream (oops, too late hun xx)  – still, at least it may keep me a bit less blistered tomorrow!
NOTE TO KERRY: Yes hun, we have been using it daily, ‘onest we have! only ran out this morning – it’s just that one stupid arse ‘ere forgot to put cream on yesterday till about 11am! 

However, today has ALSO been spent in the excellent company of all (well, MOST) of our lovely neighbours and an afternoon of chat and wine by the ‘vans (and latterly by the pool)   – The Nederlanders went out for lunch and Happy Harry stayed in his caravan (as usual, whilst his Mrs joined us!) – otherwise a really nice afternoon, good company, good chatter, too much wine (for ME! sigh 😉 )

Of all the sites we’ve visited over the last 12 months or so, THIS ONE is certainly in our “top three” and,if we ever come back to Portugal, it’ll be one we will certainly be staying on again ……. it’s fab.

Iain

Today we did mostly very little – again

One quick game of Petang (I won) and other than that we sat, sat a bit more and then after lunch we did some more sitting. In our defence it was very warm, and its amazing where a whole day goes when we don’t move.

Its very definitely spring here. The almond tree outside our van had 4 or 5 blossoms on when we arrived, its now covered. Everything is very green and lush and not as arid as we thought it would be. Oranges are everywhere, we have loads in the van you can just pick them from anywhere you walk.

The bird spotting from the chairs is incredible, Hoopoe, Lesser spotted woodpecker, Chiff chaff, crested larks – the list goes on and on and on.

The one negative is the dogs – all night long they bark and howl at every house in the district. We got chased on our bikes again a two days ago by two. Iain passed the villa and they charged out after him, a couple of seconds later they spotted me tootling along so it was ‘let’s go for the easier meat’ and my foot was extremely close to their mouths. Iain being the gent he is was off – so I just pedalled like hell with 2 dogs bouncing around my wheels and after a few seconds they gave up. Every house seems to have at least 2 and they are big buggers so I guess they are security or maybe just to deter nosey cyclists?

We had been for a ride in the hills above the village. Amazing villas with pools and great views down to the coast. Lots of new built stuff but just as lovely are the old traditional places painted in bright yellows and pinks and every garden has orange, almond and olive trees as well as a Renault 4 and a BMW convertible.

Temperature today was 20 degrees or 71 degrees for those that use the other numbers – whichever you use with no breeze it was pretty dam hot 🙂 and its forecast to stay until we move to Spain next week.

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Camp lunch in Olhao

No not that sort of camp – the campsite camp. Fourteen of us went down to Olhao for lunch at a local cafe, Sergios. Starter, main course, pudding and wine for €8 per head. Lovely food – except Iain’s, he ordered mixed fish and they bought out a plate of 7 mackerel! Not sure where the mixed bit came into that. Suffice to say I gave him half my dinner to make up for it.

After that we all came back to site and sat in the sun with a few drinks for the afternoon. Tea was a fresh apple pie baked on site by one of the campers (fair play I would have gone down the shop and bought one). The first dip in the pool was taken by one bloke – he reckoned he did 10 minutes – we think 10 seconds as its absolutely freezing water. Its now gone dark so everyone has gone back to their vans for a warm up as gets very chilly when the sun goes down.

The Dutch couple came along and looked bemused all day as they speak very little English. Then again we looked bemused yesterday when he drove into our 5 ft wind break as he couldn’t see it – considering he towed a caravan all the way here God knows how he made it in one piece and that is the second time he has driven into us in 3 days.

Tomorrow we bike ride to Fuseta to work off the excesses of today and see the Salt marshes.

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Photos of Moncarapacho and Villa Case Rosa

Some photos we took around the camp-site and in Moncarapacho itself. Moncarapacho is a small town inland from the Algarve coast. There are quite a few small old fashioned shops and as always many cafes and restaurants. Its a tiny little town you can walk from one end to the other is less than half an hour. Lots of old buildings that are semi-derelict but seems many sare begining to be done up. There is a fair amount of newer villa type property and reading the local papers it says that many Northern European (mainly British, Dutch and German) are begining to settle here as the local youngsters move down to the coast where the better jobs are. In town there is an old style market hall with 2 butchers, a fruit and veg stall and a big fish market each day. There is also a small supermarket and a couple of bread and cake shops. The town square is now cobbled a and has a few pavement cafes out to catch the tourists that are around. The locals tend to use the cafe bars and we have found them much cheaper, so guess where we go now?

The town is about 15 minutes walk from the campsite and between the two are a few farms and as many almond, orange and olive trees as you can think of. The locals are very friendly to the tourists and you cant walk far without a ‘Bom Dia’ from someone. The owners of the campsite are Norwegian. They told us they sold their flat in Oslo and bought the villa, apartments and campsite for the same money (shows how expensive Olso is). The villa is converted into 6 self catering apartments and the owners have a flat too. Its very quiet and peaceful and yet less than 15 minutes down to the coast and only 20 minutes to the airport. It seems not that many tourists come up to Moncarapacho as the Eastern end of the Algarve isnt as touristy with the towns of Faro and Olhao being more commercial and fishing based than tourist.

There endeth my tourism report on the area !

Iain in town

The High Street, Moncarapacho

The town square

The Pink Police Station – it really is!

The pottery shop

Main shopping street

Another pink house – this time on main street

Topping up the tans

Local house in the village

Sunday day of rest and rain

Yes the rain came – well a couple of long showers was about all it managed so Iain wasn’t too distraught. However the window does still leak so it was a big repair job this morning which has now hopefully solved that one.

Second drama of the day was the kitchen sink had worked lose so Iain decided to fix. All went well till he checked the plug hole still drained – it didn’t – air got blue as water flooded. At this stage I went out for a walk around the lanes and a bit of bird spotting. On my return sink complete but apparently another minor flood has occurred in the meantime! At least the insides of the cupboard are clean – every cloud……

Our Conwy neighbours left and were replaced by a Dutch couple in a caravan. I think he thought he was on a rally the speed he reversed in to the pitch – I heard his wife screaming “stop” as I saw him inches away from taking the back of our van out. He got our table but luckily missed the van – just. Anyway he got out with a smile and said hello as if nothing untoward had happened so no harm there then Fritz!

After lunch we were invited to drinks in the awning of the couple from Dover. Most of the site were there and we had a really good afternoon. Many tales were told about other campers and the lovely lady from the caravan above us got totally sloshed. She is 68 and told her husband she was just nipping out for 2 minutes at 1 o’clock. We left at 6.30 and had to practically carry her back – at which stage she remembered she was supposed to have cooked lunch by 2pm, ooops someone is in trouble.

She wasn’t the only one though – someone set the alarm off on our van (no names Iain) which shattered the peace and quiet of an Algarve Sunday evening beautifully 🙂 – well after a few bottles of Sagres brown beer I guess it was going to happen.

We have decided to extend our stay here as its absolutely lovely in terms of the site and the area – we will work it out tomorrow with the owners but will probably miss out Cadiz and stay in Portugal until its time to go to Malaga – wooohoo :). Tomorrow we are going to the graveyard in town – we are told the graves are in tall stacks and each has a window, when its hot the relatives so and open the windows so the dead folk get fresh air – you so have to love it here.

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WHAT????

I’ve heard a B A D four lettered word today – and I do NOT like it one little bit! ……….. Several folk here have used it both to our faces AND, worse, it’s even been on the Radio!

RAIN – and aparently lots of it, forecast from the early hours of Sunday morning, pretty well all day – WELL, That’s IT, my balls will be going rusty! S’pose it’ll be a good excuse to get ’em out and polish ’em up a bit as they got a bit scratched today whilst I was HAMMERING Sandra into the ground in this afternoons’ practice session for tomorrows big match – which looks now like it’ll more likely be Aquatang than Petang 🙂 Hope the rain disappears again by Monday – A whole days rain in 7 weeks, just NOT ON, is it?

FAB piece of beef steak for lunch today, cooked outside on the BBQ – San picked it up in the village market yesterday, think she paid about €4 for it, truely amazing value, especially as we only ate 1/2 of it today (and even THAT was a monster chunk EACH) – Steak for breakfast tomorrow too (between the raindrops and flashes of lightening)
Happiness is a full tum – yum yum!

Jan has decided it’s time to fill the swimming pool up again (water, not hardcore) and the hose has been pumping water in all afternoon. The way it’s going it’ll be maybe 1/4 full by about Wednesday! – Ah, just thought, HE must be counting on tomorrows promised rainstorms to help fill it a bit quicker. (In fairness, it’s a BIG pool and it’s 3 metres deep at the deep end! I think he said it takes 100,000 litres to fill it!

Not a lot else to report for today, except the sun is wonderful and the LACK OF RAIN, snow, cloud and cold is, well ——- – heaven.

Iain

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Today was shopping and food

This morning we were up and out on the bikes first thing. Rode down to Olhao and found the ‘big shopping complex’ which was about 6 shops. Bought Iain his birthday present which was a new saddle for his bike and a bumbag! or as the Americans would say a Fanny Bag, I got some mudguards for my bike.

From there we cycled down to the harbour and went for lunch at the O Bote – we base our choice on how many locals are in there and this was full of them. Iain has the biggest tuna steak I have ever seen and it was lovely, a couple of glasses on vinho tinto each and then we remembered we still had to cycle the 6 miles back and its mainly uphill so we cut short any further drinks.

At the port we found a massive ABC store – a bit like the biggest Pound shop in the world. And yes we finally got our Petang (Boules) not the best decision as they are very heavy but Iain volunteered to carry as we were fairly laden down with bits and bobs we had bought.

Back at the camp and two of our neighbours told us they had come looking for us this morning to take us out in their car!! OMG all that cycling and we could have sat in luxury and been driven around. Well they offered instead to take us out next week bird watching – I am dead chuffed not sure Iain is but it will be fun.

All in all a good day with tired legs and empty purses but that’s what its all about.

 

Pottery shopping

Nice quiet couple of days – but then to honest they usually are.

On the shopping front we are finally moving on from chicken. In the village market I bought pork steaks cut from the joint and various salads – I really wanted to buy fish but have no idea what is what and not sure the fishmonger would have coped with the stress as she looked about 150 years old.

So after my shopping trip we biked out through the village and up to a viewpoint. We took a track that others on site had told us about. Turned out to be a bit of a BMX challenge, track was a real over statement think it was more like ‘rocks strewn in the dirt’. Uphill and down dale and nearly at the bottom it turned into sand – and I was off in a heap! No damage done and we were struggling to get up the next hill when 3 rabid dogs appeared barking like mad – amazing how you can suddenly find a bit more pedal in your legs when the threat of being attacked by rabid dogs at your heels.

Anyway we found the most enormous garden plant commercial growers, acres and acres of potted plants – sadly not for sale to passing cyclists or the van would be looking like a jungle by now. We did 2 hours and then came back and flumped out for the evening. Turned a bit cooler with a good breeze blowing so we moved inside for the rest of the afternoon.

Today those dreaded clouds were out again this morning so I went for a walk into the village and left Iain to the housework – yup he is still doing his chores. There is the most amazing pottery shop with literally tons of stuff for outdoors and more bowls, plates and jars then you could ever wish for. After a very pleasant 20 minutes browsing I bought 3 bowls – will be going back for a few more bits next week.

Cloud has lifted and sun is back but very breezy. We played Petang against another couple on site – ok our strategy of teaching them didn’t work as we were soundly beaten. Re-match planned for Sunday with a bottle of red wine at stake, so we will be out with head torches practising at night.

Now have my Kindle out and settling down to a couple of hours of doom and gloom with Martina Cole. The site owner, Jan the Norwegian, tells us its going to rain on Sunday (you can imagine Iain is not impressed) how very dare it rain on us. Good news is its then meant top get very warm again.

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Your future holiday home folks?? >>>>

This is it?? how cute it that?? I love it

Ok so maybe not what you were expecting on the villa front. But – its right on the main High Street (yes that is the main High Street) there are several bars within falling distance, the cutest pizza restaurant with outside tables next door, a lovely flat roof for a terrace to sunbathe and a catholic church right over the alley – what more could we need. Iain is still resisting it but we have another 10 days here yet so will wear him down.

So today was not looking promsing – we got up this morning and there were clouds!! Omg end of the world Iain wasnt at all pleased. So after several cups of tea we decided we would play Petang. We leant balls from the owners here and they have a proper court in their garden (more the villa we would like but will never afford). Anyway, back to the big match and suffice to say I am the champ, 4 – 2 to me and my aim is improving all the time. The couple in the next campervan have asked us to play against them the tomorrow and they havent played before – bring on those lambs to the slaughter as we will be making up rules as we go along:) – a Baxter victory coming up.

By lunchtime the sun was back so after lunch it was chair time for Iain. I did a walk around the lanes for 50 minutes and then joined himself on the patio – basically we did not a thing else all day. I know we should be out taking in the culture etc but its so lovely sitting here looking at the view we didn’t get around to it. If you get a few minutes spare have a look at the website http://www.casarosa.eu.com/ its where we are staying (just we are on the camping pitches not in the villa.) they have special offers on for February of 2 people for €31 per night (Ros /Jen could have been you here!!!).

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

house hunting? I wish….

Today we ventured into the village on foot. Took about 20 minutes to walk from the site as we took a little footpath through the olive and almond groves. Really oldy wordly place with 2 small supermarkets, a few basic shops and at least 15 cafes and bars. We stopped off to get some bread – I think Iain was getting fed up of no bread as he bought 6 rolls and a large loaf (and we were only buying for lunch). Then it was a coffee stop at a pavement cafe. I insisted I could order in Portuguese and ignored Iain’s doubts. Ok so he was right as I ordered 2 small black coffees and we got 2 large white frothy coffees – more practise needed there then.
Back to camp and an afternoon refining the imprint of my bottom on my sun chair. Iain decided he needed to get a tan on his back as we are pure white at the back and fairly brown at the front. I on the other hand am only going to stand facing people so they don’t notice.

I have found a property to buy – needs about 6 months work (Mez are you free?) but its only €50,000 – Iain isn’t convinced yet but I have him researching Rightmove as I write for anything more suitable. Well there are some lovely villas for €7 million in the area too but me thinks he won’t go for them for sure, but if he does its everyone out here for their holidays next year 🙂

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Small world in Moncarapacho

How small can the world get? here we are miles from anywhere on a little site up in the hills with 7 other vans. The van next door is from Colwyn Bay (a few miles from Rhyl) and the van one tier below us is from Dover – and the couple used to live in Lewisham Road (seconds from where I lived). The site is heaven – very small and next to the main villa which is converted into 6 holiday apartments. The owners are Norwegian and very friendly as are the other campervaners.

So today – well we did mostly nothing for a change. We did join the neighbours for pre Sunday lunch drinks outside one of the vans – sounds posher than it was but good to get to know everyone. They decided to break the news to us about our pitch – apparently the reason we got the late booking was the guy on here before us dropped dead in his caravan a few weeks ago. So this morning when we were up late they were all worried history was repeating itself!

That’s some clear water!

In the very shallows

No chance of getting wet

Then Iain went swimming in the pool – yes sounds brave but check it out?!?*

Other than that sat around and worked on our tans. Tomorrow we walk to Moncharapacho – about 15 minutes away. They say its only a little village but you can buy everything. Well we need a new kettle so fingers crossed or its going to be cold tea and coffee for us until we move to a bigger town.

Olhao photos

Photos from our few days in Quarteira and Olhao

Fishing boat in Olhao

Both on boat bound for Culatra island

Armona island fishing

Algarve coast from Formosa islands

Armona island village

We DID see 3 kings and 3 camels!

Iain onboard (eating fruit not pies!)

Ria Formosa

Well last night was an eye opener – a few drinks in the site bar sounds good. Omg sounds can be deceptive! – we spent the evening with the down and outs, after dark the holiday makers scuttle into their vans and its itinerant city. Honestly if Madge had come in on her scooter she would have been to classiest person there. A beer and a glass of wine is only €2.30 – so no matter how bad we are staying for a couple as its Thursday night after all. It made Committee night look fun! Iain was happy to leave (!!)after 2 hours that’s how bad it was.

Today was a day out from the ‘treat purse’ (the money accumulated by stealing £1 every time Iain left change of the table in the last 10 months). The purse was fairly full so it was time to have a big day out.

We biked down to town first thing and tried to book a boat trip without success. One lady at the far end of the marina took our number and said she would ring us if anyone else booked as needed a minimum of 4 to run the boat. Twenty minutes later we are wandering around town and she rings so we hike back up to where to boat leaves from.

Catamaran boat that seats about 40 and just 4 of us on it. The Ria Formosa are hundred of little islands off the coast of Faro and Olhao, some are inhabited but no cars on any you have to go to and fro by boat.

The boat stopped at two islands to let us off for a walk and a coffee for half an hour. Absolutely lovely places but can’t talk Iain into living there 😦 lovely little clapperboard houses and the streets are sand or boardwalk. Literally hundred of fishing boats and a real hippy feel to it all. The boat got back after 3 hours and only €15 so plenty of money left for lunch out. We ate at a pavement cafe by the wharf and had a lovely lunch watching the world go by.

Cycling down the promenade on the way back and who do we see? Only 3 camels complete with the 3 Kings wandering along!! (no really we hadn’t hit the vinho tinto today) – its Epiphany and they go the whole way here with real camels and fabulous costumes.

Back at camp and we are packed up now ready for the off tomorrow. Loved Olhao for being very non touristy but also for being flat – which means easy for us to bike around. We have cycled over 30 miles in the last 4 days and its been wonderful. We only move 5 miles into the hills tomorrow so will be biking down and walking back up a few more times in the next few weeks.

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Sunny walks, rides & a Sneak Preview

A morning spent wandering around El Reserva Natural de Ria Formosa was, indeed, a well spent few hours, literally only about 200 metres away from the campsite. Loads of birds (and, yes, funny enough, the train line DOES run alongside 😉 ) a fabulous, level, 4km walk around the woodlands and old saltings (both modern day and Roman!) And along the coastline. Glorious weather yet again today! – and …….. All for Gratis!
This afternoon’s been spent on a wee 10km bike ride up into the hills above us to see if we could locate our next campsite – easily found and, if i may say, WHAT a find! (You’ll see what I mean when you see some photos after Saturday when we “officially” arrive) Can’t wait to move on now, all that’s stopping us really is that we’ve decided to do a boat trip around the islands tomorrow and the harbour is only about a Km away from THIS site, so it’s easier to stay here till Sat morning then move as originally planned
Beginning to think Easy-Jet must have a monopoly on Faro airport – it seems that every other ‘plane going over (we’re right under the INbound flight path – thank GOD it’s not the OUTBOUND one!) is one of thiers – hope the motley crew from Rhyl don’t end up here instead of Malaga in error, as we’ll be in Spain by the time Feb comes and I seem to recall that Mr Mez owes me at LEAST 2 pints! 🙂

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Olhao (aka Gypo world)

Yesterday was our last day in Albufeira so we treated ourselves out to lunch in the old town. We went to a little place where you went upstairs and then ate on the Juliet balconies. Food and place were just perfect – although there was a fear I may drop cutlery on the head of a passerby below. Mixed kebabs with chips, salad and wine for €7 – bloomin’ lovely. We did a couple of hours around the shops after lunch and I bought cheap silver earrings, now waiting to see if my ears turn green or not.

We moved on this morning, first stop was Quarteira. Its a fairly new town but still well worth a stop. Lovely beach with miles of sand and a promenade that runs for miles too. I had my first dip in the sea – toes only – not as cold as I thought it would be. Lovely walk along the beach in the sunshine to start the day. There are plenty of new flats being built and a big town centre but wasn’t really us. We looked in at the campsite there but wasn’t too impressed with that either so kept going.

Next stop at the Continente Supermercado (supermarket for those not speaking Portuguese) for a stock up at lunchtime. A bloke came up to me and asks if I spoke English!! Woop woop suntan must be good I no longer resemble a white English tourist. Anyway he wanted brown bread so when I showed him he was super impressed that I can read Portuguese (just looked at the picture on the wrapper but didn’t tell him that).

This afternoon we arrived in Olhao. We have set up camp at Gypo heaven. Its an enormous site by the sea, every type of van from little panel vans to loads of converted buses – site hold 900 and its probably three quarters full. People spread out all over the place – its just like a massive Gypsy site in sunshine. Weird thing is that at least 50% appear to be British with posh caravans etc but everyone seems to just muck in and enjoy the chaos. we are currently sat outside chatting to all our new neighbours.

Iain has been talking to a German guy who over-wintered in Greece last year. Sounds good to me hope they keep talking.

Tomorrow off to explore the beach and a bike ride, more updates to follow.

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Photos from Albufeira

Lunch out 🙂

View from restaurant

Iain gets food and lots of it

Through the old town alleys

Cliff top view

the beach from the cliffs

Lunch on a Juliet balcony – just brilliant

On the boardwalk

The old town – beautiful

Old town square

Happy as a sand boy

San at the beach

Albufeira beach

Feliz Ano Novo de Portugal

Happy New Year hope you all had a great time. We stayed in and watched a dvd on steam trains in Wales ( I know sad but hey) with a bottle of wine then watched the fantastic fireworks at midnight.

I am loving Albufeira, especially the old town square. We went down on the bikes again yesterday afternoon. Really lovely to sit at the cafes and watch the world go by. Down at the beach there looks to be some really good fish restaurants so we are going to treat ourselves to lunch out tomorrow for a change. I would think in summer its a bit too lively here for us but right now its perfect. We are staying another couple of days before we move on as want to explore the town and beach a bit further before we go.

We found the most perfect weighing scales yesterday in the shops. Snuck them off the shelf and I hopped on and have lost 6 lbs since we left home, Iain has lost 8 lbs. Iain says crappy cheap scales that aren’t calibrated – I say buy them and believe what they say! Well we didn’t buy but we did treat ourselves to a massive bag of crisps and 2 bars of chocolate just in case they were showing the right weights.

Today has been a day of doing very little, for a change. Walked around the campsite (got my step back! Hurray) which is about 25 minutes in total and just sat in the sun and enjoyed the totally wonderful start we have had to 2012. Here is wishing you all a great year xxx

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Albufeira

Our little site at Monchique was getting very busy – French vans arriving at regular intervals yesterday until site was full by 6pm. Apparently they were meeting up for a trip into Morocco in the New Year and more were expected. We did a few walks around the tracks and down to the farmhouse during the afternoon, beautiful swimming pool and tiny villas to rent. It was also housework day so Iain – yes himself – cleaned inside the van whilst I put a wash through in the site machine.

This morning we decided it was time to move on so we headed back down to the coast. First stop was at Armacao de Pera where we had a campsite that had been recommended. The area was lovely with a great beach, fishing boats were on their way out and lots of tourist bars open.

Moving down the coast we arrived in Albufeira and decided to stay here for a bit. We are on a massive site that takes 980 units. There must be about 300 here so there is loads of space. A couple of restaurants on site plus 3 swimming pools (see all these photos of pools – well we never go in as they are freezing, its just they make good photos whereas photos of caravans don’t ). Anyway 20 minutes after we arrived here we met up with 2 couples from the Luz site who had come down for an afternoon trip out. Its a small world here where you see the same people on different sites all the time.

This afternoon we biked down to the town and beach, about 2 miles. We were surprised how busy it was and all the shops and bars open, even a few hardy Brits on the beach. Loads of people around and a proper holiday buzz about the place. Lots of old buildings with plenty of new stuff jammed in between but it still manages to look quite quaint. I am going back tomorrow for a bit of tacky tourist trash shopping to see what bargains I need. Coffee and cake at a nice cafe on the street and then biked it back to camp just before 5pm.

We have now also seen our neighbours from the Odemira site where Iain left my step. I am sure they have it so now need to manufacture a meeting and ask about said step – we will be walking past casually and trying to spot it again this evening.

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Monchique photo gallery

Monchique mountains

Campsite Caldas de Monchique

On top of the Algarve

View from the top

Monchique fountain

No idea who he is

Hill in Monchique

Iain about to start climbing

Baxters conquer highest mountain on the Algarve!

Time for a bit of a walk? Don’t be silly, it’s far too warm and anyway, EVERYWERE is uphill either on the way there, or worse, on the way back!! ….. but we’ll go out for a couple of hours after lunch and go see the Spa town of Monchique.
OK, so that’s the plan for today – sun for an hour or two this morning,  – go see the town this afternoon, SORTED!
The town, however, whilst very quaint, wasn’t actually very big and took all of about an hour to circumnavigate – including the hilly alleyways they call streets, a trip round one of the many lovely churches and several “tourist” shops …….
Ok, next? – “Let’s go climb the hill at the back of town & see the view” says I, knowing a little more about it than San, as I’ve researched it last night, 🙂
The mountain is called Fóia – it’s nearly as high as Snowdon (at 902m) and you get to drive right to the very top along a fairly decent road with restaurants and view points all the way up. From the top, which is covered in military and domestic communications masts and of course, the statutory cafe & gift shop! (bit like Great Orme but on a MASSIVE scale in comparison!) – the view is AMAZING! You can see most of the Algarve (literally) from up there (see photo) certainly from Sagres to Faro along the South coast and up towards Sines on the West coast – i guess at least 50km in every direction at least

Looking over to Portimão – on the coast, about 25km away (30x Zoom!)

View over to Portimão from top of Fóia (906m)

TOTALLY BREATHTAKING up there – even San had to admit it was more than worth the hair raising ride (for her, sitting on the centre  white line most of the way) on the right hand side of the very twisty (in places) road with some pretty serious drops on the other side of the (bent!) Armaco – in a bloody camper van 🙂
Iain

 

Monchique

We said a sad goodbye to our lovely campsite this morning and headed into Lagos for supplies. After spending an arm and a leg on stockpile provisions we headed inland to Monchique.

Really lovely journey through the countryside and villages and less than an hour away we drove straight past the turning to site (Sat Nav error not mine!). A quick U turn and we turned along a sand track, which kept going and going – appearing to be an endless sand track. After a mile it opened out into the most stunning little campsite. Only 14 pitches but the whole site is fairly new with the most beautiful view right back down over 20 miles to the coast and out to sea. Only 3 French vans and 2 English on site so very peaceful.

The 6 million dollar question?
Yes there are seats on the loos. And note to me – check the picture on the doors and use the one with a picture of a lady – not the one with a gent (luckily no one else came in so only slight embarrassment to self!).

Tomorrow we are going to Monchique town itself. Its a spa town with little cobbled streets up a hillside with lots of cafes and  restaurants. The village is famous for the production of Medronho a liqueur made from arbutus fruit (strawberry) which grows in the area. They say its an acquired taste, but good if you have a cold – will report back on that one when we have tried it ! On top of that its also well known for honey, cakes and desserts – we are so going to like it here:)

Lovely lunch followed by the new fruit Iain bought to try – tasted like raw swede and investigations show we have just eaten raw yukka – don’t do it – pure disgusting yuk! Iain now banned from buying fruit.

Spent the afternoon sat on our chairs for the most part – though we did venture a short stroll around the hills and managed to get stuck on a small scree hill – ah well down on our bottoms was the safest way so we made it back to camp with slightly dirty bums.

Now time for a siesta and a cuppa.
Bom dia

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Our Christmas gallery

Last Day @ Espiche :(

Will be sad to leave here tomorrow morning after 10 glorious days of virtually unbroken sunshine and (far!) too much food over the last 48 hours!
Only moving about 40Km away, but it’s inland again by about 20km to a little, but apparently fab, 10 van site that we’ve only come across by chance conversation with neighbours, this morning, at a village called Caldas de Monchique, north of Portimao
Weather today not been so hot, although it’s been “pleasant” – a couple of spots of rain whilst we were out on the morning constitutional walk – quite breezy this afternoon whilst packing all the bits & pieces (awning, bikes, etc) ready for a bright & early start tomorrow (lets see what I can leave behind on THIS site eh!)
Hope we can still get KissFMAlgarve on the radio at the new site – good mix of pop and dance music, one of the better radio stations out here. THINK wifi available on the new site – just hope we can get on, it’s not pre booked . just have to suck it & see……  if not, then we’ll be down in Albufura by tomorrow night, instead of the weekend.

This (Touriscampo)  has been the best site so far this holiday and comes with the Baxterbus 5* Recommendation to anyone else thinking of camping down here
Happy Boxing Day everyone!
Iain

Nadolig Llawen – Feliz Natal – Happy Christmas – Happy Holidays

With our best wishes for a lovely Christmas Day to all our lovely family and friends in Wales, Scotland, England and California. Hope you all have a wonderful day xxxxx

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Feliz Natal

Christmas Eve has been a revelation this year. No shopping, cleaning or cooking (Frango salad is still the lunch of necessity).

Iain biked down to the beach this morning whilst I stayed at the camper and kept the sunshine company. To be honest my deck chair is getting a permanent imprint of my bottom as its becoming rare the two are separated during day light hours.

We refrained from going up to the ‘carols and nibbles’ on the pitch above us this afternoon. It has to be said “Let it snow” just wasn’t right song, they need some sunny Christmas songs out here. After several renditions of Rockin’ round the Christmas Tree’ we cleared off to the pool where it was totally peaceful and not a soul else there.

Our stockings are hung out (2 old socks) so let’s hope the Fat Bloke in the red suit plotted well and finds us. If not then Iain could be slightly disappointed with his home made book mark tomorrow.

The plan for tomorrow doesn’t differ greatly from today. We will be doing mostly nothing. Instead of cooking a turkey I will assist Iain by turning him over on the hour so he browns evenly, however I will not be putting an onion or lemon anywhere near him!

Happy Christmas Eve to you all. Wish you were here (but to be fair glad we aren’t there). Lots of love from us both to you all xxx

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Now I know how the poor ol’ turkey feels!

Just been “out for lunch” at the restaurant here on the Turiscampo campsite.
My GOD, even Ped would have struggled on this lot – I’d like to put a quid or two on that one! …  Mez, you’d not have a cat in hells chance of getting through it all!
Beat this for €6.95c (that’s about £6.00 in British , ( or 60 hundred thousand billion million escudos in next weeks currency, according to  the English language scaremongering papers over here!) :
For starters we had a choice of, Garlic bread slices, bread balls, cheese slices, tomato slices, onions, plain bread slices with butter, prawn/salmon/fish crackers, assorted salad “extras” such as mayo, mixed veg mayo, chilli in olive oil, peppers in olive oil, full salad condiments (like beetroot, onion, etc) soup (if you can fit it in!!) – any or all of the above, as required
For main, All salad bar (as above) plus any/all of the following as required: French fries, potato balls, hot mixed veg (beans, sweetcorn type mix) Chicken legs, lamb stew (Superb!!) pork steaks, Paella style fish mix (fab!) Squid, King Prawns, Dogfish steak, Boiled rice, chicken balls, meatballs in a beautiful sauce ……… God, it goes on and on ……. there was more stuff on there, just can’t remember it all ….. and it was all cooked to perfection & piping hot (minus the French fries of course, which were, as ever, cold).
It “were reet grand” – and for €20 including a pint of lager,  a diet coke AND a 10% gratuity (which was NOT added to bill automatically either!) for the TWO of us,  then I for one, sure ain’t complaining …….. this type of menu served 6 days a week 1pm till 10pm – (but it’s an extra €3 after 5pm)

Suffice to say, I’m now about to spend the afternoon in the sunshine splatted out on the sunbeds by the pool to recover in time for tea (with another beer, of course 😉 )

Christmas is coming, sigh …….. another day by the pool, longing for  the UK weather, NOT!  🙂 🙂

Oh, and HAPPY BIRTHDAY today, to Steve Mez