And so we bade adieu to our two travelling companions and went to stay in our eagerly awaited hotel.
The hotel, a former palace was a place of mixed blessings, but possibly more of that later. Faro on Christmas eve is hardly a grand metropolis, more a tired disinterested lonely old spinster. We drove the short journey in, in the van and had no problem getting parked in a huge car park.
There were three vans here when we arrived, and on our return there were six. I couldn’t help thinking, what sort of people would choose to spend Christmas eve alone in a car park, in wet and windy Faro.
Still, each to their own.
The Aire that we left was a bit out of Albufeira, twenty minute bus ride. But it was functional, clean, and quiet, complete with all the facilities plus laundry.
We were enjoying the company of Alfy and Catherine, two fellow Craicers from Wexford. I think Margaret enjoys having the female company, which is a delight.
We cycled up to the supermarket a couple of miles up hill from here to get supplies, but there is a local shop very close that supplies everyday needs, far more conveniently.
The site has around one hundred vans, from all over Europe. Including one from the Isle of Man!
We got the bus into Albufeira for a look around on a crisp bright morning. The sign for "full English breakfast"drew us in like moths to a light, and we had such a great breakfast before we walked the legs of the ladies. Mind you, there were shops so all was not lost.
Albufeira is a typical seaside resort town, swallowed up by all the commercial activities you would expect to see and retaining nothing of what got it established in the first place. It's a great place for families and couples alike, who like their annual holiday on foreign shores.
So far our trip has brought us down south via, Heric, near Nantes, after a 205 mile drive.
Then 393 miles later we found ourselves in San Sebastian, more of that elsewhere.
Then on to the lovely wee town of Lekeito, still in Basque country after another 59 miles.
The weather was still bit yuk so we moved another 57 miles south to Bilbao. We've always wanted to visit this city, but now don't know why! Still the weather was cold so after a further 215 miles we arrived in Leon. Not a bad city, good for walking.
There is a bit of heat in the sun now, so another 254 miles to Vigo. This is a busy fishing and ship building town with an interesting market on Sunday. The market is held in a car park. The only car park I've seen with a green painted ground surface. This is where we got our first ever parking ticket, but one that we are fighting because they made schoolboy errors in its dispatch. Tossers!
We had a few drinks with the locals, and as we are still Irish White, we stick out like sore thumbs. Have to say though, the Portuguese are very friendly, absolutely woeful drivers, but good at English and always helpful. Except of course for the pugnacious police force.
Porto, a very fine city was our next stop, and at 1350 miles, Helga looked like a dirty bitch. This is not the city to waste time cleaning vans though. It is as interesting as you like, with bits of everything thrown into a huge mix of tourism and locals rubbing shoulders happily. Lots to see, and if there are mini breaks from the UK available, I would jump on one.
We arrived in another coastal town, Peniche, after another 167 miles on the clock. We checked in to an Aire because we needed laundry and facilities. Such a good find, a walled secure site placed very close to the town centre, but it had an added bonus. A motorhome washing point. I can safely say, I was up and out at first light, and Helga gleamed merrily before we left for our next step.
Luzianes is a mountain village with a railway station and not a lot more. The station could very well suit the forestry industry, because apart from lumber, there,s not a lot to see or do. It was dark by the time we arrived, and in fact, we never meant to "arrive" at all. Two places we were going to use were either closed or non existent, still, we parked up beside the road, because we had driven for 189 miles and a lot on dodgy roads, so enough was enough.Settled in, had a couple of drinks and some dinner and watched Mrs Browns boys on dvd.
The next morning, in daylight we had the loveliest drive down to Albufeira. The roads were empty in fact in 23 miles we passed five pedestrians.
By one pm we arrived in Albufeira Aire where we would be pausing for three whole days, in the company of some very nice people. That drive was only 49 miles but very pretty and totally relaxing.
We were enjoying the company of Alfy and Catherine, two fellow Craicers from Wexford. I think Margaret enjoys having the female company, which is a delight.
We cycled up to the supermarket a couple of miles up hill from here to get supplies, but there is a local shop very close that supplies everyday needs, far more conveniently.
The site has around one hundred vans, from all over Europe. Including one from the Isle of Man!
We got the bus into Albufeira for a look around on a crisp bright morning. The sign for "full English breakfast"drew us in like moths to a light, and we had such a great breakfast before we walked the legs of the ladies. Mind you, there were shops so all was not lost.
Albufeira is a typical seaside resort town, swallowed up by all the commercial activities you would expect to see and retaining nothing of what got it established in the first place. It's a great place for families and couples alike, who like their annual holiday on foreign shores.
So far our trip has brought us down south via, Heric, near Nantes, after a 205 mile drive.
Then 393 miles later we found ourselves in San Sebastian, more of that elsewhere.
Then on to the lovely wee town of Lekeito, still in Basque country after another 59 miles.
The weather was still bit yuk so we moved another 57 miles south to Bilbao. We've always wanted to visit this city, but now don't know why! Still the weather was cold so after a further 215 miles we arrived in Leon. Not a bad city, good for walking.
There is a bit of heat in the sun now, so another 254 miles to Vigo. This is a busy fishing and ship building town with an interesting market on Sunday. The market is held in a car park. The only car park I've seen with a green painted ground surface. This is where we got our first ever parking ticket, but one that we are fighting because they made schoolboy errors in its dispatch. Tossers!
We had a few drinks with the locals, and as we are still Irish White, we stick out like sore thumbs. Have to say though, the Portuguese are very friendly, absolutely woeful drivers, but good at English and always helpful. Except of course for the pugnacious police force.
Porto, a very fine city was our next stop, and at 1350 miles, Helga looked like a dirty bitch. This is not the city to waste time cleaning vans though. It is as interesting as you like, with bits of everything thrown into a huge mix of tourism and locals rubbing shoulders happily. Lots to see, and if there are mini breaks from the UK available, I would jump on one.
We arrived in another coastal town, Peniche, after another 167 miles on the clock. We checked in to an Aire because we needed laundry and facilities. Such a good find, a walled secure site placed very close to the town centre, but it had an added bonus. A motorhome washing point. I can safely say, I was up and out at first light, and Helga gleamed merrily before we left for our next step.
Luzianes is a mountain village with a railway station and not a lot more. The station could very well suit the forestry industry, because apart from lumber, there,s not a lot to see or do. It was dark by the time we arrived, and in fact, we never meant to "arrive" at all. Two places we were going to use were either closed or non existent, still, we parked up beside the road, because we had driven for 189 miles and a lot on dodgy roads, so enough was enough.Settled in, had a couple of drinks and some dinner and watched Mrs Browns boys on dvd.
The next morning, in daylight we had the loveliest drive down to Albufeira. The roads were empty in fact in 23 miles we passed five pedestrians.
By one pm we arrived in Albufeira Aire where we would be pausing for three whole days, in the company of some very nice people. That drive was only 49 miles but very pretty and totally relaxing.
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