As Far South as I can !

I’d initially decided I would go to a town called Tomar, full of Castles,churches and other historical places.. however as I navigated towards my chosen campsite decided it would be too far away, and so drove into the town, found a ‘municipal’ campsite… which didn’t look very nice… so I decided to head back to the motorway, and … go South, towards the ‘Algarve’, another coastal area, supposedly beautiful, good weather, and beaches !

As  drove along, I thought things were looking up , blue skies, with powder puff  skies.. I kept going, and finally late afternoon landed at a large campsite – Camping Turiscampo, Espiche  between Lagos and Praia da Luz ..an infamous place, well known to all Brits !

At first I was a little worried, the site was far larger than I’d expected, although it had a nice pool, loads of Brits around, and fairly busy…well, I was here now, I’d make the best of it… all the winter sunseekers still here !

I found out where the nearest supermarket was, stopped up on some meat for the BBQ, and returned to the site, and had myself a nice dinner of pork chop + salad, with lots of cheese, and a glass or two of Vino ! As soon as it went dark, the site was almost silent, so I had a good nights sleep…with the birds keeping me company

Wednesday morning, took a little while to get going, but the sun was soon overhead, blazing down, and after I’d done some washing ( again !), I rode into Praia da Luz, to have a look round this small village, with a sandy and rocky beach and quite a few beach bars, with lots of people wandering around..

I meandered around for a while, and rode back to the campsite, for a bit of dozing in the sun, and cooked a large  pot of hot Chilli con Carne for dinner …

What more delights will be around here … I wonder ?

Where Do Pilgrims Stop ?

Firstly before leaving Vila Cha, I returned to the beach on the Sunday evening after my long day in Porto, to be rewarded with a great sunset,

which suddenly broke out from all the surrounding cloud… I took many pictures, these just being a few… 

Monday morning, a leisurely start, and I was driving South, unsure of my final destination.. wanting to find some sunshine… as I drove South , after a few hours, I saw signs for, and realised how close I was to … Fatima – I’d seen this signpost in Porto, and should have realised it meant  something for me…I’d started my Camino last year at Lourdes in France, and now could call in to that other great pilgrimage site- Fatima… I found somewhere to park Wally, thinking I’d just call through for a brief visit, however once inside realised I should stay longer – the tourist people in the shrine were very helpful, advising me where I could park … so I did, as memories flooded back of seeing the area full of over 1 million people…how many years ago ? .. and reading at mass at the shrine . I managed to find mass just starting, thought it was going to be in English, however I’d got my times wrong… Portugese, and very nicely sung ! I was then able to remember all my friends, and people around the world, needing various prayers ( you know who you are ) and light a special candle remembering them all…..  before wandering around for a while, relaxing before the 9-30 p.m. Rosary and candlelight procession, even though it’s before the ‘official pilgrimage season’ there were still several hundred people gathered at the shrine, for the rosary, said in languages from around the world – Portugese,French,English,Indian, Hungarian,Slovakian + others- before we all processed around the square singing and the final blessing.. it was quite chilly by now, the stars above twinkling… I returned to Wally for a peaceful nights sleep, and a marvellous alarm call at 7 a.m. from the bells of the Basilica… ‘Ave Maria’… A pilgrims time to move on…

Why Do they call it Port ??

Even though it was still wild and windy I couldn’t resist popping down to the beach again on Friday evening, watching the waves crashing in on the rocks, and a lone fisherman vainly casting his line out to sea ! – there may have been no sunset to see, but I saw it anyway !!

Saturday morning the rain was  hammering down on Wally, so it was back to the books, do some reading hoping for it to clear, which it did mid morning … I’d decided to have a wander around the locality, and finish at a specialist fish restaurant for lunch… So, umbrella in hand I was off exploring, up and down streets, dead ends, and through some housing estates, eventually finding my way to Mindelo, where the metro station is for Porto ( that was to be handy to know !) I then wandered back down to the Ocean, and along to Vila Cha, and Salitre restaurant, right on the front ! I managed to get a table in the ‘outside area’ – a glass front conservatory, so was able to see the waves crashing in on the rocks, as I had the speciality dish of the menu – Grilled Sea Bass, in olive oil and …bits !, clams, and vegetables… it was superb, greatly helped by a bottle of white cool Douro wine… what more could one wish for on a Saturday lunch… Oh yes, a lovely lemony dessert !

I walked out, straight into thundery rain, blasting in off the Ocean…oh well, at least I had my brolly, so a quick walk back to the campsite, and …nothing much more for the day, watching the rain !

Sunday morning I was up bright and early, showered,changed and ready for my day in Porto… in fact I was so early, the taxi driver couldn’t come for another hour, and so I walked the 5 kms to the Metro station in Mindelo, arriving there before the taxi would have got to the campsite ! With the help of a chap at the station, I figured out how to get a ticket, and was soon on my way in to Porto, quite a few stops, through the suburbs.. I was off the train and into Porto centre before 9-45 a.m., and with map in hand, I could almost know where I was ! – it was obviously going to be a day of churches, fine buildings and …walking ! I wandered down the main street, in front of the town hall … just as the clocks struck 10, I found myself in front of a church, and so in I went, to be treated to a long, but nice, sung mass- not normally my ‘cup of tea’, but I enjoyed it today, in a very fine,elaborately decorated church, maybe St Benedict's ? Then it was back out into the city again, finding my way past the old cathedral (with a much smaller congregation), and in and out of small squares, and monuments in every direction… and overlooking the River Douro below.. I continued wandering down to the river, and along its bank, with all the traders alongside, selling all the ‘tat’ ! spotting one of the old tramcars as I went…having walked along one of the banks, I then crossed over on a great old iron bridge, passing over the busy tourist boats below..and onto the other side, where all the Port houses were located.. including the British one – Sandeman’s, I was even going to pay for the guided tour…to find them closing for lunch… and I never went back !!

Just as I was looking for some lunch, the heavens opened, and everyone scattered in all directions…I could have sat under a parasol whilst eating…but decided a burger would do me just as well ( I had splurged yesterday!) The rain did ease for a time, so I  finished my sightseeing, and beat a hasty retreat back to the Metro, and home again…walking along the front in Vila Cha in hot sunshine !

Whether I’ll get much of a sunset tonight remains to be seen ..!

I’ve seen everything around here now, the weather still seems unsettled, so tomorrow I’ll head South again, to …?

Answer…. because it’s shipped through here , easy eh ??

Adios Espana…. for a while….maybe ?!

I was up and about early on the Tuesday morning, and headed off through Spain towards… Portugal !

I hadn’t really planned on going there, but realising I was only about 100 kms away, decided I may as well – and a fellow camper had recommended a campsite to me, about 20 kms North of Porto, and with an easy way to get into Porto for some sightseeing …. so, that was decided off i went, along the motorways of Spain and into Portugal – even paying to use their toll motorways, as it seemed to be the easiest way ! Certainly easier than the ‘local roads’, which were all tiny cobblestones, which rattled and bumped poor old Wally..

By mid afternoon I arrived at my destination Vila Cha, on the Coste Verde (hope that’s not a bad omen?) The people at the reception were very nice, even agreeing me to pay a cheaper price, than my camping card…and giving me a voucher for a free glass of Port… what a nice welcome !

I found out where a large supermarket was, went there, stocked up and returned to the campsite, setting everything up, and was soon happily BBQ’ing my dinner --- now I’d arrived somewhere warm, a BBQ at last ! and some nice local wine to wash it down !

I then headed down to the beach, to try to catch the sunset, although slightly cloudy,

I still hoped for some nice views  , not to be disappointed, the sun was soon setting quite nicely, a nice start to my time in Portugal !

Next morning the sun was shining nicely, so after a lazy morning I decided to have a ride along the boardwalk – a wooden walk/cycle way, along the edge of the coast towards Porto, unsure how far I could get… the waves were crashing in on the rocky coastline, with loads of differing sheltered coves and beaches, I just happily meandered… and once again was brought back to the Camino,as I saw some pilgrims walking along, carrying heavy packs, and a sign across the boardwalk Bon Camino !!

I managed to get about 15kms along, as the boardwalk disappeared, and then turned round, headed back to camp, and another BBQ in the evening sunshine, before heading back to the beach for another sunset… a clearer night, and more startling than the first night ! Amazing how quickly the sun drops, once it starts dropping !

The next day I knew was going to be the last nice day for a few days, and so I was up early, rode North to Vila Condo, the next large town, where I managed to get some cream for some insect bites I’d got…Ouch ! I had a look round this old town area   then back to camp to get a full load of washing done in the machine, and dried… i was ready for the rain – if it came, and it did !! Later that evening the skies darkened, and the rain started, it mattered not, I was warm,clean…and started reading a  book ! The rain never stopped all night,morning and afternoon, eventually easing off mid afternoon, when I was able to nip out for a quick walk around, spotting this sign on a van, no doubt one of the local fishermen…! … ready to decide my next step…

Which is …..

I’ll tell you when I know !

Tales from the River Bank !

Salamanca http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Salamanca a great city with lots of very old buildings in the ‘Old Town’… prepare yourself for pictures of buildings, old buildings…churches and…me !

I headed off from my campsite -http://campingdonquijote.com/ – looks far nicer on the web, than real life ! – about 4 kms walking along the river bank and into the old city… accompanied by the sounds of loads of different birds, even cuckoos, accompanying me on my journey, in the cool morning, ideal walking weather !

I arrived in Salamanca around 11 a.m., and immediately found a church where mass had just started, so first things first !….afterwards I continued heading towards the historic area, with directions suddenly popping up in front of me ( amazing, I was even going in the right direction!) as I walked into the old streets, I immediately saw the unusual tower looming above me, I must be in the right place, round the corner the first of many of the older churches, with a magnificent altar  , I continued then towards the old Cathedral, towering above all the older buildings – I did go in, but mass was just starting, so continued after a brief look.. around the old town, there were so many different buildings to see, all in local stone, looking well preserved and magnificent ! Some of the buildings I could go in ( without paying !)  so I did, to find intricately carved courtyards, and stone all around me… then into the new Cathedral, where I took a glimpse, before leaving ! and then along to the main centre, the Plaza Mayor (town hall), a statuesque  large square, with bars and Cafes all around… although not many were sat around in the still cool day ! By now I was getting a little ‘peckish’ and so having got my bearings again (and knowing how to get home!) I sat at a restaurant terrace, in the intermittent sunshine, on the Rua Mayor, and tucked in to a nice lunch, including Roast Suckling Pig.. washed down with a (little) Vino Tinto ! A final look round the buidlings, including one covered in stone scallop shells ( as Pilgrims carry) and time to make my weary way back along the river out of town, to the campsite… and a light dinner..(as well as doing my clothes washing !)

The following day, it was a lot brighter, and so I had a leisurely start & breakfast, then rode along the river bank, further out of town, on a route I had seen lots of Mountain Bikers riding the day before …again accompanied by the birds singing ( to me ?) up and down along the rough embankment, and through several forests and fields, eventually ending some 15kms away, at a tiny hamlet St Michales ( I think) I could see in the far distance,  and range of snow capped mountains, wondering where they could be, and then back along the river , again accompanied by the elusive cuckoo…

and back to the campsite, ready for lunch, Siesta… and watching the washing dry !

I’m ready to move again, I’ve somewhere in mind… I’ll let you know when I get there… and ‘Happy Birthday’ to my son Gerard, 41 years today… who’d expect me to have son so ….old ! ( and me so…. Young !) ??

Adios from Salamanca, and maybe even… Spain !

Dashing through Spain …

I left Castrojeriz, with black clouds still hovering above, and started driving further west, and south.. as I meandered I arrived at Torquemada , the birthplace of the ‘Grand Inquisitor Tomas Torquemada … http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tom%C3%A1s_de_Torquemada seems  a vicious chap ! I parked in a nice sunny spot reserved for Campervans ( just next to this church ), and went for a wander in the mid morning sunshine, around the sleepy village, most of the residents only just getting their morning bread ( still in their dressing gowns !) – even the church was still closed… I wandered across two linked medieval bridges spanning two differing rivers, and as I headed back over them could see lots of Storks, nesting on the roof of the church, and nearby high buildings, and fishing in the river for their young .. majestic birds in slow,heavy flight !

I then headed off again, initially looking through Palencia , which was a busy city, and I decided not to stop, and continued to Valladolid http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Valladolid where I found a good spot for Campervan parking, although it was right in the middle of the city

I wandered off, initially looking for the tourist office, however by the time I found it, I’d already covered quite a few of the sights – it was funny to see all the locals, huddled up against the ‘cold’ whilst I wandered around in just a short sleeved shirt !

Lots of impressive churches and buildings were everywhere to see, again most churches were closed, the Cathedral was hosting a musical concert tonight ( organ recital) … so I returned to Wally, made some lunch (cheapskate) and drove out of the city… for my next destination… Salamanca !

I’ve been welcomed with thunder,lightning,hailstones and torrential rain ! I’ll tell you more next time !! Adios !