Hola,
Our last blog update was when we were at Meildes on the West coast of Portugal in the site amongst the pine trees. We must just quickly tell you what we had to endure to get that post published and to get on the internet to check out where we were heading to next. We have now learnt that it’s a good idea to check on google maps to see the exact location of sites and to also read a few reviews as some of the sites we have come across from our ACSI book haven’t been that great. So the site had what they called a “Restaurant” with free wi-fi access but we would call it a self-service “cafeteria”. We had to go and ask for a ticket with a user name and password etc which lasted an hour. We felt a bit awkward so bought a beer each and sat outside and used the first hour to publish the blog update. After a while a few Portuguese locals arrived and started to queue up for the food by which time our first ticket had expired so we went in and awkwardly asked for another ticket and as we hadn’t eaten thought we would give it a try as if it was good enough for the locals surely it was good enough for us - bad move but we were now committed as needed the other free wi-fi ticket so we could check out where we were heading to the next day. Julie sensibly just asked for a ham & pineapple pizza but was horrified when the girl went off and came back with a frozen one in a box, I noticed a sign saying hamburger so thought that would be a safe option too but how wrong could I be, the girl went off again and then came back with two frozen burgers in a packet but then told me it wasn’t beef and tried to explain that it was turkey by saying it was a big chicken whilst waving her arms at her side, it was so funny as I write this now but not at the time. 15 minutes later Julie’s pizza was done and she got two slices dumped on a plate and then my burgers turned up, it was like school dinners not even in a bun just chucked on a plate on their own until another lady slapped on a pile of overcooked rice next to them, I asked her for some chips too which to my amazement were actually homemade and not frozen!!! We now felt even more uncomfortable so ate what we could, grabbed our free wi-fi ticket and a beer to wash it all down!!!
The next day we left the deserted beach, pine trees and “cafeteria” behind and were heading to a site on the Algarve which was in a good location, had good reviews and a “Restaurant” so we were feeling hopeful. It was near Lagos and Luz and when we arrived discovered that the nearest resort & beach was actually Praia Da Luz where Madeline went missing back in 2007. When we arrived we were relieved to find a lovely site with a beautiful swimming pool and excellent facilities. It was totally different to the deserted sites we had been on on the West coast and was quite busy with lots of ex-pats and pensioners over wintering. We found a pitch and were immediately be-friended by a retired British couple who told us all about the site, the area and all the other British people by name!! We were even pitched up opposite a van identical to ours although a 2010 model, ours is a 2012 but we have never seen another one anywhere. It was a German van and the lady spoke perfect English and was intrigued as our layout was slightly different inside with a wrap around lounge which she didn’t have but would be easy to convert with just a couple of extra cushions so she took some photos so that she could email the factory for the bits she needed. The facilities were amazing, and one of the toilet/shower blocks had been totally updated which apparently cost €3 million!!! We went to check them out and couldn’t believe it there was even a pet wash so at least I could give Julie a good hose down!! I have never seen a chemical waste area quite like it, a beautifully fully tiled room with a door with frosted glass. It was a very nice site but a bit clicky but will suit us in about 20 years time when we just want to sit and do crosswords, whittle wood and have snacks and refreshments at each others vans in the afternoon. It was a bargain too at only €16 a night. The next day we cycled the 10 minutes into Praia Da Luz and were quite surprised how small it was as reading in the press and seeing it on the TV we expected it to be a much larger resort. On one side there was a nice beach with rocks at one end and a small palm tree lined promenade and the other a coastal footpath above the sea and rocky coastline but it got a bit hardcore on our mountain bikes with vertical rock steps so we went as far we could and then turned back, I could have done with my trials bike!! On the way back to camp we cycled past the Ocean Club where Madeline went missing and couldn’t help but see the swimming pool and tapas bar which was so close to all the apartments and although we don’t have children it’s hard to comprehend what happened there and whether they will ever find out or find her. The scenery here was different again and we could see why the Algarve is such a popular all round destination.
Our next stop would take us into Southern Spain so once again after studying Google maps and reading reviews we stumbled across a little site just across the border which had an excellent review written by an English guy so we tapped in the co-ordinates and set off. The roads in Portugal are just a joke unless you travel on the toll roads which we didn’t want to do but sometimes there’s no warning and you end up on one but they are all electronic tolls so there’s nowhere to get a ticket like in France. The only good thing about travelling in Portugal is listening to their countrywide radio station that plays nothing but 80's & early 90's songs 24/7 but by the time we left we had had enough of Shalamar, Millie Vanilla, Rick Astley and Erasure etc etc along with their Russian sounding presenter!! As you drive along you pass under a gantry loaded with camera’s and apparently you are meant to then go to a post office and pay although having spoken to a few Brits along the way and read on google the whole system is just a joke as if you go to a post office they haven’t got a clue what you are on about so we carried on regardless. As we neared the border into Southern Spain we we had visions of being stopped by armed Police demanding toll money but it was just a large lay-by with 2 police cars with the occupants asleep so we slipped by unnoticed and over the bridge into Spain, we had escaped!!! We headed to our site at a place called Isla Cristina which seemed quite nice until we arrived at the site, we didn’t really have any other option so checked in and pitched up. That bloke that wrote that review must have been on drugs or blind and wants shooting as the site was the worst by far and we couldn’t wait to leave the next day, the only nice thing was the beautiful beach so we sat down there for as long as possible before going back to bed. We left the next morning and couldn’t believe it was the most expensive site we have stayed on so far. Lesson two - before driving through the barrier check the place out first, we can only describe it as a shanty town.
The next morning we left early heading for Tarifa in Andalucia, the most Southern point of Europe and a kite surfers paradise which apparently is the kitesurf/windsurf capital of Europe too. The area is beautiful and our site is really nice and has access directly to the beautiful beach with a backdrop of the surrounding hills and even has cows just roaming around. From here we can easily take a boat trip across to Morocco and also jump on the motorbike to Gibraltar so we will stay here for a while.
Anyway that’s all from Tarifa for now I’m off for a turkey burger!!
J&J
x
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