Tuesday 16 September: Portuguese Men o’ War

 We’ve decided to stay one more day. The beaches are so beautiful and this weather really is glorious. When we get to the town beach the red flags are flying and it takes us a while to realise that it’s not the large waves or the Rio currents at high tide but the number of Portuguese Men o’War marooned at the high tide mark. Luckily it’s not too hot and we paddle cautiously until late lunchtime when we cycle off to A Barca restaurant again. We sit outside and Simon enjoys prawns both raw and grilled and I have learned to retrain myself with octopus and fried fish portions. White Vicentino Arinto unfiltered wine this time, crisp, salty and delicious. Then back to Senhora beach. No sign of PMo’W at low tide so we are able to venture into the waves to cool off. We stay and enjoy the early evening light. Back at base the campsite is still very busy but we enjoy our elevated position with a glass or two of wine and some bread and cheese. Our last day on the beach for a while…








Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Tuesday 2 September: Tordesillas

Image
 We have a comfortable night and breakfast outside. It’s complicated trying to get transport into Valladolid so we decide to have a quieter day exploring Torsedillas. We cross the impressive medieval bridge over the River Duero and climb up to the old town. The museum houses an impressive display of maps from the 15th century charting the discovery of the world as they saw it. A treaty was signed here assigning Brazil to the Portuguese and the rest of South America to the Spanish. Then on to the Convent of Santa Clara where we join an obligatory guided tour in Spanish! Obviously totally over our heads but we were able to marvel at the Mudejar styled building, impressive gothic arches, ornate roofs and Arab baths. We sit in the busy Plaza Mayor and have a drink and some fried cod raciones. Nowhere looks very inviting for lunch so after a wander we return to the square and have a small plate of paella. I give my prawns to Simon and hope for the best. Back at the campsite we sit by th...
Read more

Friday 19 September: villaged out and porked out!

Image
 There is a mountain storm overnight with sheet lightning and thunder and the odd shower. I don’t sleep well worrying about forest fires! But we seem to be safe under our canopy of Indian Bean and Horse Chestnut trees. We leave stuff at base camp but set off on a tour of the local mountain villages. We start off however climbing 12km of sinuous roads up to the monastery at Pena de Francia at 1732m. It’s quite chilly and windy at the top but great views through the haze of Extramadura to the south and Portugal to the west. Then to a series of delightful old villages: a medieval world of half timbered stone houses, flowers cascading from balconies and even a small village bullring. We visit San Martin del Castanar and Miranda del Castanar, Mogarraz with its series of portraits of past and present residents by a local artist that adorn the houses and finally La Alberca where we stop for a late lunch. Upstairs in Restaurante El Encuentro it feels very authentic. Everyone is Spanish and...
Read more

Sunday 31 August/ Monday 1 September: to Spain

Image
 We’re almost the last to board but even to depart on time. We’re loving our deluxe cabin with big window. They announce warning of rough to very rough seas so I panic and take a sea sickness tablet. There’s certainly a rolling swell but I’m not sure the medication does anything other than make me feel very drowsy. I certainly sleep well and Simon probably doesn’t miss the lack of scintillating conversation over supper! The next morning we sit out on deck for a while in the windy sunshine as the boat yawls in the waves. Too rough for dolphins. We arrive at 15.15 Spanish time and it’s about 3 hours before we arrive at Camping El Astral in Torsedillas. It’s a popular stop off en route to southern Spain and Portugal. Our pitch is spacious and under trees and there are several hoopoes. We heat up Pasta Norma and eat outside until it gets too dark. A good start. 
Read more