An easy day in downtown Quinta Do Lago

Since we arrived the weather has been extremely nice with solid blue skies pretty much all the time and the average temperature being around 20/21 C and one day last week was 25 C so pretty good really.

The complex here is pretty quiet too with very few people here but we do expect to get more busy as easter approaches. and the kids are on holiday. Noel tum has been playing up the last couple of days, see yesterdays moan, and so we had a short walk around up to the replica of Ayrton Senna car as the road the estate is on is called Ayrton Senna Drive. Saw with interest the result of the F1 in Japan but have not been able to watch it as Virgin will not allow you access via a VPN no matter how much I tried but I do have it recorded at home which I can watch upon our return. 

We had a salad for a late lunch and so no tea but watched some stuff on you tube which was quite interesting following some of the usual people we often watch. Noel decided an early night as we had to overcome the jet lag of the one hour change HA

We need over the next few days to work out our route home and book some hotels  so as to ensure we get where we want and although we have changed our minds a few times we plan to have the last night in Santander, with two previous night in Salamanca , this time to explore the town and the previous two night in Evora where we have stayed before but for only one night and we want to visit an old town about 15 miles away which get very busy and when we visited last time parking was nightmare so this way we hope to get there early.

So that's the planning, lets see if we are able to finalize it..

A quiet day with LARS

Life can be frustrating sometimes and when you have LARS its a real pain in the bum, as they say.

Was feeling great in the morning with a nice relaxed start and we decided to have cheese and baguette for lunch and we ( I) planned a swim later in the day. 

So immediately after lunch I thought I would have a rest before leaving for the pool and then one hour later suddenly hit by Lars issues and therefore no swim. The frustrating thing is that it seems almost impossible to understand why it suddenly happens, one minute you are fine and the next minute rushing to the loo. I have learnt that stress plays a big part in this this and for an example as we left Santander port to head South, I was in good shape and we realized that the satnav was not totally clear which road to take and we ended up taking the wrong road and then needing to stop and change the satnav over from the Lexus to the Tom Tom one. 

Immediately we realized we in the wrong lane and wrong road it caused stress and suddenly I urgently needed the loo, but of course there was nowhere, which added to the stress. Its a real problem some times and you can never really plan anything when there is a chance of a complete change in your body in less than five minutes.

But enough of that, we spent most of the day relaxing and reading and planning on having the pork shoulder chops we had purchased from Costco. We had recognized they were a bit fatty so Noel took his anti fat medicine and all seemed well until one hour after dinner came over with terrible sick feeling and with large bloated insides. So you go from one problem to another. Perhaps it was the extra fat?

Sorry this is a moan but it pisses me off as I feel I am letting everybody down when having to change plans at the last moment.

We went to bed with Noel hitting the Gaviscon , Yuk................what a day, hopefully to forget.

Up early and shopping followed by a silly annoying problem

We decided that an early shop would be best as the car park around lunchtime in the village can get very busy and so with an arrival at just after 9pm gave us a huge choice of spaces and we shall do this in future. In the past we may join the shopping with lunch which if you find a space is great but as the crowds begin to grow it becomes more and more difficult to find somewhere to park.

On arriving back at the Lakeside Country club I decided to have another go at charging the car after the previous days failure and the problems realty started.

The previous time I tried I was having no luck and gave up and then put the RFI card back in to its holder in the sun visor, however as I was looking directly into the sun what I had actually done was push it in the sliding door which covers the vanity mirror which I had not realized I had done.

So whilst trying to extract it from its new home I pushed it further into the space and have lost it in the visor and now even you drive it rattles. Ummm and also I cannot use the card anymore. I can get another one but by being overseas present a challenge and so will have o find another way.

So in the afternoon I spent some time doing research on how to extract the card and also emailed my contacts in Lexus and await their reply. There is a Lexus dealer nearby but if it requires a new visor ours is right hand drive and maybe a card with left hand drive visor may not work, I will have to check and may visit the Lexus dealer in Faro.

The afternoon we spent reading and Noel looked at the documentary by Louis Theroux called 'The Manosphere' and its really quite troubling to watch. 

For dinner we enjoyed salmon and noodles with a glass of wine and then watched a film called 'Jay Kelly' which was rather good we thought and then off to bed. 

Not a great day

For some reason I was not feeling too well this morning and had not slept to much overnight and and was feeling a bit dizzy for most of the morning, so bang goes my chance of swimming.

So we decided to have a quiet day and Noel took it easy on food as he is guessing that perhaps one of the prawns from the previous evening may have been the problem. Jennifer is spending her time reading ' The French lieutenant's Woman' as the estate book club are planning to have a discussion on the book and the film sometime in the next few months and so nothing like a read to see if their a variance between the film and the book.

In the evening we watched various videos on You Tube including 'Plank of the week' which is taking the piss out of Starmer in a big way. How we ever ended up with this idiot nobody seems to know but he lives in cloud cuckoo land and thinks he and his government minister are doing a great job.

I wish somebody would explain to me why we pay Norway a high price from oil and gas sourced from out own fields on the North Sea as we want to be net zero, not that makes any a difference when you have China, Inia, Pakistan and South America all contributing masses of air pollution. UK is 1% of the polluters and if we stopped it makes no difference.

Ah well at least this is the end of the Labor Party I believe for ever....

A day of rest

 We decided to have a slow day and with Jennifer sorting out the fridge and freezer which is pretty much stuffed to the gunnels, as they say, and so Noel decided he would see if he could charge the car battery at the charging point on the estate.

We have used this charge point when staying here last year several times but somehow , either its not working properly or I was doing something wrong I could not make it charge and so gave up in frustration. Whilst playing with it one of the cleaning staff mentioned that she had not seen anybody ever use this and so it may be faulty but the nearest place she new was in Amancil in one of the Hypermarkets.

So I gave up and decided I would try again another day and then returned to the apartment and looked up all the info on how to use the the Octagon Charge app. Of course the car runs on petrol and so their is no issue but I do like to keep the battery running partly full to ensure its longevity.

Whilst enjoying the afternoon sun we received a video via what's app from our home estate showing it snowing???

For a lunch we had chicken splodge with the leftover Costco chicken followed by strawberries and cream and then later in the day we finished of the prawns we had bought earlier in the week.

In the evening we watched some you tube videos which was quite entertaining. And so to bed

A little light shopping and sort out day

 No panic to arise this morning as we have little planned except to visit the local supermarket to pick up items that we did not buy in Costco Seville as we don't need half a ton of carrots and enough potatoes to solve the Irish food shortage from years ago.

So we headed in to town late morning and the car park was already quite busy and Jennifer went in the local store to buy all the necessary items and returned about 20 minutes later. Then back to apartment and we both then spent time sorting out and putting away clothes etc. Noel then sorted out the Amazon TV fire stick to check that it worked which will allow us to watch some of usual channels.

For lunch we had some nice brie and a French baguette on the balcony and the temperature is in the early twenties at this time with clear blue sky. We can see the aircraft either arriving or leaving the nearby Faro Airport in the distance with very little aircraft noise to us. In the afternoon we had a quiet restful time either reading or monitoring world events, not much good happening at the moment with two wars on the go.

For our evening meal we had a cold prawn salad with the prawns we had bought in Costco and they were very good and enough in the packet for tomorrow as well. We tried the Spanish Tempranillo wine that we had bought and it was fine and nice a light.

In the evening we caught up with a number of programs on you tube until about 10 Pm and we decided to call it a day. And so to bed.

An expensive morning at Costco Seville

 We had a slow morning as we could not arrive to early in Quinto Do Lago and with the one hour time change we had a late breakfast in the Hotel which was the Hilton Garden in Seville and our  room overlooked both a cement distribution center and Costco.

We left the Hotel around 12 pm and headed over to Costco with the plan to buy some cheap fuel but their were so many cars lining up it would have taken ages so we went inside the store instead and did all out purchases from steaks to wine to grapes and Jennifer even bought some new trainers, bang went 500 Euros, However we are stocked up for the next month. So following a hot dog and drink of water we left Seville and headed West to Portugal and I must say that the roads were clearly built by Surrey County Council as they were appalling with so many poor road surface and potholes.

Part the way thro the journey their was a small Police team looking at a motorhome which had seemed to be in a lone crash with the offside completely ripped off, heavens knows what was going on here. We turned of the main motorway to Lisbon in the direction of Almancil which frankly is a crappy looking place and on to Quinto Do Lago which is the complete opposite with amazing houses and gardens. 

We checked in at the |Lakeside Country Club at about 3.30 pm and were given a room which would allow Noel to easily use his mobile scooter and then unpacked the car and shopping and after finishing most of this followed by a shower and a Costco chicken salad for dinner washed down with a well earned glass of wine.

We both read for a while and then headed to bed at about 10.00 pm as we were both quite tired. Tomorrow will be for a little bit of shopping and rest day

From Salamanca to Seville

 Following our rather tiring previous day and a nights sleep we were both feeling a lot better this morning and ready for the day. We went for breakfast in the main and was surprised how busy it was and after a light breakfast and not a bad cup of tea. Its a shame that some hotels, including this one, do not have tea making facilities in your room. Its like the American based cruise lines they also wont allow kettles as it might be a fire risk and yet all other non American registered vessels seem to have no problems.

We topped the fuel tank before leaving Salamanca and headed South with the weather bright and sunny and with temperatures ranging between 14C and 20C dependent upon our location and height above sea level. We had a mixture of flat plains where you could see for miles and then several range of snow topped mountains and very interesting scenery. We stopped after a couple o hours at a service area for a cup of coffee and a light snack and use of the Loo's before continuing  to Seville where we arrived at the Hilton Garden Hotel at around 15.30. The Hotel is very convenient for us to visit Costco tomorrow morning before heading off to the The Lakeside Country Club in Quinto Do Largo.

The Hotel is in a mixture of residential and industrial area and when we look out the window we see lots of apartments and we are ight next to a Cement mixing plant.

We both agreed that we should have spent more time in Salamanca and perhaps may route back that way as its a most interesting city which we did not experience

This evening we are planning to eat in the Hotel restaurant as its very convenient and we don't have to drive in to Seville to find a suitable alternative restaurant. 

So tomorrow it will take us about 2.5 hours from Seville to Quinto Do Largo and must remember that Portugese time is  same as UK whilst Spain is one hour ahead..

A day at sea

 Before I start about the way we spent he day, I must mention that we had booked what they call priority Disembarkation fir which you pay extra with a view of getting off first. What they don't tell u is that due to the way the handle this you ar the last people to board which is a bit irritating.  I guess its due to the fact we are on a truck deck where all the trailers have to be tied down first before letting us on. Anyway then we found that the lift for some reason would  not come down to deck 3 and first of after waiting awhile Jennifer said she would o up to the 9th floor and wait for me to arrive in the lift only it never came .

Eventually I gave up waiting and with two heavy bags I just about made it to the 9th Floor , puffin and panting all the way up which Jennifer could hear from a distance.. Hey Ho .

Back to the day when their not much to do and we were in the lounge most of the time to have breakfast , lunch and dinner.  The food for most of the residents was fine except for me due to my NO garlic, onions etc. and all the dishes they had both. So for breakfast it was easy I had ham and cheese on bread and then  for lunch I had a selection of cheese and bread rolls and then for dinner the staff magicked up a sea bream fillet which I had with white rice washed with a glass of red. most enjoyable. We had read books and listened to music to fill the time and the sea was very calm and with a nice sunset which I just missed

An then off to bed as we are due to get up around 05.45 UK time as the ship arrives in Santander at 0700 and they have to have everybody and out of their cabins in time for breakfast. So at five minutes to 0700 they called for drivers on car deck 3 only , that's us, to go to the car and wait to be called forward and by 0715 we were off the ship and heading to immigration where they have the new system to get out of the car and give fingerprints and take a photo, and then stamp the passport. ridiculous.

However being the first of, with perhaps ten other cars we were out on the road withing fifteen minutes and heading South although the Lexus SAT NAV appears to be out of date and we ended up going wrong way and so stopped and turned on TOM TOM and then everything was fine. 

It took us about 3 hours and 45 minutes to get to Salamanca and checked in to he Parador de Salamanca at around 12.30 and then went for lunch in their cafe which was great.  Following this we went for a rest in the room which lasted longer than expected as we were both very tired and although original plan was to visit the old town of Salamanca we decided that ret was more important. Around 6 pm we went for a cup of tea in the bar and then back to the room for a quiet restful evening.

So tomorrow after breakfast we head off to Seville for the night.

Portsmouth here we come

 A morning of packing the last few items in the car and doing all the usual chores of checking tyre pressures, fill up windscreen washers etc and we will be ready to leave home early evening and it takes about one hour and twenty minutes to reach the Port, subject to no getting any delays.

We are sailing on the Brittan Ferries 'SALAMACA' ferry and its strange that after we arrive in Santander on Saturday morning and head south our first nights stop will be in Salamanca.

We expect to board the ship around 11.00 and head to our cabin and get a good nights rest.  We have booked a Club Cabin which also provides access to a special Club lounger where you can get food through most of the day plus drinks and in a very comfortable atmosphere

 

We will spend a few hours here each day to pass the time with reading or watching videos. They have near the coffee stand two brass taps protruding through the wall , one is marked RED and the other is marked WHITE
YES , you guessed it, its wine. 

So will update the BLOG once we reach Salamanca.

Time to travel again

 Well, the last six months or so have been quite difficult what with my younger sister passing and Jennifer having breast cancer and all that entails and Noel ending up in A & E due bowel blockage as result of his LARS problem. But finally we seem to be past all that and need a break.

Last year we visited Portugal, The Algarve actually and a small town  called Quinto do Larg which is not far from Faro . We fixed this holiday with Brittany ferries where you take the car ferry to Santander and then drive down thro Spain until you enter Portugal. We had a very nice time last year although the weather was not was was expected, however we leave again tomorrow for the similar trip departing Portsmouth around 23.30 and arriving in Santander at 0845 on Saturday morning.

We leant our ;lesson time by doing the drive in two days with one night stop and as a result missed a visit to Costco Seville as they are closed on Sunday. However this time we have booked two nights en route, one night in Salamanca and the second night in Seville. Both Hotels are booked and so after leaving the Hilton Garden Hotel in Seville we will pop down the road to Costco for some shopping and then head for our apartment as we can check in from about 4pm.

Today was quite busy preparing all the stuff you need to take for a four nights, which includes two nights on the ferry and getting the car cleaned and ready for packing up all the stuff we take. Noel has a small fold up Mobility Scooter which although rather small still takes up a third of the trunk , however it is all in except for the last minute stuff which we shall take to our cabin onboard the ferry.

The weather toady in West Byfleet is really great and very warm for this time of year and so we hope we get similar in Portugal although he forecast for the first few days is not that great, but its what it is.

So the blogging will start from tomorrow of our trip along with a few photos which we use as a reminder of our trips.

Time to go home

By 0900 we were up, dressed, packed and had breakfast and left the Premier Inn in Cockermouth and headed off for our 5-6 hour drive home. This Premier Inn was pretty good and would stay again and a lot cheaper than other much vaunted Lake District Hotels.

Jennifer took the first stint of about three hours and we stopped for a break at services on the M6 Toll road and took advantage of a Costa Coffee ham and cheese toastie before heading back south again. The traffic so far had not been to bad but we were aware that earlier in the day the M40 had been closed but now by the time we reached the South of Birmingham its was cleared and so a straightforward run home with the M25 busy as usual.

So, Thoughts on our trip, Would have been a lot better had both of us of not been under the weather although Jen is much better as I still have a cold which wont seem to go. The scenic views are something else and I am most impressed with what I saw but as usual there are to many people and cars to make it really great. Yes I would certainly like to return and try out the famous Carlisle to Settle train journey which we had booked already for the 15th October but for reasons explained earlier.. Hopefully next year we can do the same trip with better health and weather.

The not so nice part of the Lake District

It as rather misty in the morning and Noel felt a little better and so wee decided to g for a drive along the coast near Whitehaven (haven is not a good representation of where we went) Along the sea side road there were factories and all sorts of stuff including a New Balance Shoe Warehouse? . Many of the houses were extremely old and were in poor shape and some with obvious signs of serious damp. The Illegal Immigrants are treated better than this?? its a national disgrace  that this continues with the Labour bunch of loonies ( I cannot bring myself to call them a Government)casing absolute chaos to this country which many of us love dearly and our parent’s fought for.

For a light lunch we popped in to a large Tesco which had a café and so we both had a hot cheese and ham toastie in the most uninviting conditions, not surprising very few people were using it as at 1245 there was only six people there with chairs for about 40 . We took a slow drive back to the Hotel in the grey overcast weather but was surprised that so much money was being spent on the roads in the area, the A66 is almost up to French Road standards , unless it wa the French that were doing the work?

The rest of the afternoon we took it easy as Noel’s temperature had returned and late in the previous day when looking for our next stop we decided that with me being ten degrees under and the weather not as forecast that to spend another few nights in hotels was pointless and so we have decided to return home tomorrow. We enjoyed a quiet evening and the tv only had a few channels mostly about death and destruction on the road with Police chasing people and then an hour in A & E Department in Barnsley, what we did notice during this one hour program, not one non white patient or Doctor was visible which we thought rather strange as if you go to our local hospital its almost impossible to find a white person, Ah well .

Ando so to bed…