A trip to Sagres and back via the Coast Road

An early start for us and we were ready to leave the apartment with lunch sandwiches made at about 0945.  We had previously decided that we would take the faster route their and then wend our way back along the coastal route, where a road exists as there is a lot of National Parks on the coast.

It took us about 90 minutes to get there and out target was the Pousada Do Sagres Hotel which seemed to have a good reputation and on the top of cliff overlong the sea and islands. By the time we got there at about 11.15 the writer was in need of the loo and so we found it and to my shock and horror not only was the light for the loo not working but a note on the door note to use toilet paper in this historic building as it blocks the toilets, so what do you do, take it home.? So we then went to the other hotel we had noted and this was chalk and cheese and this a super hotel which we would like to stay at some time in the future called Memmo Baleeira Hotel Sagres and this a lovely place.

We sat on the veranda outside the main restaurant and enjoyed a cup of coffee before heading down to the fish port where we parked up and enjoyed our sandwich lunch. So Jen got out our Portuguese Road map and we plotted our way back to home via Luz, Lagos, Portimao, Albufeira and eventual back in to Quinta Do Lago where we stopped at the Cheeky Pup Irish bar for dinner in the early evening sunshine.

We went back to the apartment an watched the final episode of the Michael Jackson story on BBC Iplayer

Not great weather

We awoke this morning to find it raining, together with dark clouds and a temperature of around 12C, We did not come for this...

So we hung around in bed until about 10.00  is before getting up and having a late breakfast and then spent most of the day catching up on emails, reading and generally lolling about. By mid afternoon the weather had improved and we had sun and a temperature of around 16C which was a lot better but  no great when West Byfleet was experiencing a heatwave. Oh well not much we can do about that.

Noel did some emails to the Managing Agents of estate as they have failed miserably to manage if correctly and are are many months behind on issuing a set of accounts to show where the money has gone. My opinion of the Managing Agents has not changed in five years and fact it seems to have got worse. 

In the late afternoon we did a half an hour walk around the estate before dinner which was Burgers with potatoes and vegetables, doesn't sound great but was really good.

In the evening we started watching a documentary of the rise and fall of Michael Jackson which is most interesting and with one further episode to go for Friday night.

Tomorrow we plan a trip out for the day to explore and area we have not visited before

A quiet day in downtown Quinta Do Lago

Following all the rushing around the previous day and the issues with the car, we decided to take a much easier day and also the weather was a bit off this morning.

In the late morning we needed to do some shopping and decided to visit the supermarket chain shop Pingo Doce at Vale Do Lobo which was right next door to the medical surgery we visited yesterday. We had noticed this supermarket when visiting the Doctors and it looked bigger than the one we usual use nearby. So off we went and thinking the parking would be easier we woz wrong and we had to drive around for a few minutes before finding anything. To be fare, it was lunchtime and the store and an inside/outside cafe which was very busy with local workman having their coffee and food.

The choice in the supermarket was slightly different to the one we normally use but we were able to obtain all we need.

Tonight Jennifer mad some stir fried pork and vegetable rice which was excellent and washed down with a nice glass of agua.

WE then watched some videos on you tube and early to bed.

The day did not start well

So this morning |I thought I would try and get an appointment at the local Doctors so resolve the health issue and rang the local guys at 0930 and they said come at 10.20, it is only ten minutes approx away  and so we took a fast breakfast and then went downstairs to go by car.

Noel got in the car and all the lights came on , then they started flashing but the car would not start. So turned everything off and nothing would work. Thats all I needed as I have a Doctors appointment in 20 minutes time and that was the only appointment  available this morning or until very late afternoon. So we rushed down to the reception to get a taxi as I thought they would know they quickest way to get one as in the panic I forgot about UBER, a big mistake. The estate reception said don't worry the taxi will be here  immediately  but she was not but eventually it turned up and I got to the Surgery about ten minutes late. I filled in the form and went to have my blood pressure and other vitals checked and needless to say my BP was high. The cost of the taxi as it come from a few miles away was rather expensive and they charged 18 Euros.

I met with Doctor Kaiser and lovely guy from Nuremberg who had live in Portugal for over twenty years and prior to that he lived in Redhill, would you believe. Anyway I explained the problem and whilst checking he noticed the recently arrived wart on my forehead and he said I can get rid of that for you whilst you are here, which he did. For the other bit that needed attention I obtain some special cream to apply twice a day and the problem should go away. If it does not come and we we will a further look. 

The cost for this was Euros 220  which I did not think was to bad considering the speed and efficiency. We took an Uber back to the apartment s and the cost was a quarter of whet they person charged. Now to sort out the car. Not sure what is happening but it will not let me open the doors???although the trunk opened. So I obtained the number of Lexus Europe and they will send someone in the next few hours.

This is the first ever problem with my car for s many years and now think that when showing the guy my car on two days ago something got left on and the battery has discharged ... Anyway the Lexus support guys turned up and ten minutes we were ready to go an so spent about 50 minutes touring the area to get the battery fully charged.

Tonight for tea we head some pasta which was good as usual. Now waiting for World War three to start???or not as the case may be. So the end of an exciting day.

A niggling itch

Its one of these things that does not really bother you until it begins to make you aware of its existence. Some while ago in last few months I developed a 'spot' next to my ear which over the last few weeks  have unfortunately chipped away at every morning when shaving and now it started to go OFF. So during the day I took stock of the situation  and will decide to speak to the Doctors tomorrow. 

The weather today was quite mixed with some rain, only light, then cloudy for  mist of the day and its forecast to be the same for the next week it appears, a bit like when we were hear last year year. So we had a quiet day in the apartment and planned to have burger's an veg for tea but before then we went for a short 25 minute walk and got back to the apartment around 17.45. I also called my brother in law in the care home for a chat which worked out well as he was wide awake.

The burgers, from Costco Seville, were very good and went down well and then an evening o TV. We have been watching a BBC series called 'The Capture' but frankly the torture and violence shown was to much for us and so we watched something less harmfull.

So note to myself call the Doctors...

Another quiet day with a walk

It was quite warm today around 23C and very little humidity which made it rather pleasant to be in. We both spent time reading and relaxing and then decided to go for a walk around an area  of the estate we had not previously visited. Its all part of the same ownership , a British Company based in Cheshire, who have developments in other areas of Portugal and also UK and Florida.

Just before leaving I was passing my Lexus NX car and a German guy was admiring it and saying he wanted one like it and so I opened it up for him to sit inside and we spent a few minutes and then he left. 

Thy apparently own the Aintree Racecourse and so its a large company that has been very successful. I must say going for a walk and with the steep hills , going up is not to bad but the coming down is tough and so I used my little mobile scooter.

For an late lunch we enjoyed another Costco sirloin steak and salad and tested a bottle of Portuguese red wine which went down well but cam back to haunt me later in the evening.

We watched the second part of a BBC series called 'The Capture' which is very good if you can understand it and then caught up with a couple of video bloggers travel updates. Then to bed

Man and his Porsche

We awoke this morning with the Estate What's App group alive with comment regarding a guy who had arrived in a Porsche at about 06.30 and then over a period of several hours moved around the estate and parking in peoples driveways including ours. A neighbor or two did approach him to ask what he was doing and apparently he said was a policeman working undercover in a voice that indicated he was on something more than wine gums.

So everybody was getting their cameras out and filming him and after a couple of hours of strange behavior calls were made to the Police who initially did not seem to be in a rush to assist. However once he started prying in to residents cars and ringing door bells it become a bit more urgent and then as described by one resident ''half of Surrey Police turned up' and they guy was arrested and put in handcuffs and taken away. Sometime later a truck turned up along with forensics and the car was taken away. So quite an exciting start to the day.

We had started planning a few days earlier our route home as we wanted to go to Salamanca again to see the town and also return to Evora which is s short distance away from a historic town on the border with Spain called Monsaraz Castle but we still have four days to fill. So after listening to Noels colleague from the previous day and and looking at Hotels en-route we have decided we will not stay in Sagres but visit from our current location and we will spend an extra two days here. Then when we leave here we will head for a place called Sines up on the west coast for two nights and then off to Evora. 

The rest of the day was spent enjoying the weather and then Noel watched the Chelsea vs Port Vale Qtr final of the FA cup which Chelsea comfortably beat them 7-0. The rest of the evening was spent on videos of one type or another.

A nice walk and visit from old friend and collegue

It was a lovely morning and the temperature is forecast to be about 23C which is lovely and the skies are a lovely color blue .

Following breakfast and email catch up we went for a walk around the enlarged estate which also includes Lakeside Village on nice quiet street but generally very small apartments and or houses. from there we walked back to the main road called Ayrton Senna drive and on the other side and looking up you can see some rather more large and very expensive places which are as per the attached video. All rather modern and quite nice as they say.

We returned to the apartment and enjoyed brie and had a read for a while until an ex colleague Sean arrived on his Honda bike as he now lives part of time in a place called Portimão and has full residency status which he obtained about ten years ago when regulations were easier. We were have a good long catch up and talked about each others health problems as he experienced nearly the same as me with bowel cancer. We then chatted about business colleagues and what we have been doing for the past twenty years and then enjoyed a snack tea and suddenly it was just about nine pm and as he lives an hour away he left.

We watched some videos on you tube and then went to bed.

Another day in the sun

Well, the weather has been great so far and we re looking forward to even more nice days. Following breakfast we went for a twenty five minute walk around the local roads to get a bit of exercise a and noticed quite a few UK reg cars parked and covered up for the winter no doubt pending the arrival of their owners.

The estate seem to be getting a little more busy due to the Easter holidays and whereas quiet in  the last week its been quiet, but now we have kids enjoying swimming in the pool.

WE had a light lunch and then took it easy until early afternoon when had his Zoom call with ex business colleges from around the globe. This meeting happens approx every three months and this one should have been in early March but many people were not available so hence the delay.

Following the call we both read for a while until dinner when we had stir fried pork and rice and then an evening of TV. We watched, again, a film called the proposal on BBC which is quite humorous and worth watching.

And then to bed
 

Lunch and shopping

We had a relatively quiet morning and Jennifer went for a swim which she enjoyed and then at about 1400 we departed for The Quinta Shopping mall in Almancil for lunch at the cheeky Pup Irish Pub which we have used on previous visits.

It was not that busy although car parking can be a problem but we were lucky as we arrived a car vacated a spot near the supermarket and pop we were in. We walked to the pub and and for lunch Jennifer ordered the chicken supreme  with chips, and it was like half a chicken and pile of potato's, needless to say she could not eat it all.

 I had the fish and chips which there is mostly fish and a small about amount of batter whereas in other places you get a huge amount of batter and little fish. However we washed it down with some cold Peroni and watched the construction work taking place across the road.

After lunch we did a brief walk around the Mall which is mainly high end stores such as Gucci, Boss etc and looked at several other restaurant's including the Italian called Tony's

which we visited last year and then headed for Pingo Doce super market for a few things. We got back the apartment at about 5 pm and Noel then prepared the paperwork and emails for the ex KN group Video call which will take place tomorrow.

In the evening we watched a film on BBC called 'The Duchess' with Keira Knightley which was quiet good and then decided on a early night.

The past few days weather and also moving forward for the next ten days is excellent, around 20 C give or take and no rain unlike lat years visit. 

A nice day for a walk

We had the usual breakfast of baked baguette and a 'cuppa', before having a quiet morning but also looking at out plans once we leave this apartment in the next 2.5 weeks.  One of our original ideas was to hug the coast all the way up to Spain but then we also wanted to return to Evora and Salamanca and that in the end is what we have decided to to do but we have four nights spare we shall need to arrange.

For lunch we finished up the salmon in baguette and mid afternoon toddled off down to the lake for a good look round. We are away for about two hours and went up past several VERY expensive Villas and also passe a couple of of Hotels. We also discovered there was a Japanese restaurant there but we believe it is beyond our price range. The 'SHACK' pub was quite busy but we did not sop for a drink as we were also wanting to get back and cook up a steak for the evening.

This area of Quinta Do Lago is very nice and clearly there is a lot of money here.

I have to say the sirloin steak from Costco Seville was really excellent and together with a salad made a very pleasant evening meal. In the evening we watched various videos and then went to bed around just after 10 pm. Tomorrow we need to do some shopping and so have decided we shall also have lunch out in the Irish Pub which is very close to the supermarket, how convenient is that?

Got involved in some issues relating to the Broadoaks Estate and the problems not having a working Management Company Board of Directors and the troubles that could bring with not filing accounts, UMM not good.

Just messing around doing nothing of importance

It was a little bit colder today than expected, down to about 18C which is not to bad for a daytime temperature but in the evening it went down to about 12C which is a little on the cool side.

Noel has a x business colleague who lives close by and who lives many months a year in Portugal and we are due to meet up with him on Friday this week. We did consider going out somewhere but as its Good Friday we guess that many places will be busy and noisy which is not conducive to a quiet chat and so we have have invited him to the apartment.

We both spent a considerable amount of timing reading and Noel catching up with emails and watching the savings disappear as the the UK economy is going thro a bad patch thanks to this stupide labour government which is a laughing stock, even the pro labour newspapers have turned against them.

The concept of Net Zero is a joke as we buy our gas from the same place that Norway takes it does not make any sense but dear old failed half Pm Milliband is a joke. The Uk Government staying our of the Mid east war led by Israel and USA is also questionable , no doubt Starmer is trying to protect his Muslim voters.

Oh well that's the moan for today.

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..